Uesugi Kagekatsu was born into the Nagao clan of Ueda, the son of Nagao Masakage. After Masakage's death, Kagekatsu was adopted by his uncle, Uesugi Kenshin, as his mother, Aya Gozen, was Kenshin’s elder sister. When Kenshin passed away suddenly in 1578, Kagekatsu found himself entangled in a power struggle with his stepbrother/cousin, Uesugi Kagetora, also adopted by Kenshin.
On March 17, 1578, Kagekatsu besieged Kagetora’s castle at Otate, resulting in its swift fall and Kagetora's forced seppuku. With this victory, Kagekatsu asserted his full inheritance and leadership over the Uesugi clan.
Aligned with the Toyotomi clan, Kagekatsu participated in military campaigns at Odawara and in both Korean Campaigns. His loyalty and competence earned him Aizu Domain and an income of 1.2 million koku. Highly esteemed by Hideyoshi, Kagekatsu was appointed as one of the Council of Five Elders.
Following Hideyoshi’s death in 1598, Kagekatsu observed as Tokugawa Ieyasu, another councilor, moved to divide the council members and the nation into East and West factions. Kagekatsu was among the first daimyo to oppose Ieyasu's actions, remaining loyal to the Toyotomi clan and supporting Ishida Mitsunari against the Tokugawa.
Kagekatsu's fortification of a castle at Aizu and the mobilization of troops drew the attention of Ieyasu, who marshaled a formidable force of 50,000 soldiers against the Uesugi. This move was likely part of Ishida Mitsunari's strategy to divert Ieyasu's attention from the Western loyalists. However, Ieyasu sensed the ploy and redirected his forces towards Sekigahara.
After the Western forces' defeat at Sekigahara, Kagekatsu aligned himself with the Tokugawa. He was granted the domain of Yonezawa with an income of 300,000 koku. Kagekatsu fought for the Tokugawa in the Osaka campaigns of 1614 and 1615.
Uesugi Kagekatsu passed away on April 19, 1623, in Yonezawa at the age of 67.
See also
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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.
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Wakisaka Yasuharu
Wakisaka Yasuharu held the position of daimyo over Awaji Island before ruling over Ozu in Iyo Province. His significance in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 cannot be overstated.
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Ukita Hideie
Ukita Hideie was born as the second son of Ukita Naoie, the ruler of Okayama Castle. Tragically, Hideie's father passed away when he was just nine years old, thrusting him into the responsibilities of leading the castle, clan, and domain. Prior to his father's demise, the Ukita clan had aligned with Oda Nobunaga. After Nobunaga's assassination during the Honno-ji Incident, Hideie remained loyal to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, whose ties were further solidified through marriage.
