Asano Nagaakira (March 18, 1586 – October 16, 1632) was a Japanese samurai and daimyō of the early Edo period. He initially ruled Wakayama Domain before being transferred to the Hiroshima Domain, where his family would remain until the Meiji Restoration.
Early Life and Rise to Power
Born Asano Iwamatsu, he was the son of Asano Nagamasa, a senior retainer of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In 1594, at just eight years old, Nagaakira became a direct retainer of Hideyoshi and was granted a stipend of 3,000 koku. However, after Hideyoshi’s death, he aligned himself with Tokugawa Ieyasu during the pivotal Battle of Sekigahara (1600). For his loyalty, he was awarded the 24,000-koku Ashimori Domain in Mimasaka Province.
In 1613, following the death of his brother Asano Yukinaga, who left no heir, Nagaakira succeeded him as daimyō of Wakayama Domain (Kii Province).
Military Contributions
During the Siege of Osaka (1614–1615), Nagaakira played a key role in Tokugawa Ieyasu’s campaign against the Toyotomi clan. In 1615, when Toyotomi Hideyori’s Western Army launched an attack on Wakayama Castle, Nagaakira led his forces into battle despite being outnumbered, securing victory at the Battle of Kashii.
He also fought in the Battle of Tennōji, the final and decisive confrontation of the siege, where he commanded Tokugawa’s rear guard.
Lord of Hiroshima
In 1619, for his service and unwavering loyalty, Nagaakira was granted the powerful Hiroshima Domain in Aki Province, marking the beginning of the Asano family's rule there, which lasted until the Meiji Restoration.
Nagaakira was married to Furihime, the widow of Gamō Hideyuki and the third daughter of Tokugawa Ieyasu, further solidifying his ties to the Tokugawa shogunate.
His leadership and strategic prowess cemented his family's legacy, making the Asano clan of Hiroshima one of the most influential in Japan’s Edo period.
See also
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Kawakubo (Takeda) Nobuzane
Nobuzane was the seventh son of Takeda Nobutora and the half-brother of the famous Takeda Shingen. The identity of his mother is unknown, as is the exact year of his birth. It is believed that he was born sometime in the 1530s. When Nobuzane reached adulthood, he was sent to the village of Kawakubo, located in the northern part of Kai Province near the border with the Saku region. His duty was to guard the road leading north. In that village, he built a residence and changed his family name to Kawakubo.
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Imagawa Sadayo
Imagawa Sadayo was one of the most outstanding figures of his era. Alongside Kusunoki Masashige and Kitabatake Chikafusa, he was considered one of the greatest generals and strategists of his time. In addition to his military talents, Sadayo was also a poet and historian, and his literary abilities earned him a prominent place at court and in scholarly circles.
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Ikeda Motosuke
Motosuke was the son of Ikeda Tsunooki and the older brother of the famous military commander Ikeda Terumasa. Sources differ on his year of birth—it was either 1559 or 1564. Motosuke was married to the sister of Oda Nobutada, the eldest son of Oda Nobunaga. Thus, Nobutada's son, Oda Hidenobu, was his nephew.
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Watanabe (Hanzo) Moritsuna
Moritsuna was the son of Watanabe Takatsuna, a vassal of the Matsudaira clan. He was the same age as Tokugawa Ieyasu and was held hostage with him by the Imagawa clan. In 1557, Moritsuna joined Ieyasu.
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Ban Naoyuki
He was also known as Ban Danemon. In the early stages of his military career, he served under Kato Yoshiaki, one of the so-called “Seven Spears of Shizugatake,” who later became the ruler of the Aizu region in Mutsu Province. Naoyuki held the position of commander of the arquebusiers (teppo taishō).
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Asakura Toshikage
The Asakura family, who claimed kinship with several emperors, lived in the province of Echizen. Its representatives were considered hereditary vassals of the Shiba clan. From the mid-15th century until their defeat by Oda Nobunaga's army in 1573, which resulted in the final destruction of the Asakura clan, they were a significant military and economic force.
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Asakura Yoshikage
Yoshikage was the eldest son of Asakura Takakage. He began ruling in 1548 at the age of fifteen, and during his reign he twice defeated the Ikko-ikki forces, in 1555 and 1564. Yoshikage supported the Saito family in their struggle against Oda Nobunaga in 1561–1567. When Ashikaga Yoshiaki fled Kyoto in 1565 after the assassination of his older brother, Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru, Yoshikage gave him refuge. However, he was unable to provide sufficient support for Yoshiaki's claim to the title of shogun, and Yoshiaki had to seek help from Oda Nobunaga.
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Asakura Norikage
Norikage came from the ancient samurai clan of Asakura, whose members considered themselves descendants of Prince Kusakabe, son of Emperor Tenmu (631–686). He was the eighth son of daimyo Asakura Takakage and was named Kotaro in childhood. Over time, Asakura Norikage became the pillar of the Asakura clan and was undoubtedly its most talented commander during that difficult period when the clan was experiencing internal difficulties, uprisings by the Ikko-ikki sect, and instability in the lands surrounding the capital. Although Norikage himself was never a daimyo, he served as an advisor to three generations of Asakura clan leaders. He spent his entire life on military campaigns. After his father's death in 1481, Norikage entered the service of his brother, Asakura Ujikage.
