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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Katagiri Katsumoto
Katsumoto was born into the family of Katagiri Naomasa, who came from an ancient and noble lineage. The Katagiri clan had served the early shoguns of the Minamoto house for over five centuries and held lands in the northern part of Shinano Province.
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Kasuya Takenori
There are several versions regarding the origins of Takenori. According to one account, he was the second son of Kasuya Tadayasu, a samurai who served the Bessho clan in Harima Province. In 1577, when Toyotomi Hideyoshi launched his campaign in Harima, on the advice of his close retainer Kuroda Yoshitaka, also known as Kanbei, he took Takenori into his service as a page. In this position, the young warrior participated in the siege of Miki Castle, which lasted from 1578 to 1580 and was aimed at suppressing the rebellion led by Bessho Nagaharu.
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Kajiwara Kagetoki
One of the finest generals and most loyal allies of Minamoto no Yoritomo, Kagetoki gained a notorious reputation as a jealous rival and persecutor of Yoshitsune, the legendary commander of the Genpei War. Kagetoki was an intelligent, calculating, and cautious man.
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Kawakubo (Takeda) Nobuzane
Nobuzane was the seventh son of Takeda Nobutora and the half-brother of the famous Takeda Shingen. The identity of his mother is unknown, as is the exact year of his birth. It is believed that he was born sometime in the 1530s. When Nobuzane reached adulthood, he was sent to the village of Kawakubo, located in the northern part of Kai Province near the border with the Saku region. His duty was to guard the road leading north. In that village, he built a residence and changed his family name to Kawakubo.
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Imagawa Sadayo
Imagawa Sadayo was one of the most outstanding figures of his era. Alongside Kusunoki Masashige and Kitabatake Chikafusa, he was considered one of the greatest generals and strategists of his time. In addition to his military talents, Sadayo was also a poet and historian, and his literary abilities earned him a prominent place at court and in scholarly circles.
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Ikeda Motosuke
Motosuke was the son of Ikeda Tsunooki and the older brother of the famous military commander Ikeda Terumasa. Sources differ on his year of birth—it was either 1559 or 1564. Motosuke was married to the sister of Oda Nobutada, the eldest son of Oda Nobunaga. Thus, Nobutada's son, Oda Hidenobu, was his nephew.
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Watanabe (Hanzo) Moritsuna
Moritsuna was the son of Watanabe Takatsuna, a vassal of the Matsudaira clan. He was the same age as Tokugawa Ieyasu and was held hostage with him by the Imagawa clan. In 1557, Moritsuna joined Ieyasu.
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Ban Naoyuki
He was also known as Ban Danemon. In the early stages of his military career, he served under Kato Yoshiaki, one of the so-called “Seven Spears of Shizugatake,” who later became the ruler of the Aizu region in Mutsu Province. Naoyuki held the position of commander of the arquebusiers (teppo taishō).
