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Momochi Sandayū's Real Name: Possibly Momochi Tanba (disputed)
legend
Momochi Sandayū (百地三太夫) 本名: Possibly Momochi Tanba (disputed) (百地丹波(説))
Answer: Momochi Sandayū is a legendary Iga ninja leader. Some writers link him to Momochi Tanba, a local Iga figure, but no reliable source confirms who he was.
Legend: Momochi Sandayū appears in Edo-period yomihon novels and other stories as one of the great jōnin (上忍, ninja leaders) of Iga, and as the teacher of the outlaw Ishikawa Goemon. Some stories even claim he and another legendary leader, Fujibayashi Nagato, were the same man living a double life.
History: the Iga region did have local samurai families, including the Momochi family, and Iga was devastated by Oda Nobunaga's forces in the Tenshō Iga War (1581). Some writers connect Sandayū to Momochi Tanba (百地丹波), said to have fought in that war, but this is disputed.
We label this entry as legend. The Iga-ryu Ninja Museum in Iga City presents both the history and the stories.
FAQ
Was Momochi Sandayū real? His existence and identity are not confirmed; he is mainly a legendary figure.
Was he Goemon's teacher? Only in legend.