Chōsokabe Nobuchika

Chōsokabe Nobuchika (1565–1587) was the eldest son of Chōsokabe Motochika, a Sengoku daimyo of Tosa. Distinguished for his martial prowess from youth, he enjoyed his father's complete trust. At the Battle of Hetsugigawa against the Shimazu clan in the 12th month of Tenshō 14 (January 1587), he fought as part of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's forces but was caught in the Shimazu army's tsuri-nobuse ambush tactics and fell in battle at just 22 by traditional Japanese reckoning. His death was a severe blow to Motochika and created a succession problem for the Chōsokabe house. He was said to be a handsome man and a first-rate swordsman. According to the Motochika-ki, at Hetsugigawa he fought fiercely with a great naginata four shaku three sun long, later switching to his tachi. When he received the character "Nobu" from Oda Nobunaga's name in Tenshō 6 (1578), he was also presented with a famed sword by Samonji and a fine horse.