Database: Fujiwara No Chikata

Fujiwara no Chikata of Iga, who controlled four demons—the Metal Demon, Wind Demon, the Water Demon, and the Invisible Demon—is a legend that persists to this day. Supporters of the story point to the remains of a castle where Chikata is said to have fought the imperial court, a pond where he threw the heads of his defeated enemies, and the deep corner of a river where he was said to wash his large cup that could hold 18 liters of sake.

Each one of his demons embodied supernatural powers often attributed to the ninja: a body impervious to ordinary weapons, the power to summon strong winds that could blow away an enemy's castle, the power to create floods and drown their enemies, and the ability to hide and surprise the enemy.

Legend or no, the story of Fujiwara no Chikata is in fact cited in the Taiheiki (Chronicle of Great Peace) written in the 14th century, describing him as one of the former enemies of the imperial court. It is entirely possible that the legend was based on the Taiheiki after the Chronicle became popular among the public in the Edo period, as a way of providing an origin story for the ninjas of Iga.