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Honda Masashige, the second son of Tokugawa Ieyasu's trusted advisor Honda Masanobu, began his service alongside his father under Tokugawa Ieyasu and later his son, the future second Shogun, Hidetada. At the age of 18 in 1597, Masashige was involved in a fatal dispute with Okabe Souhachi, leading him to flee. He then served daimyo Otani Yoshitsugu for two years, followed by two years under Ukita Hideie. Despite his unconventional path, his esteemed family name and warrior reputation opened doors to various positions.

Over the next 14 years, Masashige served different lords in seven regions, ultimately establishing the Kaga Honda branch in present-day Ishikawa Prefecture. The Battle of Sekigahara in late 1600 divided the nation into two factions, East led by Tokugawa Ieyasu, and West led by Ishida Mitsunari. Despite fighting for the opposition, Masashige's exceptional performance caught the attention of Ieyasu.

The Western forces were defeated, and Lord Ukita Hideie fled to safety, while Masashige sought refuge in Omi Province (now Shiga Prefecture). He received offers from Lord Kobayakawa Hideaki and Lord Maeda Toshinaga before joining Lord Fukushima Masanori. Two years later, he accepted a significant position with Maeda Toshinaga, bridging the Maeda and Tokugawa houses.

In 1604, Masashige left the Maeda clan to become Chief Retainer to the daimyo of Echigo, Uesugi Kagekatsu. He married the daughter of Uesugi's top general Naoe Kanetsugu, aiming to strengthen relations between the Uesugi and Tokugawa clans. After rebuilding trust, he amicably parted ways with the Uesugi and returned to the Maeda clan in 1611, becoming the first head of the Kaga Honda clan.

In 1614, he participated in the Winter Siege of Osaka, facing off against and ultimately losing to Sanada Nobushige (Yukimura) near the Sanada Maru complex south of Osaka Castle.

The unconventional samurai, Honda Masashige, passed away at the age of 68 in 1647. He bore witness to the final major battles of the late Sengoku period, the end of Japan's civil war era, and served as a peacemaker between some of the most significant clans in Japanese history.


See also

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