Born in Okazaki, Mikawa (modern-day Aichi Prefecture), Honda Tadakatsu, also known as Heihachiro, was one of the esteemed quartet of generals, alongside Ii Naomasa, Sakai Tadatsugu, and Sakakibara Yasumasa, who served Tokugawa Ieyasu. Tadakatsu's name carries a clever pun, as "Tada" can mean "just," and "katsu" signifies "win." Hence, his name could be translated as "Just Win!" — an apt name for any samurai.
As a trusted confidant of Ieyasu and a brilliant strategist, he stood by Ieyasu's side during pivotal battles such as Okehazama, Anegawa, Mikatagahara, Nagashino, Komaki Nagakute, and, of course, Sekigahara. One of Honda Tadakatsu's most remarkable feats occurred in 1584 during the Komaki Campaign. While Ieyasu left to confront Toyotomi troops at Nagakute, Tadakatsu observed Hideyoshi leading a sizable force in pursuit. With just around 30 mounted samurai, he daringly confronted Hideyoshi's forces, facing overwhelming odds of 50 to 60 to 1 across the Shonai River. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, astonished by Tadakatsu's audacity and valor, ordered that he and his men remain unharmed.
Oda Nobunaga hailed Honda Tadakatsu as a "samurai among samurai." Similarly, Toyotomi Hideyoshi once remarked that among samurai, there were "Honda Tadakatsu in the east and Tachibana Muneshige in the west." Takeda Shingen also commended Honda, stating that "the only things above Tokugawa Ieyasu are his helmet and Honda Tadakatsu."
Honda Tadakatsu's distinctive black armor, with its deer antler-fitted helmet, was a recognizable sight on the battlefield. Despite the helmet appearing heavy and unwieldy with its thick antlers mounted on top, they were actually made of lightweight paper mache covered in lacquer. The reason for adorning deer antlers wasn't merely to enhance his intimidating presence but stemmed from a significant experience following a decisive battle.
The story goes that after the Battle of Okehazama, Tadakatsu led the 19-year-old Ieyasu back to Okazaki Castle. Following days of heavy rain, the rivers were swollen. While searching for a way to cross, a stag deer traversed the shallows, guiding Tadakatsu. Interpreting this as an auspicious sign, Tadakatsu adopted the deer's imagery to further guide and serve his lord, Ieyasu, an undertaking he fulfilled with bravery and honor throughout his life.
At the age of 57, Honda Tadakatsu participated in the Battle of Sekigahara, commanding a mere 500 samurai on the battlefield. During a charge on the Shimazu clan's war camp, Tadakatsu's horse was brought down by a volley of arrows, but he remained unscathed. Pausing briefly to offer a prayer for his fallen horse, he then seized the reins from one of his captains and resumed fighting.
Tadakatsu is often referred to as "The Warrior who surpassed Death itself" as he never suffered a significant wound, despite engaging in over 55 battles. He passed away in Edo in 1610, having inadvertently cut his hand while woodcarving. Observing his own blood flow from the wound, he considered it an omen and willed himself to pass away at the age of 63 several months later.
See also
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Torii Mototada
Torii Mototada (1539 – September 8, 1600) was a Japanese samurai and daimyo who lived through the Sengoku and late Azuchi–Momoyama periods. A loyal retainer of Tokugawa Ieyasu, he is best remembered for his heroic last stand at the Siege of Fushimi, an event that played a crucial role in shaping Japanese history.
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Toyotomi Hideyori
Toyotomi Hideyori (August 28, 1593 – June 4, 1615) was the son and designated successor of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the general who first unified Japan. His mother, Yodo-dono, was Oda Nobunaga's niece.
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Okubo Tadanori
Okubo Tadanori (January 13, 1842 – August 10, 1897) was the 9th daimyo of Odawara Domain in Sagami Province (modern-day Kanagawa Prefecture) during the late Edo period. Before the Meiji Restoration, he held the courtesy title of Kaga no Kami.
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Okubo Tadayo
Okubo Tadayo (1532 – October 28, 1594) was a samurai general who served Tokugawa Ieyasu during the Azuchi–Momoyama period and later became the daimyo of Odawara Domain in the early Edo period.
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Araki Murashige
Araki Murashige (1535 – June 20, 1586) was a samurai and retainer of Ikeda Katsumasa, the head of the powerful Settsu-Ikeda clan in Settsu Province. Initially serving under Katsumasa, he aligned himself with Oda Nobunaga after Nobunaga’s successful campaign to establish control over Kyoto.
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Yuki Hideyasu
Yuki Hideyasu (March 1, 1574 – June 2, 1607) was a Japanese samurai who lived during the Azuchi–Momoyama and early Edo periods, serving as the daimyō of Fukui Domain in Echizen Province. Born Tokugawa Ogimaru, he was the second son of Tokugawa Ieyasu and Lady Oman (also known as Lady Kogō), a handmaiden to Ieyasu’s wife, Lady Tsukiyama. Due to Ieyasu’s fears of his wife’s reaction to Oman’s pregnancy, Ogimaru and his twin brother were born in secrecy at the home of Honda Shigetsugu, one of Ieyasu’s retainers. Oman’s other son eventually became a priest, while Ogimaru was raised apart from Ieyasu, whom he only met at the age of three, in a meeting arranged by his older half-brother, Matsudaira Nobuyasu.
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Tsutsui Sadatsugu
Tsutsui Sadatsugu (June 6, 1562 – April 2, 1615) was a prominent figure in the Sengoku and early Edo periods, known as the cousin and adopted heir of Tsutsui Junkei, the feudal lord of Yamato Province. Following Junkei's death in 1584, Toyotomi Hideyoshi relocated Sadatsugu to Iga Province, where he oversaw the construction of Iga Ueno Castle, marking the height of his prominence.
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Matsudaira Kiyoyasu
Matsudaira Kiyoyasu (September 28, 1511 – November 29, 1535) served as the 7th lord of the Matsudaira clan during Japan's tumultuous Sengoku period. Renowned as the paternal grandfather of Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of Japan's "great unifiers," Kiyoyasu expanded his clan’s influence, bringing all of northern Mikawa Province under his control after subduing the Saigo clan. His power was further symbolized by the construction of Okazaki Castle, a testament to the Matsudaira’s growing dominance.
