Sanada

The Sanada clan (真田氏) was a powerful clan that was known to exist during the Warring States period. Many prominent generals during this time period praised their military strength and witty strategies, regarding them as prized warriors of the age. Though influential in politics and warfare, little is known regarding the clan's ancestry. They are speculated to be the combined Unno and Funno clans, families that had ties to the emperor during ancient Japan. Other sources indicate they are descendants of the Seiwa Genji, a warrior branch of the Minamoto clan.

They are popularly known for their six coin crest. It was believed that the spirits of warriors needed to pay a toll before boarding the river for the afterlife. These six coins were made to pay for one of the six paths in the Buddhist afterlife (Hell, Gaki, Chikusho -Killing brutes, Asura, Man, or Heaven). It was made to insure a "pure" passage for the wearer's spirit. According to legends, this particular crest was used whenever the clan entered battle. The emblem is usually painted in gold on red banners.

Clan Heads

 * 1) Yorimasa (though his position is debated)
 * 2) Yukitaka
 * 3) Nobutsuna
 * 4) Masayuki
 * 5) Nobuyuki
 * 6) Nobumasa
 * 7) Yukimichi
 * 8) Nobuhiro
 * 9) Nobuyasu
 * 10) Yukihiro
 * 11) Yukitaka (2nd)
 * 12) Yukitsura
 * 13) Yukinori
 * 14) Yukitami

Major Generals

 * Nobushige (Yukimura)
 * Genba Karasawa
 * Yaritsuna Yazawa
 * Miyanoshita Toemon
 * Ayamada Shigenobu
 * Suzuki Shigenori
 * Netsu Nobumasa

Retainer Families

 * Ideura
 * Oyamada
 * Kawara
 * Suzuki
 * Netsu
 * Unno
 * Miyanoshita
 * Ondo
 * Sakuma
 * Nasegawa

Myths and Legends
The Sanada clan were the basis for many anti-Tokugawa folktales set during the climax of the Sengoku Jidai era. People generally believe that a good majority of these stories originated during the Edo Period, nearly a century after Nobushige's death. It is said that during the time when most of these tales began, people were dissatisfied with the Tokugawa shogunate's stringent and unpredictable rulings, especially regarding the "Dog Shogun", Tokugawa Tsunayoshi. Emphasizing the Sanada's last struggle against Ieyasu, they were one of the fabled "Robin Hoods" of the time period who defied the shogunate through heroism and fantasy.

Here are a few of these myths that continue to appear in Koei titles.

Sanada Ninja
A common myth regarding the Sanada is their reliance on ninja or kunoichi troops. The origin of this particular myth is believed to come about due to Masayuki's cunning and scheming persona. Many legends state that the family raised and specially trained their assassins to carry out their reconnaissance missions. These ninja were also capable warriors, believed to possess their own superhuman abilities. Their intelligence network is said to spread across the entire country and they were ready for the Sekigahara conflict. One case states that Yukimura used a ninja imposter to survive his historical death.

While it is possible that the Sanada clan could have used ninja, their role was most likely minor and not exactly like the fictional account.

Sanada Ten Braves
The Sanada Ten Braves (真田十勇士, Sanada Juyushi) are ten famed men who are mentioned in a novel from the Edo period, Record of Sanada's Third Generation (真田三代記). The book coined the phrase "Sanada Trio" -the generals listed in the infobox- whom supposedly relied on ninja.

These warriors are depicted as strong heroes who loyally served Yukimura during the Osaka Campaign. Though they are fictional, some historians and readers believe that they are based on real people. Their names and gender change in their many appearances, but the recognized ten are listed below.


 * 1) Sarutobi Sasuke - said to be based on Kouzuki Sasuke, one of the eleven ninja leaders from Iga. The fictional version of him is said to come from one of the fifty-three Koga families.
 * 2) Kirigakure Saizo - most likely based on Kirigakure Kaemon, a ninja who is said to have been ordered by Yukimura to protect villagers during the Winter Osaka Campaign.
 * 3) Miyoshi Seikai Niyudo - based on Miyoshi Masayasu, one of Yukimura's vassals.
 * 4) Miyoshi Isa Niyudo - based on Miyoshi Masakatsu, Masayasu's younger brother who was actually a vassal for the Tokugawa army.
 * 5) Anayama Kosuke - possibly the eldest son of Anayama Nobushige, a ninja who supposedly served Masayuki and Yukimura. He's alternatively known as Yasuharu, Takechiyo, or Undon.
 * 6) Yuri Kamanosuke - origin unknown, likely fictional. Also known as Yuri Motoyuki.
 * 7) Kakei Juzou - origin unknown, likely fictional. Also known as Kakei Jubei.
 * 8) Unno Rokuro - believed to be based on Unno Yukisada, a possible vassal of Yukimura. The Unno clan served Takeda Shingen and three generations of the Sanada family (starting with Yukimura's grandfather, Yukitaka).
 * 9) Nezu Jinpachi - origin unknown, likely fictional. Speculated to be Azai Nagamasa's illegitimate son, Azai Iyori.
 * 10) Mochizuki Rokuro - origin unknown, likely fictional.

Seven of these warriors appear as bodyguards in Samurai Warriors 2. Unno, Yuri, and Nezu were left out.

Secret Passage at Ueda
Due to the clan's resourcefulness at Ueda Castle, a fictional account states that the clan had an underground passage that lead from the castle's basement to Kyoto. Only Masayuki and a few of his closest retainers knew its many entrances between the way. The myth says that the Sanada clan used this particular passageway for various guerrilla tactics against the Tokugawa men.

Historically, it would have been physically impossible to tunnel a passage as large as the legend.