Katakura Shigenaga

Katakura Shigenaga (1584-1659) was the eldest son of Katakura Kojuro (Kagenaga), the celebrated strategist of Date Masamune. After his father Kagenaga's death, he served as a senior retainer of the Date clan. During the Summer Siege of Osaka (1615), he became famous for the episode in which he protected the orphaned child of Sanada Yukimura, Aume, and treated her with great consideration, demonstrating the compassion of a samurai. He also engaged in fierce battles against the Toyotomi forces under Sanada Nobushige (Yukimura), and his valor shone especially brightly in the Osaka campaigns. He trained in the Date-style of swordsmanship and is said to have favored fine blades forged by Tohoku smiths, including the Sendai uchigatana. Combining his father's wisdom with his own fierce courage, he is celebrated as a model warrior of the Tohoku samurai tradition.