In the 2023 Taiga Drama “What Will Ieyasu Do?”, Jun Matsumoto has been cast as the protagonist Tokugawa Ieyasu. Supporting him were the Tokugawa retainers, known for their loyalty to their lord, strong unity, and resilient combat prowess, among the warlords’ retainers. While they may have appeared plain and simple compared to the retainers of Oda and Toyotomi, they played a pivotal role in enabling their lord Ieyasu to triumph during the Warring States turmoil and unify the realm. This article delves into the characteristics of the core Mikawa samurai clan, the Tokugawa retainers’ traits, their composition, the achievements of key retainers, and the secret behind their strength
Matsudaira Samurai Group: A Once Weak Local Power That Became Worthy of Being Called “Local Magnates”
The “Sixteen Deities of the Tokugawa” refers to the sixteen retainers who served Ieyasu and supported him from the Mikawa era to the unification of Japan. (Held by the National Diet Library)
The Tokugawa clan, ancestors of Tokugawa Ieyasu, originated from Matsudaira-go in Kamo District, Mikawa Province. There are theories suggesting the name “Matsudaira” (made up of the Kanji characters Pine and Flat) comes from a place where a few pine trees grew on a flat area between mountains. Despite being a regional power of that scale, the Matsudaira clan gradually grew stronger and established their base at Mikawa’s Ansho Castle during the Oei era (1394-1428). During this time, many branch families emerged, forming a group called “Eighteen Matsudaira”. This was the initial size of the Matsudaira clan’s retainer group.
In the Warring States period, the Matsudaira clan, which was no more than a single small-scale local lord, had no choice but to attach itself to more powerful daimyo. Tokugawa Takechiyo (later changed his name to Motonobu, Motoyasu, and eventually Tokugawa Ieyasu) lived as a hostage under Oda Nobutada (Nobunaga’s father) and later Imagawa Yoshimoto for a combined period of 13 years. Accompanying young Ieyasu during his time as a hostage in Suruga, Imagawa’s base, were retainers from Mikawa, including Sakai Tadatsugu, Ishikawa Kazumasa, Abe Masakatsu, Amano Yasukage, and Hiraishi Chikayoshi.
Nevertheless, during this time, Ieyasu had only around 250 retainers in his home province of Okazaki. Even so, when Yoshimoto died in the Battle of Okehazama in 1560, Ieyasu gained his independence from the Imagawa clan. Returning to Okazaki Castle, Ieyasu began the unification of Mikawa. After forming an alliance with Nobunaga, he extended his influence to the Imagawa retainers in eastern Mikawa. As a result, Nakano Castle and Suganuma Sadamitsu, Saku Castle and Okudaira Sadanobu, and Nagashino Castle and Suganuma Sadaaki, the Mikawa country lords, became Ieyasu’s retainers.
However, the 21-year-old young leader faced his first challenge after gaining independence. This was the Mikawa Ikkō-ikki uprising (Jodo Shinshu Honganji Sect) that began in 1563. Many of Ieyasu’s disciples sided with the uprising instead of their lord. The following year, Ieyasu managed to suppress the uprising, but this struggle, along with the pacification battle, deepened the bond and unity between Ieyasu and his remaining retainers.
Autobiography of Okubo Tadayuki (Hikosaburo). It details the relationship between Ieyasu and his retainers as the Tokugawa family expanded as daimyo during the Warring States period, among other aspects. (Held by the National Diet Library)
After the uprising was suppressed, Ieyasu turned his attention back to expanding his influence in Mikawa. During this process, as the clans who allied with Imagawa defected to Ieyasu, he incorporated the likes of Makino Narisada of Ushikubo Castle and Hisayoshi into his retainer group. Thus, he secured complete control over western Mikawa. In 1565, after unifying Mikawa, Ieyasu appointed Ishikawa Ienari as the “Hatamoto” (chief retainer) of Okazaki Castle in western Mikawa, and Sakai Tadatsugu as the “Hatamoto” of Yoshida Castle in eastern Mikawa, effectively organizing his retainer group. Furthermore, for governing his domain (Mikawa), Ieyasu appointed Takano Takachika, Honda Shigechika, and Amano Yasukage as administrators to handle civil affairs and litigation. The appointment of these three individuals with different personalities—kind-hearted Takano, considerate Amano, and honest and just Honda—reflects Ieyasu’s careful consideration and trust in the Mikawa samurai clan.
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