Asahina Yasuyoshi

Asahina Yasuyoshi (1497-1557) was a Sengoku-period retainer of the Imagawa of Suruga. Son of Asahina Yasuhiro, he served three generations of the Imagawa (Ujichika, Ujiteru and Yoshimoto) as an elder and held Kakegawa Castle in Totomi. He died of illness on the 30th day of the 8th month, Koji 3 (22 September 1557).

In 1518 he married a daughter of Nakamikado Nobuhide, forming a marriage tie with the Imagawa. In the Imagawa Kanamoku-roku of 1526 he is listed among the leading retainers alongside Miura Ujimitsu. At the Battle of Azukizaka in 1548 he served as deputy commander assisting the supreme commander Taigen Sessai. In 1549, after Matsudaira Hirotada of Okazaki died suddenly, he took over Okazaki Castle. He entrusted Utsuyama Castle on the west shore of Lake Hamana to branch members such as Asahina Yasunaga and Mototomo.

Some sources name "Asahina Yasuyoshi" as the commander who attacked Washizu Fort in 1560 (the Okehazama campaign), but this is thought to be his heir Yasutomo; it has also been suggested that his death was concealed. His death was a heavy blow to Imagawa Yoshimoto after the loss of Sessai. An alternative tradition says he lived until Takeda Shingen's occupation of Sunpu and died by suicide after charging the pursuing Takeda troops to cover the escape of Ujizane, with a grave at Taishoji in Shizuoka, but this may be confused with a kinsman's legend.