Tokugawa Ieyasu, the inaugural Tokugawa Shogun and the third of Japan's Three Great Unifiers, was born on January 31, 1543, at Okazaki Castle in Aichi Prefecture. In his youth, Ieyasu was entrusted as a hostage to the Imagawa clan by his father, Matsudaira Hidetada, who sought their aid in the struggle against the Oda. The Matsudaira clan found themselves sandwiched between the Oda to the west and the Imagawa to the northeast, sparking debate among their leaders regarding which rival warlord to align with. Ultimately, Hidetada opted to support the larger and stronger Imagawa faction.
During the journey to the Imagawa stronghold at Suruga, the convoy was misled by a renegade retainer of the Matsudaira clan to the camp of their adversary, Oda Nobuhide. Despite Nobuhide offering terms of peace under challenging conditions, Hidetada refused, even at the peril of his son's life. Consequently, Ieyasu was confined to Nobuhide's castle, where he possibly encountered Nobuhide's son, Nobunaga, and endured hardships at a temple in Nagoya. Subsequently, when the Imagawa attacked Anjo Castle and seized Oda Nobuhide's son three years later, Ieyasu was handed over to the Imagawa as part of the exchange.
Ieyasu participated in the pivotal 1560 clash between the Imagawa Yoshimoto and the Oda Nobunaga at Okehazama, where a mere 2,500 Oda samurai routed the massive army of 25,000 Imagawa soldiers. During this battle, Ieyasu, tasked with delivering supplies to Odaka Castle, found himself liberated from the grasp of the Imagawa clan following the demise of Imagawa Yoshimoto. Upon his return to Okazaki Castle, Ieyasu formed an alliance with Oda Nobunaga, who indirectly facilitated his newfound freedom.
In 1573, Ieyasu faced a dire situation when the Takeda clan launched an assault on his northern Totomi provinces during the Battle of Mikatagahara. However, four years later, with the support of Oda Nobunaga, he exacted vengeance by crushing the Takeda forces at the Battle of Nagashino. Subsequently, following Nobunaga's demise, Ieyasu clashed with Hideyoshi at the Battle of Komaki Nagakute in 1584, though their relationship would later ameliorate.
As Hideyoshi lay on his deathbed in 1598 after governing a unified nation for nearly 15 years, he summoned the 56-year-old Ieyasu and entrusted him with leading the council of regents responsible for overseeing his five-year-old son and designated heir, Toyotomi Hideyori.
Ieyasu willingly accepted the responsibility and, following the demise of the Taiko, or 'Great Chancellor' Hideyoshi, he assumed control from the opulent Fushimi Castle. Without delay, he initiated maneuvers to consolidate his authority over the nation. His assertive actions drew the criticism of many of his peers, leading to a division of the nation into two opposing factions: the east and the west. The confrontation between these formidable armies occurred on October 21, 1600, at the modest plain of Sekigahara, a crucial juncture where the Tokaido and Nakasendo highways intersected, marking the gateway between the country's dividing mountains. The outcome of this monumental battle favored Ieyasu, solidifying his position as the victor in what would be remembered as the largest, most intense, and decisive conflict in samurai history.
Three years following the Battle of Sekigahara, Ieyasu ascended to the esteemed title of Shogun, initiating a dynasty that would govern Japan for the subsequent 260 years.
Later records from Ieyasu's life indicate that he stood approximately 156.5cm tall. While he was slender in his youth, he gradually grew in size as he aged, with a waist circumference ranging from 100 to 120cm. Records of order forms for split toe tabi socks reveal his foot size to be 22.7cm. His inner leg measured about 80cm, with the length from knee to foot being 35cm. Hand prints suggest his hands spanned 18cm from the base of the palm to the fingertips. (Interestingly, his left hand displayed a single straight line across the palm, a trait palm readers often associate with greatness.) In times of stress, he was known to bite his nails, particularly those of his left little finger, sometimes causing them to bleed.
Ieyasu enjoyed outdoor activities such as hawking and swimming, maintaining an active lifestyle. He frequently swam in the moats of Edo Castle and later in Sumpu's moat. Despite his high rank, he preferred modest meals over lavish ones and showed a keen interest in health and fitness, studying medicinal practices. He often provided medical advice to his retainers and fellow daimyo.
Ieyasu passed away at the age of 73, a notable longevity in an era when the average lifespan was around 50 years. Legend has it that he died after eating tempura while falconing at Tanaka Castle in Shizuoka. However, modern researchers speculate that the oils from the tempura may have aggravated Ieyasu's stomach cancer, contributing to his demise.
His body rests atop Kunouzan near the Kunouzan Toshogu in Shizuoka, while his spirit is honored at the splendid Toshogu shrine in Nikko.
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.
