13. The Ninja Decline: Oda Nobunaga and the Tokugawa
The Iga and Kōga ninja clans, renowned for their espionage and guerrilla warfare skills, faced significant challenges during Japan’s unification. In 1579, Oda Nobunaga’s forces attacked the Iga Province, leading to the near destruction of the Iga ninja. Survivors fled, some seeking refuge with Tokugawa Ieyasu. Following Nobunaga’s death in 1582, the Iga ninja assisted Ieyasu’s escape, solidifying their alliance. Under the subsequent Tokugawa shogunate, Japan experienced prolonged peace, reducing the need for ninja services. Consequently, many former ninja adapted to new roles, such as serving as bodyguards or police officers, while their traditional practices gradually faded.
