Horio Tadauji hailed from the lineage of Horio Yoshiharu, the inaugural lord of Matsue Castle. Following his father Yoshiharu's incapacitation in a tea ceremony altercation preceding the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Tadauji assumed his father's role in Tokugawa Ieyasu's Eastern forces. Post the battle, Ieyasu commended Tadauji for his commendable contributions and granted him 240,000 koku in Izumo Province (Shimane Prefecture).
Before committing to Ieyasu at Sekigahara, Yamanouchi Kazutoyo (Yamauchi Katsutomo) sought counsel from his confidant Horio Tadauji on the best course of action. Tadauji responded fervently and with great reverence, declaring, "I pledge my lands, my castle, my family, my food, my life, all I can give, without hesitation for the Tokugawa cause!" Touched by this, Yamanouchi decided to heed his friend's advice and joined the Eastern forces.
During the pre-battle assembly, Ieyasu received numerous declarations of loyalty, yet it was Yamanouchi's pledge that garnered the most attention. Faced with providing his own response, the less eloquent Yamanouchi simply echoed his friend Horio's impassioned declaration. "I pledge my lands, my castle, my family, my food, my life, all I can give, without hesitation for the Tokugawa cause!" Horio must have been astonished to hear his own words repeated by his less articulate comrade. Ieyasu, pleased with the sincerity and wholeheartedness, commended Yamanouchi for his resolute commitment, earning admiration from other leaders who cheered in approval.
While Horio Tadauji distinguished himself on the battlefield, his friend Yamanouchi played a lesser role, mostly observing from the sidelines. Tadauji succumbed to illness four years after the pivotal battle.
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.
