* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Kikkawa Motoharu
吉川元春
The Undefeated Right Arm of the Mōri Clan
Description
The Birth of an Undefeated General
Born in Eishoku 3 (1530) as the second son of the great Mōri Motonari, Kikkawa Motoharu formed, together with his elder brother Takamoto and younger brother Kobayakawa Takakage, the "Three Arrows of the Mōri" and was the greatest military contributor to Mōri dominance across the Chūgoku region. Known as a general with "an undefeated lifetime," Motoharu's reputation for valor held special radiance even in the Sengoku period. Entering the Kikkawa clan as an adopted son, Motoharu commanded the military forces of the Kikkawa and served as the eastern defender of the Mōri family. His war record shows not a single defeat throughout his entire life, and the martial valor of Motoharu, lauded as "the mightiest commander of the west," remains a living legend in the San'in region even today.
The Three Arrows of Mōri and Motoharu's Role
The teaching of his father Motonari regarding the "Three Arrows" is famous, but in fact it was the military prowess of Motoharu, who fought continuously on the frontlines, that most significantly supported Mōri territorial expansion. Whereas his elder brother Takamoto undertook administrative duties and his younger brother Takakage commanded the naval forces and conducted diplomacy, Motoharu served as the commander of land forces and directed battles across many theaters. In the provinces of Izumo, Ishimi, Hōki, and Tajima throughout San'in and San'yō, Motoharu repeatedly subdued the Mōri's adversaries and continually expanded the domain without ever suffering defeat. The title "Undefeated General" was not the product of mere fortune or chance, but rather the fruit of Motoharu's superior tactical vision, overwhelming personal martial prowess, and his extraordinary ability to command the loyalty of his subordinates.
The Pride of a Warrior
The anecdote that best illustrates Motoharu's character as a warrior concerns his relationship with Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Following the Honnō-ji Incident of Tenshō 10 (1582), as Hideyoshi rapidly expanded his power, Motoharu strongly refused to submit to Hideyoshi. As Hideyoshi pursued peace negotiations with the Mōri family, Motoharu's existence became the greatest obstacle, and it is said that Hideyoshi lamented, "If only Motoharu did not exist." Yet from warrior's pride, Motoharu could not bring himself to bow before Hideyoshi, a man of peasant origins. This unwavering samurai spirit was spoken of by contemporary observers with both admiration and sympathy.
Deep Connoisseurship in Swordcraft
The swords beloved by Motoharu are often discussed in relation to renowned blades associated with the Mōri family. As rulers of the Chūgoku region, the Mōri controlled the major sword-making centers of Bizen, Bichū, Suō, and Aki, and their sword collection rivaled few daimyo houses in both quality and quantity. The blades Motoharu particularly favored are said to be masterpieces of Bizen smiths. A tachi bearing the chōji-midare temper pattern characteristic of Osafune Bizen reflected Motoharu's bold yet meticulous martial bearing like a mirror. Motoharu is also said to have favored works by the Suō smith Bichū Aoe school, and he possessed a keen eye for understanding the sword culture of San'in and San'yō in their breadth.
The Martial Culture of the Kikkawa Clan
The Kikkawa clan that Motoharu led was originally a regional power in Aki province and possessed a house tradition that valued the prestige and honor of the samurai. Motoharu inherited and developed this martial culture of the Kikkawa, building a powerful military organization renowned for the high morale and strong solidarity of his retainers. The warriors of the Kikkawa household were devoted to Motoharu's valor and character, and even in the most difficult circumstances they possessed the resolve to fight to the bitter end in service to their commander. That Motoharu remained undefeated throughout his life was possible only because of this unity and bond of trust within his house.
Participation in the Korean Campaign and His Final Days
In Tenshō 14 (1586), when Hideyoshi's Kyushu Campaign was underway, the Mōri family was ordered to join Hideyoshi's forces. Though suffering from severe illness, Motoharu departed alongside his lord Mōri Terumoto, but his illness worsened at Kokura Castle in Buzen, and he passed away in the eleventh month of that year at the age of fifty-seven. Motoharu's death was a death in the field far from home, and his final moments were entirely consistent with his life as a pure warrior. "An undefeated general throughout his life died while on the march to battle"—this ending brought the most fitting closure to Motoharu's life as a warrior.
The Legacy of a Western Japan Warlord
The legacy of Kikkawa Motoharu lies not only in solidifying the military foundation of Mōri control over the Chūgoku region, but in embodying the ideal of "an undefeated general" in the samurai society of western Japan. The warrior's pride that Motoharu exemplified—the spirit of refusing submission to overwhelming power and protecting the honor of the Way of the Warrior to the end—became one of the important exemplars for later generations of Japanese when contemplating "what should a warrior be?"
Notable Swords
- Bizen Osafune tachi — a blade from the tradition centered in Mōri-controlled Bizen Province, its gorgeous choji-midare hamon and refined jigane reflecting the same combination of beauty and battlefield effectiveness that defined Motoharu's own approach to war
- Kikkawa clan heirloom sword — a blade from the family armory that accompanied the undefeated general through his entire career, the sword of a man who never lost