Takenaka Shigeharu, known today as Hanbei, though historical records suggest he didn't use this name in his lifetime, hailed from Mino (Gifu). Hanbei emerged as a gifted strategist during the tumultuous Sengoku period, serving as a military advisor to both Saito Yoshitatsu and his son, Saito Tatsuoki, the lords of Gifu Castle. Despite his strategic brilliance, Hanbei was reputedly frail and delicate in appearance.
In a remarkable feat, Hanbei, accompanied by just 16 followers, successfully captured the seemingly impregnable Gifu Castle. Legend has it that Hanbei's effeminate demeanor led to a grave insult from a samurai of Gifu Castle, who allegedly urinated on him as he passed beneath a defensive turret. Despite Hanbei's appeals for justice to Saito Tatsuoki, the lord of the castle, no action was taken against the offender.
In a daring move, Hanbei exploited an opportunity to infiltrate the castle under the guise of visiting his ailing brother. Once inside, he seized the chance to launch an assassination attempt on Saito Tatsuoki. Confounded by the sudden attack, the cowardly Tatsuoki mistook Hanbei's actions for a full-scale invasion and fled in panic, abandoning the castle and his forces. Thus, Hanbei secured control of Gifu Castle with ease.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi was deeply impressed by Hanbei's strategic prowess and extended an offer for him to join his army. Similarly, Oda Nobunaga sought Hanbei's assistance in securing the castle. However, Hanbei declined Nobunaga's request, opting instead to return the castle to Tatsuoki, who was left humiliated and dishonored by his earlier retreat.
When Oda Nobunaga launched an assault on the castle two years later in 1564, the troops under Tatsuoki's command, still bearing the stigma of his cowardice, either fled or switched sides to support the Oda forces.
Swearing allegiance to the Oda clan, Takenaka Hanbei participated in campaigns against the Azai clan in Omi (now Shiga Prefecture) and the capture of Inabayama Castle in Gifu. Subsequently, Hanbei and another esteemed strategist, Kuroda Kanbei, both served as advisors to Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
Retiring from active service due to illness, Hanbei assumed responsibility for the nine-year-old son of his colleague and friend, Kuroda Kanbei, while Kuroda was away on a mission to the Araki clan in 1577. However, Kuroda was captured and imprisoned by the Araki, leading Oda Nobunaga to mistakenly believe that Kuroda had betrayed him. In a fit of rage, Nobunaga ordered Hanbei to execute Kuroda's son, Nagamasa. Hanbei, refusing to carry out such a cruel command, patiently awaited his master's temper to subside and for the truth of the situation to emerge, ultimately saving the boy's life.
One year later, Takenaka Hanbei fell victim to illness at the age of 34 while involved in the siege of Miki Castle, a pivotal engagement in Hideyoshi’s military campaign against the Mori clan in the Chugoku region. Despite his fragile health, he was carried in a palanquin. Although he had temporarily left Hideyoshi's side during the campaign to recover in Kyoto, he returned to be by Hideyoshi's side when the latter passed away on July 6, 1579.
Hanbei's son and successor, Shigekado, remained dedicated to serving Hideyoshi. He later aligned with the Eastern forces under Tokugawa Ieyasu at Sekigahara and was subsequently appointed as Hatamoto.
See also
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Saito Tatsuoki
Saito Tatsuoki (6 September 1548 - 1573) was a daimyo of Mino Province during Japan's Sengoku period and the third-generation lord of the Saito clan. He was the son of Saito Yoshitatsu and grandson of Saito Dosan. His mother was a daughter of Azai Hisamasa, making him a nephew of Azai Nagamasa and a relative of Oda Nobunaga's first wife, Nohime, who was also a daughter of Saito Dosan.
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Kyogoku Tadataka
Kyogoku Tadataka (1593–1637) was a Japanese nobleman and the head of the Kyogoku clan during the early 17th century, a pivotal time marked by the Tokugawa consolidation of power. His childhood name was Kumamaro, and he hailed from a lineage claiming descent from Emperor Uda (868–897). Tadataka was the son of Kyogoku Takatsugu and one of his concubines, with his paternal grandfather being Kyogoku Takayoshi.
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Matsudaira Naomasa
The late Muromachi period, also known as the Sengoku period, was an era of continuous conflict and upheaval, often likened to periods of chaos in Chinese history. This turbulent era was brought to an end by Tokugawa Ieyasu, who, with the support of loyal retainers, established the Edo Shogunate and became the ruler of Japan. Among Ieyasu’s descendants, Naomasa Matsudaira, his grandson, played a significant role during the Osaka Siege. He earned praise from his adversary, Nobushige Sanada (Yukimura Sanada), for his valor as a young warrior and maintained strong relations with successive Tokugawa shoguns.
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Ishikawa Kazumasa
Ishikawa Kazumasa (1534–1609) was a prominent Japanese retainer who began serving Tokugawa Ieyasu during his youth. Their relationship began in 1551 when both were hostages under the Imagawa clan. Kazumasa remained a loyal companion to Ieyasu, participating in key events such as the Siege of Terabe in 1558 and the Siege of Marune in 1560. After Ieyasu broke away from the Imagawa following the latter event, Kazumasa became a trusted retainer and administrator in his service.
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Shimazu Toyohisa
Shimazu Toyohisa (July 1570 – October 21, 1600), also known as Shimazu Tadatoyo, was a samurai of the Shimazu clan and the son of Shimazu Iehisa. He was the nephew of Shimazu Yoshihiro and held command over Sadowara Castle. Known for his valor, Toyohisa participated in numerous key battles of the late Sengoku period, earning recognition for his bravery and tactical acumen.
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Ikeda Terumasa
Ikeda Terumasa (January 31, 1565 – March 16, 1613) was a Japanese daimyo of the early Edo period, recognized by his court title, "Musashi no Kami," and known as the "Shogun of Western Japan." Terumasa, a distinguished military leader, participated in numerous significant battles during the late Azuchi-Momoyama period. His service at the Battle of Sekigahara earned him control over the Himeji domain. Originally named Araokojimaru, he was the son of Ikeda Tsuneoki and the brother of Ikeda Sen. He later became the heir to Ikeda Nobuteru and held Ikejiri Castle in Mino Province.
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Mori Tadamasa
Mori Tadamasa (1570 - July 31, 1634) was a notable military commander during Japan’s Warring States period and an early Edo-period daimyo. Initially, he governed Kawanakajima Domain in Shinano Province (modern-day Nagano Prefecture) and later became the first lord of Tsuyama Domain in Mimasaka Province (now northern Okayama Prefecture). He founded the Mori family line of the Ako Domain. Tadamasa’s family origins trace back to the Genji (Minamoto) clan, specifically the Kawachi-Genji branch from Kawachi Province (in present-day southeastern Osaka Prefecture), a lineage tied to Emperor Seiwa through his ancestor Yorisada Mori, a great-grandson of the famed Minamoto no Yoshiie.
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Sanada Masayuki
Sanada Masayuki (1547 – July 13, 1611) was a daimyo and prominent lord of Japan's Sengoku period. Head of the Sanada clan from Shinano Province, he served the powerful Takeda clan of Kai Province alongside his father and brothers during Takeda Shingen’s leadership. Following the Takeda clan's decline, Masayuki took charge of the Sanada, and despite limited resources, he established his clan as an independent power under the Toyotomi regime by navigating alliances with dominant clans such as the Tokugawa, Hojo, and Uesugi. Renowned as one of his era's greatest strategists, Masayuki achieved notable victories against the Tokugawa forces in the Battle of Kami River and the Siege of Ueda.
