Amako Tsunehisa

Amako Tsunehisa (1458–1541) was a Sengoku daimyo based in Izumo Province (present-day Shimane Prefecture) and is considered one of the "Three Great Warlords of Western Japan," having ruled eight provinces in the Sanin and Sanyo regions through masterful stratagems and political acumen. He lived to the remarkable age of 84 while spending most of his life on the battlefield.

Tsunehisa was born in 1458 as the son of Amako Kiyosada, deputy military governor of Izumo Province. Though stripped of his deputy governorship in 1484, he launched a lightning counterattack in 1486 to retake Gassan Toda Castle. This dramatic recovery proved his exceptional talent for stratagem to the world.

Thereafter, Tsunehisa steadily expanded his power, subjugating prominent lords of the Chugoku region. While competing with the Ouchi and Mori clans for supremacy, at his zenith he controlled a vast domain encompassing seven provinces: Izumo, Hoki, Iwami, Oki, Inaba, Bizen, and Mimasaka. His political prowess—earning him the epithet "Master of Stratagems"—impressed even the legendary Mori Motonari, who declared him a teacher worth learning from.

Regarding his connection to swords, Tsunehisa actively protected and encouraged Izumo swordmakers. Since ancient times, Izumo had been renowned for tatara iron-smelting and was a major source of high-quality sand iron used in producing tamahagane, the steel essential for Japanese blades. Tsunehisa supported local sword-making guilds and established a superior weapons-supply system that became the foundation of the Amako clan's military strength. The tachi he favored is said to have been an especially fine example of Unshu-mono.

Remaining active until his final years, Tsunehisa closed his life in 1541 at the age of 84. Even after passing clan leadership to his grandson Amako Haruhisa, he continued to be involved in military and political affairs, exemplifying the true spirit of a Sengoku warlord.