Suwa Yorishige

Suwa Yorishige was head of the Suwa family, which ruled Suwa District in Shinano Province. Born in 1516 as the eldest son of Suwa Yoritaka, he died in the seventh month of 1542 (Tenbun 11); the day is given as the 21st, though one record, the Shinshi Gotō no Nikki, says the 20th.

Life

As a child he served as the ōhōri (chief priest) of Suwa Shrine, later passing the post to his younger brother Yoritaka. His father died in 1530 and his grandfather Suwa Yorimitsu named him heir; he took over the family on Yorimitsu's death in 1539. In November 1540 he married Nene, third daughter of Takeda Nobutora, tying the Suwa to the Takeda. His son Toraō was born in 1542.

Campaigns

In May 1541 he joined Takeda Nobutora and Murakami Yoshikiyo in invading Chiisagata District, defeating Unno Munetsuna at the Battle of Unnodaira and driving him into Kozuke. In June Nobutora was expelled to Suruga and his son Harunobu (Shingen) became head of the Takeda.

The Suwa invasion and his death

Munetsuna appealed to the Kanto Kanrei, Uesugi Norimasa. Yorishige is said to have made a separate peace with Norimasa without telling the Takeda and Murakami and divided territory with him; Harunobu is thought to have used this breach of their pact as grounds to invade Suwa. Allied with Takato Yoritsugu and other anti-Suwa forces, he attacked Uehara Castle. In July 1542 Yorishige surrendered at Kuwabara Castle and was taken to Kofu with his brother Yoritaka; both took their own lives at Toko-ji, ending the main Suwa line.

Anecdote

His death poem is said to be: "Onozukara karehate ni keri kusa no ha no nushi araba koso mata mo musubame."

Legacy

The Takeda later had a family member take the Suwa name, but the Suwa name borne by Katsuyori is regarded as nominal and is not counted in the family genealogy. Yorishige appears in works such as the 2007 NHK taiga drama Furin Kazan.