Known as a master of castle expansion and construction
The Ishikawa family of Kazumasa Ishikawa was a prestigious family among the Matsudaira families of Mikawa and Anjo Fudai, considered to be the first among them. Tracing their ancestry back, they are said to be from Ishikawa District in Kawachi Province and a branch of the Minamoto clan. Later, they moved to Mikawa and served Tadachika Matsudaira (Ieyasu’s fifth ancestor) with Kazumasa’s fifth ancestor.
In 1561 (Eiroku 4), after the Battle of Okehazama, when Nobunaga proposed peace with Ieyasu, Nobunaga sent Ichimasu Takigawa as an envoy and Kazumasa was the one who responded. Furthermore, it was Kazumasa who negotiated with Ujizane Imagawa and exchanged the four-year-old hostage Takechiyo (later Nobukatsu) and the captured Imagawa general Nagateru Udono for a safe return to Okazaki Castle. During the Mikawa Ikko Uprising, he fought alongside Ieyasu against the uprising, and in 1569 (Eiroku 12), when Kazumasa became the top of western Mikawa, he became one of the two pillars of the Tokugawa family alongside Kazunari Sakai, the top of eastern Mikawa.
On the battlefield, Kazumasa showed outstanding performance as a vanguard. Not only during the assault, but he also showed brilliant tactics when retreating and served as a rear guard. With each battle, Kazumasa achieved military feats and always served as a close associate of Ieyasu. Of course, he was also by Ieyasu’s side during the “Iga Crossing” after the Honnoji Incident and played a role in guarding him.
His involvement with Hideyoshi was during the Battle of Komaki and Nagakute in 1584 (Tensho 12). When Hideyoshi saw Kazumasa’s uma-jirushi (present day military colors) on Komaki Mountain, he said, “It’s an enemy uma-jirushi, but it’s magnificent. I’d like you to give it to me.” Kazumasa responded to Hideyoshi’s request and gave him the uma-jirushi. In return, Hideyoshi sent a large amount of gold. After consulting with Ieyasu, Kazumasa accepted it. However, since it sounded bad to receive gold from an enemy general, he returned it later. This led to a rift between him and Ieyasu. The fact that Kazumasa was the messenger for peace negotiations with Hideyoshi brought him even closer to Hideyoshi.
When Hideyoshi made an “invitation to Kyoto” while approaching becoming ruler of Japan, at a council of senior retainers Kazumasa argued that “Lord Hideyoshi is close to becoming ruler of Japan. It would be wise for the Tokugawa family to respond to Lord Hideyoshi’s wishes as soon as possible.” However, in the end Ieyasu did not go to Kyoto. On November 13th at midnight half a month after the council of senior retainers, Kazumasa left Mikawa with his wife and children, relatives and over 100 retainers from Okazaki Castle where he was serving as castle lord and ran to Hideyoshi. The Tokugawa family and Okazaki Castle were thrown into great confusion.
After becoming a vassal of Hideyoshi, Kazumasa became lord of Matsumoto Castle in Shinano with 80000 koku after the Siege of Odawara. He expanded Matsumoto Castle and rebuilt it into a sturdy castle; this was also known as the work of Kazumasa who was known as a master of castle construction. The completion of the castle construction was during his son Yasunaga’s time. In 1593 (Bunroku 2), Kazumasa died at the age of 56 due to illness. Later Yasunaga fell from power due to his involvement in the Okubo Nagayasu incident. The Ishikawa family was also disbanded.
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