* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Kurushima Michisō
来島通総
Commander of the Kurushima Naval Forces of the Seto Inland Sea—The Mōri's Naval General Who Fell in the Korean Campaign
Description
Commander of the Kurushima Naval Forces That Ruled the Seto Inland Sea
Born in 1561 (Eiroku 4), Kurushima Michisō was the commander of the Kurushima naval forces, based on Kurushima Island off Imabari in Iyo Province (present-day Ehime Prefecture). The Kurushima naval forces were a branch of the Murakami naval forces, and among the Three-Island Murakami fleet (Kurushima, Noshima, and Innoshima), they held the westernmost base. Working in close coordination with the Mōri clan, they played a central role in the struggle for naval control of the Seto Inland Sea. Michisō commanded the strategic advantages of his location and his well-trained naval forces, maintaining independent maritime power even under the Oda and Toyotomi regimes.
As the Mōri's Naval Commander
Michisō served Mōri Terumoto and was granted lands in Iyo Province under the Toyotomi regime. After the Honnō-ji Incident in 1582 (Tenshō 10), during Toyotomi Hideyoshi's unification campaign, Michisō followed the Mōri while skillfully maneuvering to ensure the survival of the Kurushima naval forces. In the Imjin War (1592, Bunroku era), he led his naval forces to Korean waters and undertook maritime transport operations. His superior seamanship and tactical acumen were highly regarded even under Hideyoshi's administration.
A Glorious Death in the Korean Campaign
In the Second Japanese Invasion of Korea (1597, Keichō 2), Michisō led his naval forces to Korea. At the Battle of Myeongnyang in September of the same year, he charged the strait as the vanguard but fell in battle against the counterattack of the Korean navy led by Admiral Yi Sun-sin. He was thirty-seven years old. As one of the few daimyo who fell in the Korean Campaign, his valiant name was passed down to posterity.
Notable Swords
- Kurushima Uchigatana—A practical uchigatana worn by the commander of the Kurushima naval forces who controlled the Seto Inland Sea. Its maneuverable blade, suited to hand-to-hand combat aboard ships, embodies the spirit of the Kurushima naval forces, for which the maritime warrior Michisō risked his life at the Battle of Myeongnyang.
- Iyo Tachi—A distinguished tachi forged by swordsmiths of Iyo Province, the homeland of the Kurushima clan. It represents the pride of a naval commander who was a pillar of the Three-Island Murakami fleet and supported the Mōri's naval supremacy, and conveys the noble spirit of his glorious death in service of the Korean Campaign.