Hojo Ujiyasu (1515 – October 21, 1571), the third head of the Odawara Hojo clan, was a formidable daimyo known as the "Lion of Sagami." Revered as a fearsome samurai and brilliant strategist, he became famous for successfully breaking sieges by renowned warlords Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin. Ujiyasu was the son of Hojo Ujitsuna, and his only known wife was Zuikei-in, sister of Imagawa Yoshimoto. Among his children were Hojo Ujimasa and Uesugi Kagetora.
Born in 1515, Ujiyasu, originally named Chiyomaru, fought his first battle at the age of 15 against Uesugi Tomooki of the Ogigayatsu Uesugi clan at the Battle of Ozawahara in 1530. When his father died in 1541, many of the Hojo’s enemies saw an opportunity to strike. However, Ujiyasu rose to the challenge, reorganizing the Hojo lands and implementing key reforms, including cadastral surveys (1542-1543) and a taxation overhaul in 1550.
Odawara, where his family’s stronghold Odawara Castle was located, became a thriving trade center under his leadership. Ujiyasu developed the area by reorganizing roads and establishing artisans' guilds, markets, and post stations throughout the Hojo-controlled territory, solidifying his power in the Kanto region.
In 1545, Uesugi Tomosada, son of Uesugi Tomooki, sought to retake Kawagoe Castle with a large coalition of forces. Despite being vastly outnumbered, Ujiyasu, using strategic intelligence and ninja to gather information, led a decisive night raid during the Siege of Kawagoe Castle, securing a major victory. This triumph marked a turning point in the Kanto region, leading to the downfall of the Ogigayatsu Uesugi clan and diminishing the prestige of Uesugi Norimasa, Kanto kanrei (Governor-General of the Kanto).
Ujiyasu’s conquests continued. In 1551, he defeated Uesugi Norimasa at Hirai Castle, forcing him to flee to Echigo, where he was sheltered by his retainer Nagao Kagetora (later Uesugi Kenshin). Ujiyasu’s strategic brilliance expanded the Hojo clan’s territory across Sagami, Izu, Musashi, Shimosa, and Kazusa provinces.
By 1559, Ujiyasu retired, passing formal leadership to his son Hojo Ujimasa. However, even in retirement, Ujiyasu played a key role in defending the Hojo clan’s interests, including fending off multiple sieges led by Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen, two of the period’s most powerful warlords.
The Hojo’s territory continued to expand under Ujiyasu, but their ambitions led to conflicts with neighboring clans. Notably, in 1567, the Hojo forces suffered a defeat against the Satake clan at the Battle of Numajiri, halting their eastern expansion.
Ujiyasu's diplomatic skills helped him make peace with his former adversaries, Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen. He solidified alliances through marriage—one of his daughters married Imagawa Ujizane, and another, Hojo Masako, became the second wife of Takeda Katsuyori. Ujiyasu passed away in 1571, leaving behind a powerful legacy and a stable domain for his son Ujimasa to inherit.
See also
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Saito Tatsuoki
Saito Tatsuoki (6 September 1548 - 1573) was a daimyo of Mino Province during Japan's Sengoku period and the third-generation lord of the Saito clan. He was the son of Saito Yoshitatsu and grandson of Saito Dosan. His mother was a daughter of Azai Hisamasa, making him a nephew of Azai Nagamasa and a relative of Oda Nobunaga's first wife, Nohime, who was also a daughter of Saito Dosan.
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Kyogoku Tadataka
Kyogoku Tadataka (1593–1637) was a Japanese nobleman and the head of the Kyogoku clan during the early 17th century, a pivotal time marked by the Tokugawa consolidation of power. His childhood name was Kumamaro, and he hailed from a lineage claiming descent from Emperor Uda (868–897). Tadataka was the son of Kyogoku Takatsugu and one of his concubines, with his paternal grandfather being Kyogoku Takayoshi.
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Matsudaira Naomasa
The late Muromachi period, also known as the Sengoku period, was an era of continuous conflict and upheaval, often likened to periods of chaos in Chinese history. This turbulent era was brought to an end by Tokugawa Ieyasu, who, with the support of loyal retainers, established the Edo Shogunate and became the ruler of Japan. Among Ieyasu’s descendants, Naomasa Matsudaira, his grandson, played a significant role during the Osaka Siege. He earned praise from his adversary, Nobushige Sanada (Yukimura Sanada), for his valor as a young warrior and maintained strong relations with successive Tokugawa shoguns.
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Ishikawa Kazumasa
Ishikawa Kazumasa (1534–1609) was a prominent Japanese retainer who began serving Tokugawa Ieyasu during his youth. Their relationship began in 1551 when both were hostages under the Imagawa clan. Kazumasa remained a loyal companion to Ieyasu, participating in key events such as the Siege of Terabe in 1558 and the Siege of Marune in 1560. After Ieyasu broke away from the Imagawa following the latter event, Kazumasa became a trusted retainer and administrator in his service.
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Shimazu Toyohisa
Shimazu Toyohisa (July 1570 – October 21, 1600), also known as Shimazu Tadatoyo, was a samurai of the Shimazu clan and the son of Shimazu Iehisa. He was the nephew of Shimazu Yoshihiro and held command over Sadowara Castle. Known for his valor, Toyohisa participated in numerous key battles of the late Sengoku period, earning recognition for his bravery and tactical acumen.
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Ikeda Terumasa
Ikeda Terumasa (January 31, 1565 – March 16, 1613) was a Japanese daimyo of the early Edo period, recognized by his court title, "Musashi no Kami," and known as the "Shogun of Western Japan." Terumasa, a distinguished military leader, participated in numerous significant battles during the late Azuchi-Momoyama period. His service at the Battle of Sekigahara earned him control over the Himeji domain. Originally named Araokojimaru, he was the son of Ikeda Tsuneoki and the brother of Ikeda Sen. He later became the heir to Ikeda Nobuteru and held Ikejiri Castle in Mino Province.
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Mori Tadamasa
Mori Tadamasa (1570 - July 31, 1634) was a notable military commander during Japan’s Warring States period and an early Edo-period daimyo. Initially, he governed Kawanakajima Domain in Shinano Province (modern-day Nagano Prefecture) and later became the first lord of Tsuyama Domain in Mimasaka Province (now northern Okayama Prefecture). He founded the Mori family line of the Ako Domain. Tadamasa’s family origins trace back to the Genji (Minamoto) clan, specifically the Kawachi-Genji branch from Kawachi Province (in present-day southeastern Osaka Prefecture), a lineage tied to Emperor Seiwa through his ancestor Yorisada Mori, a great-grandson of the famed Minamoto no Yoshiie.
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Sanada Masayuki
Sanada Masayuki (1547 – July 13, 1611) was a daimyo and prominent lord of Japan's Sengoku period. Head of the Sanada clan from Shinano Province, he served the powerful Takeda clan of Kai Province alongside his father and brothers during Takeda Shingen’s leadership. Following the Takeda clan's decline, Masayuki took charge of the Sanada, and despite limited resources, he established his clan as an independent power under the Toyotomi regime by navigating alliances with dominant clans such as the Tokugawa, Hojo, and Uesugi. Renowned as one of his era's greatest strategists, Masayuki achieved notable victories against the Tokugawa forces in the Battle of Kami River and the Siege of Ueda.
