noun
spy for the Edo shogunate; oniwaban
Historical term for undercover agents who gathered intelligence for the Tokugawa shogunate during the Edo period.
御庭番は江戸幕府の隠密として活動した。
The oniwaban operated as undercover agents for the Edo shogunate.
時代劇では御庭番がよく登場する。
Oniwaban often appear in period dramas.
Literally 'honorable garden guard,' referring to the agents' role as gardeners within the shogun's castle, which served as cover for their intelligence work.