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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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.
