Sanada Nobushige, also known as Yukimura, emerged as one of the most illustrious samurai of the Sengoku Period. Born as the second son of Sanada Masayuki and younger sibling to Sanada Nobuyuki, he was originally named Nobushige and acquired the moniker "Yukimura" only through later Edo period tales. Renowned as the "Crimson Demon of War" due to his blood-red banners and armor, he earned titles such as "Japan’s Greatest Warrior" and even the "Last Sengoku Hero" among his contemporaries.
As a youth, he was sent by his father as a hostage to the Uesugi clan, later returning to serve Toyotomi Hideyoshi directly. Nobushige married Aki-hime, the daughter of Otani Yoshitsugu, who was adopted by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Throughout his life, Nobushige displayed remarkable bravery and strategic prowess in various battles, notably defending Ueda Castle against multiple Tokugawa sieges. Despite being vastly outnumbered, he valiantly held off Tokugawa forces, earning admiration and respect.
Following the Battle of Sekigahara, where the Sanada family was divided between the Western and Tokugawa forces, Nobushige and his father were stripped of their domain and exiled to Mt. Koya. Despite this setback, Nobushige continued to resist the Tokugawa, participating in the Winter Siege and Summer Campaign of Osaka Castle. He constructed the formidable Sanada Maru, a crescent-shaped fortress, and led fierce defenses against overwhelming Tokugawa forces.
Tragically, during the Summer Siege of Osaka, Nobushige, exhausted from relentless battles, faced defeat. Despite his valiant efforts, he succumbed to his injuries under a pine tree in the grounds of the Yasui Shrine, allowing a Tokugawa samurai named Nishio Nizaemon to claim his head. Nobushige's death dealt a significant blow to the morale of the Osaka troops, marking the end of an era. Today, a statue commemorates his valiant spirit beneath the solemn shade of the shrine's pine tree.
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.
