Tokugawa Ieshige was the eldest son of Tokugawa Yoshimune and Osuma no Kata, the daughter of the Daimyo of Odawara, Okubo Tadanao. Unfortunately, his mother passed away when Ieshige was only two years old. Initially raised by his father's concubine, Okon no Kata, he later moved to the care of another concubine, Okume no Kata, after she gave birth to Ieshige's stepbrother, Tokugawa Munetake.
The appointment of Ieshige as heir to the 8th Shogun Yoshimune stirred controversy due to his chronic health issues, including a severe speech defect caused by malformed teeth and other ailments. Some scholars have speculated that he may have also faced cognitive challenges, as he seemed incapable of making decisions, relying heavily on his capable minister, Ooka Tadamitsu, for governance. Despite suggestions of more suitable candidates among his younger, healthier brothers, Yoshimune adhered to Confucian principles and insisted on Ieshige inheriting the position, which occurred in 1745. Even after his retirement, Yoshimune continued to exert influence in his son's name until his own passing in 1751.
In 1760, Ieshige relinquished the title of Shogun in favor of his son, Ieharu, a year before his death at the age of 49, likely due to a urinary tract infection. Throughout his 15-year rule as Shogun, his failure to tackle corruption within the Tokugawa administration, coupled with famine and natural calamities, eroded the strength of the Bakufu.
In 1958, Ieshige's tomb at Zojo-Ji temple in Tokyo was unearthed as part of the relocation of numerous Tokugawa family graves to make room for the construction of Tokyo Tower. Forensic analysis confirmed historical accounts of his deformed teeth, suggesting he may have suffered from a form of cerebral palsy. He was estimated to be 156.3cm tall and had type A blood.
See also
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Oda Nobutada
Oda Nobutada (1557 – June 21, 1582) was a samurai and the eldest son of Oda Nobunaga, known for his active role in several battles during Japan's Sengoku period. He led armies under his father's command in campaigns against Matsunaga Hisahide and the Takeda clan.
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Imagawa Ujizane
Imagawa Ujizane (1538 – January 27, 1615) was a Japanese daimyō who lived through the Sengoku and early Edo periods. He became the tenth head of the Imagawa clan, following in the footsteps of his father, Imagawa Yoshimoto. Ujizane was the father of Imagawa Norimochi and Shinagawa Takahisa.
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Hojo Ujiyasu
Hojo Ujiyasu (1515 – October 21, 1571), the third head of the Odawara Hojo clan, was a formidable daimyo known as the "Lion of Sagami." Revered as a fearsome samurai and brilliant strategist, he became famous for successfully breaking sieges by renowned warlords Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin. Ujiyasu was the son of Hojo Ujitsuna, and his only known wife was Zuikei-in, sister of Imagawa Yoshimoto. Among his children were Hojo Ujimasa and Uesugi Kagetora.
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Hojo Ujimasa
Hojo Ujimasa (1538 – August 10, 1590) was the fourth leader of the later Hojo clan and the daimyo of Odawara. He continued his father Hojo Ujiyasu's policy of territorial expansion, achieving the largest territorial holdings in the clan's history.
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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.
