Hosokawa Fujitaka, also known as Yusai, stood as a revered daimyo, poet, and scholar, initially serving the 13th Ashikaga Shogun, Yoshiteru, and later the 15th Shogun, Yoshiaki, before aligning with Oda Nobunaga.
Born as the second son of Mitsubichi Harukazu in the tranquil village of Higashiyama, Kyoto, he was adopted by his uncle, Hosokawa Mototsune, at the age of seven. His remarkable intelligence became evident early in life.
Having been a close advisor to the Ashikaga Shogunate, Yusai crossed paths with Oda Nobunaga during the fall of the Ashikaga. He actively participated in Nobunaga's battles across central Japan and Kyoto, contributing significantly to the nation's unification. To strengthen bonds between trusted advisors, Nobunaga orchestrated marriages, such as that of Akechi Mitsuhide's daughter to Yusai's son, Tadaoki.
In 1582, following Akechi Mitsuhide's attack on Honno-ji resulting in Nobunaga's death, Yusai and Tadaoki, appalled by Mitsuhide's actions, refused assistance. With Nobunaga's demise, Yusai became a priest.
Approached by Ishida Mitsunari before the Battle of Sekigahara, Yusai and his son wisely withheld their intentions. Mitsunari's plan to capture daimyo families in Osaka, including Yusai's, led to tragedy. Yusai's daughter-in-law, Gracia, resisted, resulting in her death and influencing many daimyo to join the Eastern forces led by Tokugawa.
In anticipation of the Battle of Sekigahara, Yusai, informed of his daughter-in-law's death and Mitsunari's moves, fortified Tanabe Castle. Defying the odds, the 67-year-old scholar and poet defended the castle with 500 men against 15,000 troops. Former students among the attackers, respecting their teacher, half-heartedly engaged in the siege. Yusai's possession of rare poetry books prompted him to seek their safeguarding, emphasizing his commitment to art and knowledge even in the face of war.
Despite Imperial Court advice to surrender, Yusai, a dignified samurai, refused. The two-month siege diverted 15,000 Western troops from Sekigahara. Meanwhile, his son Tadaoki represented the Hosokawa clan on the battlefield.
Post-Sekigahara, Yusai retired, passing away at 78 and finding his resting place in Kyoto. A master of martial arts, literature, the tea ceremony, and poetry, Yusai left a legacy of profound knowledge in strategic games, cuisine, performing arts, and martial and cultural arts.
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.
