Hojo Tokimune, born into a lineage of esteemed warriors and statesmen, destined to govern both his clan and his nation, came into the world on June 5, 1251. His father, Hojo Tokiyori, served as the fifth Shikken (Regent) to the Shogun, and Tokimune would go on to assume the role of the eighth Regent at the tender age of 18. At this time, the Hojo Regents held substantial authority, effectively overseeing the nominal shogunate.
Much like his father, Tokimune proved to be an assertive leader and a shrewd political figure, wielding significant power and influence within both the Imperial and Shogunate courts.
In January of 1268, Kublai Khan, the Mongol leader, dispatched envoys with explicit demands for Japan's submission to his rule. Tokimune responded by sending the envoys back without a reply. Undeterred, Kublai Khan sent four more sets of envoys over the ensuing two years, each of whom met with the same resolute rejection from Tokimune. This defiance led to the Mongols launching an invasion of Japan in 1274. This endeavor, however, was thwarted by a combination of a typhoon and the formidable samurai class of Japanese warriors. The following year, in 1275, another delegation of five representatives arrived in Japan and adamantly refused to depart without a response. Tokimune had them brought from Kyushu to the government seat in Kamakura, where they met their end. With no word from his envoys, Kublai Khan dispatched another five, who were promptly executed upon arrival. This provoked the Mongols to mount an even larger invasion in 1281.
Tokimune, a warrior of exceptional caliber and a member of the elite, played a pivotal role in devising Japan's defense strategy. He personally led his men into the fray against the formidable Mongols. Determined to eliminate any trace of cowardice within his newly formed samurai forces, he sought counsel from Zen Master Mugaku Sogen. Mugaku proposed that the men practice Zen to confront and overcome the inner source of fear. As a result, Tokimune's influence catalyzed the spread of Zen Buddhism throughout Japan, particularly among the samurai.
On April 20, 1284, at the age of 33, Tokimune succumbed to tuberculosis and heart disease. He found his resting place in the now designated National Treasure, Enkaku-ji Temple in Yamanouchi, Kamakura.
See also
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Uesugi Kagetora
Uesugi Kagetora (1552 – April 19, 1579) was the seventh son of Hojo Ujiyasu and was originally known as Hojo Saburo. He was adopted by Uesugi Kenshin and intended to be Kenshin's heir. However, in 1578, he was attacked in his Otate Castle by Uesugi Kagekatsu, his brother-in-law, and was ultimately defeated. Kagetora committed suicide the following year at Samegao Castle.
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Hojo Ujinao
Hojo Ujinao (1562 – December 19, 1591) was a Japanese daimyo of the late Sengoku period and the last leader of the Later Hojo clan. An important figure in Azuchi-Momoyama politics, he lost his entire domain following the Siege of Odawara (1590). Despite this, he survived, and his family continued as minor daimyo during the Edo period.
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Takeda Katsuyori
Takeda Katsuyori (1546 – April 3, 1582) was a Japanese daimyo of the Sengoku period, renowned as the head of the Takeda clan and successor to the legendary warlord Takeda Shingen. He was also the son-in-law of Hojo Ujiyasu. Katsuyori was born to Shingen and the daughter of Suwa Yorishige, known posthumously as Suwa-goryonin and by her real name, Koihime. His children included Takeda Nobukatsu and Takeda Katsuchika.
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Yasuke
Yasuke, an African page, arrived in Japan in 1579 as the attendant of the Italian Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano. Before the arrival of the Englishman William Adams, it is thought that Yasuke was possibly the inaugural non-Japanese samurai, arriving about twenty years earlier.
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Yamanami Keisuke
Yamanami Keisuke, the second in command of the Shinsengumi, a special police force during the late Edo period, shocked many when he performed seppuku on March 20, 1865, at the age of 32.
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Yamamoto Kansuke
Yamamoto Kansuke, renowned as a samurai strategist and one of Takeda Shingen's esteemed 24 Generals, hailed from the Mikawa region, known for breeding formidable warriors. Despite physical challenges—blindness in one eye, lameness in one leg, and a malformed hand—Kansuke embarked on a warrior's pilgrimage in his twenties. Traveling across the land, he honed his skills in strategy, tactics, castle construction, and warfare, engaging in various swordsmanship schools and forms.
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Yamaga Soko
Yamaga Soko was a multifaceted figure in Japanese history, renowned as a strategist, philosopher, and scholar. Later in life, he became a ronin, leaving a significant mark on the understanding of the Tokugawa period samurai.
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William Adams - Miura Anjin
William Adams, also known as Miura Anjin, holds the distinction of being one of the few non-Japanese individuals granted samurai status. Born in Gillingham, Kent, England in 1564, Adams embarked on a remarkable journey that led him to become an influential figure in Japanese history.
