Takatora Todō: Ieyasu’s Most Trusted Confidant in His Later Years, a Man Who Changed Lords Seven Times

A Great Daimyō who Rose through the Ranks by Changing Lords

Takatora Tōdō emerged during the era of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and became one of the prominent daimyō lords appointed by Hideyoshi. However, he sought to switch from the Toyotomi faction to the Tokugawa faction during the Battle of Sekigahara and worked harder than anyone else to establish the Tokugawa government. Tōdō, who served seven different lords throughout his life, earned various criticisms such as “skillful opportunist,” “fair-weather general,” and “fickle-minded lord.” Nevertheless, it is a fact that he was the most trusted and highly esteemed military commander of Ieyasu Tokugawa.

During his final moments, Ieyasu declared, “If a tumultuous conflict were to shake the nation, first, entrust Tōdō, and then, the Ii clan to lead the vanguard of the shōgun’s forces.” Tōdō refers to Takatora Tōdō, and Ii refers to the Ii clan (Naomasa Ii and Naotada Ii). While the Ii clan was a hereditary vassal of the Tokugawa, the Tōdō clan was an outsider. Nevertheless, Ieyasu placed Tōdō in the number one position. It was because of Tōdō’s capabilities.

Takatora Tōdō was born in Tōdō Village, Ōmi Province, in the second year of Kōji (1556). His father was Torataké, and his mother was Tora. It could be said that it was unusual for both of his parents to have the word “tiger” (tora) in their names. He started his life as an ashigaru foot soldier and achieved promotion with every change of lord, serving Asai Nagamasa, Atsuji Sadayuki, Isono Kazumasa, Oda Nobusumi, Toyotomi Hidenaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and finally Ieyasu Tokugawa. His bond with Ieyasu began in the fourteenth year of Tenshō (1586) when Tōdō, under Hideyoshi’s orders, constructed Ieyasu’s mansion in Nijō, Kyoto. Takatora excelled in castle construction techniques and built a mansion with remarkable defense capabilities, which earned him gratitude and a step closer to gaining Ieyasu’s trust.

After Hideyoshi’s death, it was also Tōdō who continued to support Ieyasu, who was facing conflicts with Ishida Mitsunari. It was Tōdō who brought together the Eastern forces in the meeting at Oyama, Shimotsuke, just before the Battle of Sekigahara. Furthermore, Tōdō played a role in persuading figures such as Kobayakawa Hideaki, Wakisaka Yasuharu, and Kutsuki Mototuna to switch sides.

In the Battle of Sekigahara, it was Tōdō’s nephew, Jin’emon, who killed the Western forces’ Ōtani Yoshitsugu. However, Jin’emon kept his promise to Yoshitsugu’s loyal retainer, Yūasa Gosuke, and never revealed the whereabouts of Yoshitsugu’s head until the end. Ieyasu commended Jin’emon’s actions without anger. Tōdō erected a tomb for Yoshitsugu and Gosuke at the site.

After the war, Tōdō was granted the domain of 80,000 koku in Iyo Uwajima and built Imabari Castle. Among other castles built by Tōdō (including deputy construction), there are Uwajima Castle, Iga Ueno Castle, Anōtsu Castle, Wakayama Castle, Jurakudai, Fushimi Castle, Edo Castle, Sasayama Castle, Kameyama Castle, Osaka Castle (reconstruction), and Nijō Castle.

In the thirteenth year of Keichō (1608), Tōdō was transferred from Iyo to Iga, receiving a fief of 203,000 koku, which eventually increased to 320,000 koku. During this time, Tōdō also worked diligently to fulfill the wishes of Ieyasu and Hidetada. He made possible the marriage of Hidetada’s daughter, Kazuko, to Emperor Go-Mizunoo, known as Gomizunoo, the 108th Emperor of Japan.

Takatora Tōdō passed away at the Edo residence in the seventh year of Kan’ei (1630) at the age of 75. His body, after his death, was filled with so many scars that there was no space left. His right ring finger and pinky were lost, and his left middle finger was one sun (approximately 3.3 centimeters) shorter. These were all battle wounds. Sōjō Tennkai likened Tōdō to “a tall pine tree standing resolutely in the cold wind” and posthumously bestowed the Buddhist name “Kanshōin” upon him. Tōdō’s grave is located in a corner of Ueno Zoo today.

Written by Emiya Takayuki

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