Momochi Sandayū was Momochi Seiemon's son and the presiding lord to a small clan. Historically, his true name has not been verified. Sandayū is a fictional invention of the Edo period and is a distortion of a term for "clan elder" (三太, daifu). The name may have also been given to his grandson rather than the Momochi leader in question. Tanba or Tamba is either argued to be his government rank or a division of the Iga ninja to distinguish himself from the other elite ninja families, the Fujibayashi and the Hattori. Iranki dubs him Tango (丹後) over Tanba/Tamba. His given name may have been Yasumitsu or Masanishi.
Ninja history in general tends to be recorded oral legends, so it's difficult to verify the authenticity of his early history. According to the tales, Sandayū was known as a shinobi amongst shinobi. He was silent and emotionless: a true shadow without form. He reputedly never showed his face to others. Tales are divided on whether Sandayū was an impossibly skilled elite or a cowardly lower classed ninja. One legend states that Sandayū was never one person but rather three elite ninja who would flawlessly impersonate one another when deemed necessary. Most legends tend to favor his remarkable intelligence and state that he was a spy famed and valued for his reliability.
Whatever the case, Oda Nobukatsu invaded Iga in 1578 to expand his influence. He was initially successful until he was intercepted by the Iga rebels or ninja a year later. The defenders held the geographical advantage against Nobukatsu and gradually reclaimed their lost territory. According to the Iranki, Sandayū was among the defenders. He led two or three hundred defenders to arms, setting up various artillery barricades along a high mountain path. Oda retainer Tsuke Saburōzaemon accompanied Nobukatsu into their barricade with an army of 1,500. He and his men lost their lives, and Nobukatsu barely fled with his life. Nobunaga was outraged by his son's humiliation and wrote in a letter, "...[I am] tempted to break family ties with him".
In 1581 Nobunaga personally led an army of 40,000 with six generals to eradicate Iga residents. Historians argue that Nobunaga may have led the assault primarily to avenge his stained family honor rather than the personal grudge often stated in legends. Sandayū was noted to be present around the end of the conflict and led 1,600 or so tired Iga residents (either common men and women or rebel ninja) within Kashiwara Castle. He reputedly held a strong defense against the castle siege. From here on, he disappears from historical accounts of the conflict.
Historically, the rebels were overwhelmed by the massive Oda army. No man, woman, or child was spared from the massacre that followed their defeat. Edo period folklore tends to favor the romantic image of Sandayū's defiant death at an earlier date at Iga Ueno Castle rather than depict him as a victim to the slaughter. Alternatively he was fabled to have survived the conflict and died at an old age due to natural causes.
Sandayū Momochi has been suggested to play 4 roles. Click below to see other actors suggested for each role, and vote for who you think would play the role best.
