The Amazing Legs of Niizuma Kanbe'e

Before the post, a bit of a foreword. As of this post, I am expanding the breadth of my topic-- while my tendency will be toward Tohoku, which is what I know and where I've lived, I am officially broadening this blog's coverage to include issues concerning rural Japanese history and culture, and aspects of the traditional arts, I will no longer limit myself to the northeast. I look forward to bringing you all more stories from more parts of Japan, soon. Anyway, on to the show!

We've all heard, I'm sure, about the marathon: 26 miles of run, run, run, in commemoration of the Greek messenger Phedippides. In this post I'd like to share the story of Niizuma Kanbe'e, a Sendai retainer who loved a good story, so much so that he ran nineteen ri (46 miles) in four hours from his post in Iwagasaki to meet with friends in Sendai for evening chats.

But how did he manage this incredible feat? How did he make it across that distance that fast, not drop dead after he'd arrived in Sendai, and then be able to turn around and go all the way back? Read on!

Niizuma Kanbe'e was a Sendai retainer in the early 17th century. This was, arguably, the real "good old days" for Sendai under the Date clan: crop yields were good, the land was at peace, construction was booming, and political administration was solid. Niizuma Kanbe'e was a warrior of minor income (200 or so koku per year), and was assigned as an attendant to Date Masamune's sixth son Munenobu.

When Munenobu came of age, he was given his own castle at Iwagasaki, some forty-six miles from Sendai. Niizuma accompanied him, but Iwagasaki was totally new territory for him, with no family or friends present. But Niizuma loved to visit his old friends for evening conversations, so with his lord's permission, he returned to Sendai from time to time. The distance was nineteen ri (Japanese ri, different from Chinese li), so approximately 46 miles. He would leave Iwagasaki at 8 PM and arrive in Sendai by midnight. Then he'd turn around at 2 AM and leave Sendai, arriving back in Iwagasaki at 6 AM. And he did this not once, but regularly! Niizuma's legs must've been amazingly toned.

Though Niizuma's lord Munenobu died at age 25, Niizuma himself continued his service to the Sendai domain. He died at age 57, which to us may seem young: but remember, dear reader, those were 57 very full years full of lots of walking.


How far would you walk for some good, soul-feeding banter? Leave a comment!

Works Cited

• Date Munehiro. Date Happyakunen no Rekishi Emaki. Tokyo: Shin Jinbutsu Oraisha, 2004.
• Mihara Ryōkichi. Kyōdoshi Sendai Mimibukuro. Sendai: Hōbundō Shuppansha, 1983.
• Photo of Waraji on Wikimedia Commons (accessed 25 Mar. 2013)
• Takahashi Tomio. Miyagiken no Rekishi. Tokyo: Yamakawa Shuppansha, 1971.