Ouchi Yoshitaka, the daimyo of Suo Province, governed from his stronghold in Yamaguchi, situated in what is now eastern Yamaguchi Prefecture. His ascension to power occurred at the age of 21, following the passing of his father, Ouchi Yoshioki, a renowned figure credited with reinstating the deposed Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshitane, to authority in 1508 and erecting Saijo Castle.
Expanding his domain, Yoshitaka conquered Aki Province by defeating the Amago clan and extended his influence to northern Kyushu, toppling the longstanding Shoni clan. However, a significant setback occurred in 1542 when his adopted son, Haruhisa, perished along with numerous samurai during a failed invasion of Izumo. This defeat shattered Yoshitaka's resolve for further military endeavors, shifting his focus towards fostering arts, culture, and foreign trade, which led to prosperity in Yamaguchi.
As an influential advisor to the Emperor, Yoshitaka advocated for relocating the Imperial court from Kyoto to Yamaguchi, aiming to liberate it from the dominating influence of the Miyoshi clan. By 1551, preparations were underway for this transition, sparking dissent among his retainers. A faction led by Sue Harukata, favoring territorial expansion over Yoshitaka's peaceful approach, orchestrated a coup d’état, swiftly usurping his authority. This coup resulted in the massacre of Imperial officials and courtiers, compelling Yoshitaka to commit seppuku at Tainei-ji Temple in Nagato, Yamaguchi Prefecture, just shy of his 44th birthday.
See also
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Matsudaira Nagachika
Matsudaira Nagachika (1473–1544?) was a daimyō of Japan’s Sengoku period and the third son of Matsudaira Chikatada. He was also the great-grandfather of Tokugawa Ieyasu.
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Oishi Yoshio
Oishi Yoshio (April 24, 1659 – March 20, 1703) served as the chamberlain of the Ako Domain in Harima Province, now part of modern-day Hyogo Prefecture, from 1679 to 1701. He is best known as the leader of the Forty-seven Rōnin in their 1703 vendetta and is honored as the central figure in the legendary tale of Chūshingura.
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Asano Nagaakira
Asano Nagaakira (March 18, 1586 – October 16, 1632) was a Japanese samurai and daimyō of the early Edo period. He initially ruled Wakayama Domain before being transferred to the Hiroshima Domain, where his family would remain until the Meiji Restoration.
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Takigawa Kazumasu
Takigawa Kazumasu (1525 – October 21, 1586), also known as Takikawa Sakon or Sakonshogen, was a prominent samurai and daimyō of the Sengoku period. He served as a loyal retainer and military commander under Oda Nobunaga and later Toyotomi Hideyoshi. His biological son, Toshimasu, was adopted by Maeda Toshihisa, the elder brother of Maeda Toshiie, and Kazumasu served alongside Toshiie in Nobunaga’s campaigns.
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Sanada Yukitaka
Sanada Yukitaka (c. 1512 – June 8, 1574) was a renowned samurai warrior of the Sengoku period, best known as one of the "Twenty-Four Generals of Takeda Shingen." He was the father of Sanada Nobutsuna and Sanada Masayuki, as well as the grandfather of the legendary Sanada Yukimura, who later served the Toyotomi clan.
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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.
