Otomo no Sahito

Otomo no Sahito
Born	Japan
Employer	Prince Shotoku
Known for	Shinobi (Ninja)

Otomo no Sahito (大伴細人) was a figure in Japanese history believed to be a spy or shinobi who served Prince Shōtoku in the 7th century. While his existence is debated, some consider him to be the first ninja in history, though others suggest he might be a mythical figure. While widely undocumented, there is evidence going both ways of being real and a fictional folklore character.^[1]

Sahito is depicted as a key figure in the early development of ninjutsu, serving as a spy for Prince Shotoku in the 7th century. He is often cited as one of the first, if not the first, ninja in history. Despite some historical accounts suggesting he might be a mythical figure, he's credited with developing espionage techniques and a spy network for Prince Shotoku. These techniques are believed to have influenced the later development of ninjutsu.