* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Honda Tadakatsu
本多忠勝
The Mightiest Warrior of the Sengoku Era
Description
Invincible Legend
Honda Tadakatsu, born in Mikawa Province in 1548 (Tenbun 17), is the most martially distinguished of the warriors who served Tokugawa Ieyasu, and his name is forever inscribed in the history of the Sengoku period. The legend that he took part in fifty-seven battles in his lifetime yet never once suffered a wound clearly illustrates Tadakatsu’s superhuman martial prowess. Oda Nobunaga praised Tadakatsu, describing him as “a warrior who has both flower and fruit,” and it is said that Kosugi Sakon of the Takeda side scrawled after the Battle of Hitokotozaka: “Ieyasu has two things too good for him: the kara no kashira (yak-hair helmet ornament) and Honda Heihachi.”
Rearguard Valor
One of the achievements that spread Tadakatsu’s martial fame throughout the realm was his rearguard action at the Battle of Hitokotozaka (1572). While Tokugawa forces were retreating after encountering Takeda Shingen’s main army during a reconnaissance, Tadakatsu served as rearguard together with Ōkubo Tadasuke. He stood before the pursuing Takeda troops and secured Ieyasu’s withdrawal. At this time, it is said, Tadakatsu swung his beloved spear Tonbokiri freely from side to side and drove down the enemy soldiers who pressed in, one after another. At the Battle of Komaki–Nagakute, facing Hideyoshi’s great army, he carried out a provocative diversionary attack with only 500 troops, and Hideyoshi praised him as “the bravest warrior of the eastern provinces.” At the Battle of Sekigahara, he also worked to win over the commanders of the Eastern Army through persuasion, and in the main battle, with a small band of men, he is said to have taken as many as 90 heads.
Beloved Spear Tonbokiri
Tadakatsu’s signature spear, the beloved Tonbokiri, is counted among the Three Great Spears of Japan and is a masterpiece of the realm. It was the work of the swordsmith Fujiwara Masazane of Mikawa Province, and its blade is said to measure approximately 43.7 centimeters, with a shaft of more than 2 jō (approximately 6 meters). The name derives from an anecdote that a dragonfly which flew into the spear as it stood on the battlefield was cut in two. Masazane is also said to have been a disciple of Muramasa, and his blades combined the practical sharpness and sturdy construction that Mikawa warriors demanded. Tonbokiri is a spear with an ō-sasaho blade, and its vigorous form, with Sanskrit characters and a sanko-ken carved into the groove, seems to reflect Tadakatsu’s resolute character.
Nakatsukasa Masamune
The “Nakatsukasa Masamune” is a sword by Masamune named after Tadakatsu’s official title, Nakatsukasa-taifu. It is a famous blade in which the powerful niedeki hamon of the Sōshū-den harmonizes with the fine beauty of the jigane. Later, Tadakatsu presented it to Tokugawa Ieyasu, and it passed down to the Tokugawa shogunal family. It is now owned by the Agency for Cultural Affairs as a National Treasure.
Armour and Faith
Tadakatsu’s armour is distinguished by deer-antler side crests and black-laced armour, and he is also known for going into battle wearing prayer beads. It is said that this was to pray for the repose of the souls of the enemy soldiers he had slain, and it shows that Tadakatsu was not merely a fierce warrior but a man who combined a samurai’s pride with compassion.
Later Years and Death
In his later years, Tadakatsu, as lord of the 100,000-koku Kuwana Domain, showed his skill in managing his domain. In 1610 (Keichō 15), there is an anecdote that when he slipped with a small knife and was wounded, he muttered, “So, Honda Tadakatsu is finally coming to an end, too?” A man who had never once been wounded on the battlefield in his life shed blood for the first time amid an ordinary, peaceful daily life. Tadakatsu died a few days later.
Notable Swords
- Tonbokiri (spear by Fujiwara Masazane. One of the Three Great Spears of Japan. Named after a dragonfly that flew into the spear point and was cut in two. Has an ō-sasaho blade)
- Nakatsukasa Masamune (a masterpiece of Sōshū Masamune. A famous blade in which the powerful niedeki hamon harmonizes with the refined jigane)