* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Sakai Tadakatsu
酒井忠勝
Iemitsu's "Right Hand" — Rōjū, Tairō and First Lord of Obama
Description
Sakai Tadakatsu (1587-1662), styled Sanuki-no-kami, was an early Edo bakufu official and daimyo who served as rōjū and tairō under Tokugawa Iemitsu and became the first lord of Obama Domain in Wakasa.
In 1622 he was appointed to attend the young Iemitsu; in 1624 he became rōjū alongside Doi Toshikatsu. In 1627 he inherited his father's 80,000 koku as second lord of Kawagoe, and in 1634 moved to Obama with 123,500 koku. He retired in 1656, passing the domain to his fourth son.
Iemitsu is said to have called Sanuki his right hand and Izu (Matsudaira Nobutsuna) his left. Offered 180,000 koku in Suruga or 240,000 in Kōfu, he reportedly declined, reasoning that excessive wealth breeds arrogance that could endanger his successors. Another tale says he secretly warmed the shogun's sandals during night vigils. No sword associated with him was found in the sources checked.
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