Takigawa Kazumasu

Takigawa Kazumasu (1525-1586) was a Sengoku-era warrior who served as a key figure in Oda Nobunaga's eastern strategy. From the conquest of the Iga and Ise regions to the advance into the Kantō, he played an indispensable role in expanding Nobunaga's domain, and after the Honnō-ji Incident became the tragic protagonist of the "Tenshō Jingo Rebellion."

Kazumasu is said to have come from either Ōmi Province (present-day Shiga Prefecture) or Iga Province, and his origins are shrouded in mystery — even when he entered Nobunaga's service is unclear. By the Eiroku era (1558-1570), however, he had emerged as one of Nobunaga's leading retainers. His military talent was highly regarded by Nobunaga, who entrusted him with governance of the Ise and Iga regions and relied on him in battles against the Ikkō-ikki.

In 1582, after the destruction of the Takeda clan, Kazumasu was awarded Kōzuke Province (present-day Gunma Prefecture) and part of Shinano Province, and was appointed as Kantō Deputy Administrator to govern the Kantō region. This was the cornerstone of Nobunaga's strategy for controlling the Kantō and eastern Japan, and represented the pinnacle of Kazumasu's career. However, on June 2 of the same year, the Honnō-ji Incident occurred. When word reached Kazumasu that Akechi Mitsuhide had killed Nobunaga, the powerful Kantō daimyō — including Hōjō Ujimasa — began to defect, despite Kazumasu's position as the leading figure among the Kantō warriors.

At the Kanna River in Kōzuke Province, Kazumasu clashed with the Hōjō's large forces (Battle of the Kanna River, 1582). Heavily outnumbered, Kazumasu fought bravely but was defeated, forced to retreat to Ise Province with only a small force. At the Battle of Shizugatake the following year (1583) he sided not with Hashiba Hideyoshi but with Shibata Katsuie, holding out at Nagashima Castle in Ise. After Katsuie took his own life at Kitanoshō on the twenty-third day of the fourth month and Oda Nobutaka followed on the twenty-ninth, Kazumasu was left isolated and surrendered in the seventh month. His domains were confiscated in full and he took the tonsure at Myōshin-ji in Kyoto. He was thereafter treated as a retainer of Hideyoshi and held Kanie Castle on Hideyoshi's side during the Komaki and Nagakute campaign of 1584, but was defeated by Tokugawa forces and never recovered his former prestige. He died at Ōno in Echizen on the ninth day of the ninth month of 1586, at the age of 62.

In the realm of Japanese swords, Kazumasu was known for his presence at many battles during the conquest of Iga and Ise, and is said to have valued sturdy, practical blades that could withstand real combat. Records of Nobunaga's sword gifts include Kazumasu's name, documenting his receipt of famous blades. The regions Kazumasu governed — Kōzuke and Iga — each had their own swordsmithing traditions, connecting him deeply to local sword culture. There is also a tradition that when he fled Kanna River, the tachi he carried was protected by his clansmen and brought back to Owari.