Ninja-Russia relations

Ninja-Russia relation refers to the international relations between Ninja, Japanese covert agent and historical Russian countries such as Russian Empire and Soviet Union. Russia was the first western country that ninja confronted and among the earliest countries that recognized the existence of ninja and researched them.

Under isolation of Japan

In Hirosaki Domain, there was a group of ninja troops named Hayamichi no mono (早道之者) which it was established from the 17th century to 1872. Originally established by Sugiyama Yoshinari (杉山吉成), the grandson of Ishida Mitsunari and the Kōga ninja Nakagawa Kohayato (中川小隼人), they dealt with Ainu issues such as Shakushain's revolt.[1]When Russian ships began to come to Ezo, Hayamichi no mono was mobilized for guarding.[2]In Bakumatsu era, about 60 ninjas served Hirosaki Domain as Hayamichi no mono.[3]。

In 1807 Nikolai Rezanov ordered his subordinate Nikolai Khvostov to attack Ezo. During this battle Hirayama Gyozo, descendant of Iga ninja suggested to the Shogunate to send troops consisting of criminals similar to the ninja troops. However, this plan was never executed.[4][5]

Ninja research in Russia

In the early 20th century, some research about ninja developed.

Roman Kim, the Koryo-saram born in Vladivostok went to Japan to study at 7 years old.[6] After returning to Russia he became an instructor in Japanese language and history of far east of Moscow Institute of Oriental Studies. He gave a detailed account of ninja and ninjutsu in the annotation of "The Roots of the Japanese Sun" (1927) by Boris Pilnyak. This was the first study of ninja in Russia and one of the earliest foreign researchers of Ninja. Until the 1930s, Kim ordered sources from Japan and planned to complete a new paper about ninja.[7] Actually, Kim himself was a spy of the Soviet Union. In 1937 he stole a confidential document from the Japanese Embassy and received Order of the Red Star.[7]However he was arrested as Japanese spy in the same year, and engaged in the translation of Japanese confidential documents in prison till the end of WWⅡ. A new paper about ninja was never finished. After the war, he became an author of spy fiction including a novel about ninja.[8]

Anti-Soviet activity by Ninjutsu Practitioners

Seiko Fujita, 14th Headmaster or Soke of Kōga-ryū taught arts such as Ninjutsu,Taijutsu in Nakano School.[9] Many of his students engaged with anti-Soviet activity. For Example, Sadao Ōgi (扇貞雄) supported White movement in Harbin, Tōkichi Harada involved in espionage and re-educated former Soviet spy as Japanese spy.[10]Many students graduated from Nakano school were the members of secret military agency in Harbin and commanded some troops composed of Russian exiles such as Baikal Cossacks and other Russian People in Harbin, Hailin, and Hailar.[11]

Jinichi Kawakami, head of Banke Shinobinoden stated that his master, Shōzō Ishida was belong to the secret military agency in Harbin.[12][13]

Modern Ninja researchers in Russia

Fyodor Kubasov (Фёдор Кубасов), born in Saint Petersburg studied about ninja in Mie University under Yūji Yamada, one of the most prominet ninja researchers in Japan from 2007. The contents of his research ranged from the relationship between Ninja and yamabushi to oversea reactions to ninja such as the writings by his precursor, Roman Kim. He also worked as the English translator of Banke Shinobinoden.[14][15][16]

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References
  1. "「津軽と南部－忍者の系譜をたどる－」要旨 第４回「津軽と南部－忍者の系譜をたどる－」（前期））". 三重大学. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
  2. "弘前の古民家が「忍者屋敷」と話題に　「残し続けたい」と所有者". 弘前経済新聞. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
  3. "日本初の「忍者部」を創設。知られざる津軽の忍びで観光開発にチャレンジ。【連載】友清哲のローカル×クリエイティブ（4）". excite news. Archived from the original on 2019-09-01. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
  4. "平山行蔵". コトバンク. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
  5. 我妻正義 (2019-09-01). 教科書が教えてくれない裏忍者列伝―歴史的英雄たちは皆忍者だった！？. 笠倉出版社. p. 250-252.
  6. "ロマン・キム、ソ連の忍者だった男". スプートニク 日本語版. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
  7. "ソ連スパイ忍者を研究". 讀賣新聞オンライン. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
  8. ロマン・キム国際会議報告記、坂中紀夫、日本ロシア文学会
  9. 藤田西湖 (1958). どろんろん最後の忍者. 日本週報社. p. 227-229.
  10. "陸軍中野学校初期卒業生の「忍者」活動" (PDF). 日本インテリジェンス研究所. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
  11. 西原征夫 『全記録ハルビン特務機関―関東軍情報部の軌跡』 毎日新聞社、1980年
  12. "心身一如は必要不可欠 : 地域". 讀賣新聞オンライン. Retrieved 2019-06-21.
  13. 川上仁一 (2016). 忍者の掟. 角川書店.第二章「実践・忍びの術義」出会いは必然だったのか？
  14. "第６回「外国人の目から見た忍者」". Mie University. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
  15. "謎に包まれた「伴家忍之傳研修所」合宿2018に参加してきた". Ninjack. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
  16. "（教職員紹介）三重大学国際忍者研究センター研究員クバーソフ・フョードル". 国際忍者センター. Retrieved 2020-04-12.

See also
  • Ninja
  • Plastun - Special military unit of Cossack resembling ninja.
  • Foreign ninja
  • Japan-Russia relations
  • Ninja-Myanmar relations
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