Kato Kiyomasa, a distinguished Daimyo of the Azuchi-Momoyama and Edo periods, was not only a revered warrior but also an accomplished castle architect. Born in the present-day Nakamura Ward, Nagoya City, Kiyomasa's early life took a courageous turn when, following his father's demise, he was sent to live with his uncle at a temple in Tsushima. At the age of 9, while home alone, Kiyomasa thwarted robbers by wearing a devil's mask from Noh and brandishing a small sword, compelling them to flee.
At 15, he entered the services of his cousin, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, participating in pivotal battles such as the Battle of Yamazaki (1582) against Akechi Mitsuhide and the Battle of Shizugatake (1583) against Shibata Katsuie and Oda Nobutaka. His valor earned him the distinction of being named one of the Seven Spears of Shizugatake.
As a senior commander in the Korean Campaign, Kiyomasa played a crucial role in capturing Seoul and Pusan, notably defending the Kiyomasa-designed castle in the Siege of Ulsan. His exploits included spear hunting tigers in Korea, bringing their pelts back to Hideyoshi. However, this practice was later banned due to the risks samurai faced in emulating Kiyomasa's daring feats.
Kato Kiyomasa's multifaceted legacy encompasses not only military achievements but also architectural prowess, leaving an indelible mark on the history of the Azuchi-Momoyama and Edo periods.
In a surprising turn of events during the Battle of Sekigahara, Kato Kiyomasa aligned himself with Tokugawa Ieyasu. Although absent from the actual battlefield, he engaged Tokugawa adversaries in Kyushu, particularly confronting the forces of his neighboring fief, Konishi Yukunaga. Konishi, a Christian, incurred the disdain of the Nichiren sect Buddhist, a sentiment shared by Kiyomasa. Additionally, Konishi's allegiance to Ishida Mitsunari, another samurai with whom Kiyomasa had conflicts, intensified the animosity.
Historical accounts depict Kiyomasa as an awe-inspiring and effective leader, embodying the essence of a samurai. Despite his reputation for creative castle-building expertise, he harbored a brutal side. Notably, during the Battle of Hondo, he ruthlessly ordered the abdomens of pregnant Christian women to be cut open, with the unborn babies' heads subsequently sliced off as a means of suppressing Christianity.
Kiyomasa's architectural prowess was exceptional, marked by the design of strategic castles during the Korean Campaigns. His talent earned him acclaim as the architect of the magnificent Kumamoto Castle. Subsequently, Tokugawa Ieyasu enlisted him to construct the tenshu-dai, the stone ramparts supporting the splendid keep of Nagoya Castle.
During the construction of Nagoya Castle, Kiyomasa utilized surplus building materials to establish the Myogyo-Ji Temple at the site of his birth. Presently situated on the east side of Nakamura Koen, the temple is accompanied by the Kiyomasa Hideyoshi Memorial Museum within the same park. This museum showcases items and displays relevant to these two local heroes. Notably, Nagoya city boasts more statues of Kato Kiyomasa than any other historical figure.
Upon Kiyomasa's sudden demise at the age of 50, rumors circulated suggesting that Tokugawa Ieyasu might have played a role in his death. As an architect involved in Nagoya Castle's construction, Kiyomasa held insights into its strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, being a close relative of the Toyotomi clan, he had been mediating to enhance relations between Tokugawa Ieyasu and Toyotomi Hideyori. Following one such meeting, he fell ill on his journey home by ship and passed away shortly after arriving in Kumamoto.
Kiyomasa, prioritizing military pursuits, showed little interest in refined activities like the tea ceremony or poetry. His valor in battle, no-nonsense and disciplined approach to warfare, along with unwavering adherence to his principles, earned Kato Kiyomasa widespread respect as a samurai.
See also
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Yamagata Masakage
Masakage was one of Takeda Shingen’s most loyal and capable commanders. He was included in the famous list of the “Twenty-Four Generals of Takeda Shingen” and also belonged to the inner circle of four especially trusted warlords known as the Shitennō.
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Yagyu Munenori
Yagyū Munenori began his service under Tokugawa Ieyasu while his father, Yagyū Muneyoshi, was still at his side. In 1600, Munenori took part in the decisive Battle of Sekigahara. As early as 1601, he was appointed a kenjutsu instructor to Tokugawa Hidetada, Ieyasu’s son, who later became the second shogun of the Tokugawa clan.
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Yagyu Muneyoshi
A samurai from Yamato Province, he was born into a family that had been defeated in its struggle against the Tsutsui clan. Muneyoshi first took part in battle at the age of sixteen. Due to circumstances beyond his control, he was forced to enter the service of the Tsutsui house and later served Miyoshi Tōkei. He subsequently came under the command of Matsunaga Hisahide and in time became a vassal first of Oda and later of Toyotomi.
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Endo Naozune
Naozune served under Azai Nagamasa and was one of the clan’s leading vassals, renowned for his bravery and determination. He accompanied Nagamasa during his first meeting with Oda Nobunaga and at that time asked for permission to kill Nobunaga, fearing him as an extremely dangerous man; however, Nagamasa did not grant this request.
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Hosokawa Sumimoto
Sumimoto came from the Hosokawa clan: he was the biological son of Hosokawa Yoshiharu and at the same time the adopted son of Hosokawa Masamoto, the heir of Hosokawa Katsumoto, one of the principal instigators of the Ōnin War. Masamoto was homosexual, never married, and had no children of his own. At first he adopted Sumiyuki, a scion of the aristocratic Kujō family, but this choice provoked dissatisfaction and sharp criticism from the senior vassals of the Hosokawa house. As a result, Masamoto changed his decision and proclaimed Sumimoto as his heir, a representative of a collateral branch of the Hosokawa clan that had long been based in Awa Province on the island of Shikoku. Almost immediately after this, the boy became entangled in a complex and bitter web of political intrigue.
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Honda Masanobu
Masanobu initially belonged to the retinue of Tokugawa Ieyasu, but later entered the service of Sakai Shōgen, a daimyo and priest from Ueno. This shift automatically made him an enemy of Ieyasu, who was engaged in conflict with the Ikkō-ikki movement in Mikawa Province. After the Ikkō-ikki were defeated in 1564, Masanobu was forced to flee, but in time he returned and once again entered Ieyasu’s service. He did not gain fame as a military commander due to a wound sustained in his youth; nevertheless, over the following fifty years he consistently remained loyal to Ieyasu.
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Honda Masazumi
Masazumi was the eldest son of Honda Masanobu. From a young age, he served Tokugawa Ieyasu alongside his father, taking part in the affairs of the Tokugawa house and gradually gaining experience in both military and administrative matters. At the decisive Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Masazumi was part of the core Tokugawa forces, a clear sign of the high level of trust Ieyasu placed in him. After the campaign ended, he was given a highly sensitive assignment—serving in the guard of the defeated Ishida Mitsunari, one of Tokugawa’s principal enemies—an obligation that required exceptional reliability and caution.
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Hojo Shigetoki
Hōjō Shigetoki, the third son of Hōjō Yoshitoki, was still very young—only five years old—when his grandfather Tokimasa became the first member of the Hōjō clan to assume the position of shogunal regent.
