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The legendary warriors of Japan and the swords they cherished
Discover the sword culture of Japan's great fortresses
Legendary blades that shaped history
450 entries
Iba Hachirō
The one-armed Shingyōtō-ryū swordsman known as the "Little Tengu of Iba," fallen at Hakodate
## Origins and Shingyōtō-ryū Iba Hachirō (1844-1869), personal name Hidesato, was a shogunal retain...
Mashita Nagamori
One of Hideyoshi's Five Commissioners — lord of Yamato Kōriyama and administrator of the Toyotomi demesne
## Origins and Rise Mashita Nagamori (1545-1615) was an administrator in the service of Toyotomi Hi...
Maeda Gen'i
From monk to one of Hideyoshi's Five Commissioners — the Kyoto shoshidai who managed the court and the temples
## Origins Maeda Gen'i (1539-1602) came from Mino Province and is said to have been a monk in his y...
Shiba Yoshimasa
Kanrei (Shogunal Deputy)
## Overview Shiba Yoshimasa was a warrior and senior shogunal official spanning the Nanboku-chō and...
Akizuki Tanezane
16th Head of the Akizuki Clan
## Life Born in 1548 as the second son of Akizuki Fumitane, a local lord of Chikuzen Province. In 15...
Doi Toshikatsu
The Powerful Rōjū Who Served Three Tokugawa Shoguns, Rumored to Be Ieyasu's Hidden Son
## Life Born on March 18, 1573, Doi Toshikatsu was appointed guardian (moriyaku) to the infant Toku...
Tanegashima Tokitaka
The lord of Tanegashima who first brought firearms to Japan — the strategist from a remote southern island who transformed Sengoku-era warfare
Tanegashima Tokitaka was born in 1528, the son of Tanegashima Shigetoki, lord of Tanegashima Island ...
Ōkubo Tadayo
One of the Sixteen Divine Generals of Tokugawa — a Mikawa warrior of both valor and administrative skill, entrusted with governing the former Later Hōjō domain
Ōkubo Tadayo was born in 1532 in Kamiwada, Aomi District, Mikawa Province (present-day Okazaki, Aich...
Shirai Tōru
Swordmaster of the Tenshin Ittō-ryū: an Edo swordsman who attained the spiritual state of 'Shinbu Fusatsu' (victory without bloodshed)
Shirai Tōru (1783–1843) was a swordsman who flourished in the late Edo period and is known as the fo...
Baba Nobufusa
The veteran general who served three generations of the Takeda clan, hailed as the 'Undying Oni of Mino' — one of the Four Heavenly Generals who fell at Nagashino
Baba Nobufusa (also known as Nobuharu) is believed to have been born around 1514 in Kai Province, an...
Ono Tadaaki
The swordsman who won the duel at Koganehara and inherited the orthodox line of Ittō-ryū — sword instructor to the Tokugawa shogunal house
Ono Tadaaki was born in 1565 in Miko-gami, Awa Province (in present-day Minamibōsō, Chiba Prefecture...
Makabe Ujimoto
A Hitachi Warrior of Renowned Valor — the Satake clan's fierce general feared as 'Oni Makabe'
Makabe Ujimoto was born in 1550 in Makabe District, Hitachi Province (present-day Sakuragawa, Ibarak...