Shimazu Yoshihisa, the daimyo of Satsuma Province and eldest son of Shimazu Takahisa, is renowned as one of the greatest leaders of his era. Rising from his domains in Kagoshima, southern Kyushu, he nearly succeeded in conquering the entirety of Kyushu single-handedly. Despite the unconventional marriage to his own aunt, and later to the daughter of Tanegashima Tokitaka, another relative, Yoshihisa's military prowess remained unmatched.
As the 18th leader of the Shimazu clan, he spearheaded the unification of Kyūshu alongside his brothers Yoshihiro, Toshihisa, and Iehisa. By the mid-1580s, the Shimazu clan held dominion over most of Kyushu until Toyotomi Hideyoshi's massive army, comprising over 200,000 samurai, challenged their rule. Despite their valiant efforts, the Shimazu were eventually forced to surrender, leading Yoshihisa to retire as a Buddhist priest, spending his remaining years composing poetry.
Yoshihisa's humility and strategic acumen were acknowledged when he was invited to Fushimi Castle by Tokugawa Ieyasu. There, he explained his approach to warfare, emphasizing the importance of allowing his subordinates to excel while he waited for news of their victories. Impressed by this philosophy, Ieyasu praised Yoshihisa's leadership as exemplary, recognizing the wisdom of empowering those under his command.
Yoshihisa passed away following a brief illness on March 5, 1611, at the age of 78.
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.
