Tsutsui Junkei (March 31, 1549 – September 15, 1584), the son of Tsutsui Junsho, was a daimyo who ruled over Yamato Province. In 1571, through the mediation of Akechi Mitsuhide, Junkei pledged his service to Oda Nobunaga.
Earlier in his career, in 1565, he was defeated by Matsunaga Hisahide, a powerful local warlord, who seized Tsutsui Castle. However, in 1566, Junkei successfully reclaimed the castle after a battle with Hisahide, though he was soon forced to abandon it by order of Nobunaga.
In 1575, Junkei participated in Nobunaga's campaign against the Echizen Ikko-ikki, serving alongside other forces from Yamato under Harada Naomasa. Two years later, in 1577, he joined Oda Nobutada, Akechi Mitsuhide, and Hosokawa Fujitaka in the Siege of Shigisan, where they defeated Hisahide at Mount Shigi.
By 1578, Junkei had been appointed as the daimyo of Yamato and was permitted to construct Koriyama Castle, located in present-day Yamatokoriyama, Nara. He continued to serve in Nobunaga's campaigns, including the Siege of Itami in 1579 against Araki Murashige and the Tensho Iga War in 1581 during the Siege of Hijiyama, against the Iga Sokoku Ikki.
During the Battle of Yamazaki in 1582, Junkei remained neutral, choosing not to align with either side. He famously waited for the outcome at "Hora ga toge," a decision that led to the expression "to sit on Hora ga toge," meaning to remain undecided.
In 1584, during the Komaki Campaign against Tokugawa Ieyasu, Junkei fought on the side of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who later confirmed his rule over Yamato. However, Junkei died of illness on September 15, 1584. After his death, his cousin and adopted son, Tsutsui Sadatsugu, succeeded him, but the Tsutsui clan soon lost control of Yamato to Toyotomi Hidenaga, Hideyoshi's half-brother. Sadatsugu was later relocated to Iga Province by Hideyoshi's orders.
See also
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Shinpu Castle
Shinpu Castle was a Japanese hirayama-style fortress from the Sengoku period, situated in what is now Nirasaki, Yamanashi Prefecture. It served as the main stronghold of warlord Takeda Katsuyori. Designated as a National Historic Site in 1973, the castle occupies a strategic position on a mountain with steep cliffs, overlooking the Kamanashi River to the west of Kofu, where Takeda Shingen’s Tsutsujigasaki Castle once stood.
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Takato Castle
Takato Castle, located in the city of Ina in southern Nagano Prefecture, Japan, was a notable stronghold during the Sengoku period. By the end of the Edo period, it was the residence of a cadet branch of the Naito clan, the daimyo of the Takato Domain. Also known as Kabuto Castle, it was originally constructed in the 16th century and is now mostly in ruins.
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Takatenjin Castle
Takatenjin Castle was a yamashiro-style fortress from Japan's Sengoku period, situated in the Kamihijikata and Shimohijikata districts of Kakegawa, Shizuoka Prefecture. Designated a National Historic Site in 1975, with an expanded protected area in 2007, its ruins remain a significant historical landmark.
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Yoshida Castle
Yoshida Castle is renowned worldwide, particularly through the intricate woodblock prints by Edo Period artist Hiroshige. His famous series, depicting the 53 stages of the Tokaido—the historic route between Kyoto and Edo (modern-day Tokyo)—includes the 34th print, which shows workmen repairing a castle overlooking a wooden bridge crossing a wide river. This scene captures the Toyokawa River at Toyohashi in southeast Aichi Prefecture, and the castle is Yoshida Castle.
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Yamato Koriyama Castle
The impressive ruins of Koriyama Castle sit atop a small hill, surrounded by two rivers. The strategic positioning and strong layout of the castle served it well through the final years of the Sengoku period and the peaceful days of the Edo period.
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Yamanaka Castle
Yamanaka Castle, established by Hojo Ujiyasu in the 1560s, is located in what is now eastern Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture. This castle served as the first line of western defense for the main Hojo Castle at Odawara. Carved into the side of a 586-meter-high mountain, Yamanaka Castle was strategically positioned along the Tokaido Highway, offering superb views of nearby Mt. Fuji, the ocean, and the road leading to Odawara.
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Uwajima Castle
Uwajima Castle, located in Uwajima City, Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku, is one of the 12 remaining Japanese castles with an original keep. Known for its small size, Uwajima Castle is relatively difficult to access, which means it is less frequented by tourists.
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Ueda Castle
Ueda Castle in Nagano Prefecture once stood prominently on a cliff overlooking the Saigawa River. Also known as Amagafuchi-Jo, Isesaki-Jo, Matsuo-Jo, and Sanada-Jo, it was built around 1583 by its first master, Sanada Masayuki. This sturdy yet small fortress cleverly utilized the surrounding natural defenses, including the river, steep rocky cliffs, the layout of the town below, and the strategically designed waterways to hinder attackers. Ueda Castle was fortified with seven defensive yagura (watchtowers) atop robust stone walls and had two large gates with watchtowers above them.
