Hayamichi No Mono

PUBLISHED 15 NOV 2025

The Fast Travelers Who Guarded a Domain from the Shadows

Long overshadowed by the more widely known ninja traditions of Iga and Kōka, the Hayamichi No Mono — sometimes called “fast travelers” — played a quiet but critical role in safeguarding the Hirosaki domain during Japan’s peaceful Edo period. Though their missions were dangerous and their methods discreet, a growing body of historical evidence is helping to illuminate who they were, how they trained, and why their work mattered.

Guardians of the North

According to the Hirosaki Hancho Nikki, a historical record from the region, the Hayamichi No Mono formed a specialized unit led by Nakagawa Kohayato. Active primarily in the Hirosaki area, they were entrusted with a variety of covert tasks, including intelligence gathering, investigations, and discreet travel across treacherous terrain and waterways.

A report from NHK’s Ninja Truth documentary traces their formal establishment to 1674, a time when Japan had settled into relative peace under the Tokugawa shogunate. The traditional role of ninja had largely faded—but not entirely. Even without open warfare, local lords remained cautious of rival domains with territorial ambitions. To keep watch on potential threats, the Hirosaki clan employed specialists skilled in stealth, mobility, and information collection. These were the Hayamichi No Mono.

A Secret Gate and Silent Missions

Old records suggest that the Hayamichi No Mono operated from within Hirosaki Castle, entering and exiting through a hidden gate believed to have been used for delivering secret orders. This covert passage underscores the sensitive nature of their assignments and the trust placed in them by the domain’s leadership.

Interestingly, many members of the group were low-ranking warriors forbidden from carrying swords. This restriction forced them to rely on alternative methods of combat. As a result, the Hayamichi No Mono became adept practitioners of unarmed techniques, refining skills that suited undercover operations where subtlety was essential.

A Rare Glimpse into Their Training

A remarkable link to their martial discipline survives in Hirosaki City, where family records preserve a register of dojo members associated with the Hayamichi No Mono. They trained in a jujutsu system called Hongaku Kokki Ryū Yawara, a style developed in the 17th century. Its emphasis on leverage, joint manipulation, and close-quarters techniques made it well suited to operatives who had to fight without blades.

A Lost Ninja Manual Resurfaces

The clearest window into their methods arrived unexpectedly in 2018, when The Mainichi reported the discovery of an 18th-century ninja technique textbook in the Hirosaki City Public Library. Ninja researcher Tetsuya Ueda uncovered the thin, 12-page manual while examining archival materials.

The book contains detailed instructions on crafting weapons, using charms, and deploying esoteric tactics. Among the techniques described:

• Mixing gunpowder and aconite to create a blinding powder

• Producing a sleep-inducing agent by burning dried toads and mandarin ducks

• Securing a single entrance when lodging overnight

• Propping a tatami mat against a doorway as a primitive intruder alarm

The manual’s authenticity and origin were evaluated by Shigeto Kiyokawa, adviser to the Aomori University ninja club. Kiyokawa believes there is a strong likelihood that the text was written around 1756 specifically to preserve Hayamichi No Mono techniques for future generations. He also noted that an old private home in the city appears to have been used historically by ninja operatives—likely members of this same group.

A Branch of the Kōka School

Historical clues place the Hayamichi No Mono as a local offshoot of the Kōka school of shinobi, which was based in what is now Shiga Prefecture. The group reportedly disbanded around the mid-18th century, roughly the same period when the rediscovered manual was likely compiled.

Kiyokawa emphasised the significance of the find: “It is now clear that the Hayamichinomono actually used ninja techniques and small tools. I hope this discovery will prompt others with similar materials to come forward.”

Preserving an Overlooked Legacy

The emerging picture of the Hayamichi No Mono is one of a disciplined, resourceful intelligence unit operating quietly in the far north of Japan. Though less celebrated than their southern counterparts, their work contributed to the stability of their domain during a delicate period in Japan’s history.

As researchers continue to unearth documents and artifacts, the story of the Hayamichi No Mono — once known only to a handful of scholars — is steadily gaining the recognition it deserves, offering a fascinating glimpse into the world of Edo-era espionage and the warriors who mastered the art of silent travel.