Matsunaga Hisahide (1508 – November 19, 1577) Matsunaga Hisahide The Sengoku period daimyo Matsunaga Hisahide is remembered as an infamous schemer, an evil, withered and wrinkled devious character, a wonton destroyer of property and lives, the ultimate villain. Even today, in modern plays, TV dramas, movies, and [...]
Oda Nobukatsu (1558 – June 10, 1630) Oda Nobukatsu Oda Nobukatsu was a Daimyo and warrior, born the second son of Oda Nobunaga in Ko’ori Castle, Niwa-Gun, currently Konan City of Aichi Prefecture in 1558. In 1570, after a short war between the Oda and the Kitabatake clan of [...]
Todo Takatora (February 16, 1556-November 9, 1630) Todo Takatora Todo Takatora was born in Todo Village, Omi Province. He commenced his military career as a lowlyashigarufoot soldier, working his way up to the rank of daimyo, during which he changed his allegiance seven times, working for ten [...]
Fukushima Masanori (1561 – August 26, 1624) Fukushima Masanori Fukushima Masanori was born in Ama, Owari Province (western Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture) in 1561, and is believed to have been a cousin of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He first saw action as a 17-year-old at the Siege of Miki Castle (Hyogo [...]
Seven Spears of Shizugatake At the battle of Shizugatake, fought in like many samurai battles, the samurai performing the most meritorious deeds were named as the “spears” of the battle. Although Ishida Mitsunari, Otani Yoshitsugu, Ikeda Tsuneoki, Gamo Ujisato, Kuroda Kanbei and many other famous warriors of the Toyotomi forces also fought well [...]
Sanada (Yukimura) Nobushige (1567 - June 3, 1615) Sanada (Yukimura) Nobushige was one of the greatest samurai of the Sengoku Period. Born the second son of Sanada Masayuki and younger brother to Sanada Nobuyuki, he was never referred to as “Yukimura” during his lifetime, as his real name was Nobushige. [...]
Shimazu Yoshihisa (February 9, 1533 - March 5, 1611) Shimazu Yoshihisa Shimazu Yoshihisa was daimyo of Satsuma Province and the eldest son of Shimazu Takahisa. Yoshihisa is seen as one of the greatest leaders of his time, rising from lands in Kagoshima, southern Kyushu to almost conquering all of [...]
Kondo Isami, October 9, 1834 - executed May 17, 1868 Kondo Isami Kondo Isami, expert swordsman and Commander of the Shinsengumi, was born Miyagawa Katsugoro in Kami-Ishihara, a small farming village in Chofu, western Tokyo. He was adopted into the samurai caste by Kondo Shusuke, who heard about the [...]
Ashikaga Yoshiharu (April 2, 1511 - May 20, 1550) Ashikaga Yoshiharu Ashikaga Yoshiharu, the 12thShogun, was the son of the 11thShogun, Ashikaga Yoshizumi. Yoshiharu held the position of Shogun from 1521 until his abdication in favor of his son, Yoshiteru, in 1546. As with most of the military [...]
Yamamoto Kansuke (1500 – killed in action October 18, 1561) Yamamoto Kansuke Yamamoto Kansuke was a samurai strategist and one of the famed 24 Generals of Takeda Shingen. The Mikawa region, (eastern Aichi Prefecture) was renown for having bred some of the toughest, bravest and able warriors. One such [...]