Sanada Yukimura

Introduction

Sanada Yukimura is considered a national hero in Japan and represents a warlord who has appeared in numerous stage performances, manga, anime, and video games. He is still a very popular warlord, but what kind of person was the real Sanada Yukimura? This article will explain his spectacular life in detail, from his birth to his final days.

Sanada Yukimura serving as a hostage in the Uesugi and Toyotomi families

The year of his birth is not known in detail, and based on records that he was 49 or 46 years old in 1615, he was born as Sanada Genjiro in 1567 or 1570. Nobushige Sanada never called himself Sanada Yukimura during his lifetime, and the name “Yukimura” is not found in his handwritten letters or other documents. The name Yukimura first appeared in a military history book, “Namba Senki” published in 1672 after Nobushige Sanada’s death.

Because this book sold in large quantities, the name “Yukimura” became common, and the name Sanada Yukimura was also written as Sanada Yukimura in later history books of the Matsushiro clan, which is the root of the name Sanada Yukimura. YSanada Yukimura (Nobushige) served as a hostage of the Uesugi and Toyotomi families through the scheming of his father Masayuki, who was a rare strategist.

When Sanada Yukimura (Nobushige) was a young boy, his father Masayuki read the trends of the times. He sent Yukimura (Nobushige) out as a hostage as he changed the families he served. In 1585, he was taken hostage by the Uesugi family in Echigo (present-day Niigata Prefecture), and in 1586 by the Toyotomi family, which held vast territories, including Owari (present-day Aichi Prefecture).

When he became a hostage of the Toyotomi family, Yukimura (Nobushige) Sanada was favored by Hideyoshi Toyotomi, the sovereign, and was treated more like a vassal than a hostage. He was very active in the Toyotomi family. He contributed to the victory of the Toyotomi family in the “Odawara Castle Offensive” in 1590 (Tensho 18) and steadily rose through the ranks of the Toyotomi lords.

The Sanada family is so famous that even today, no one does not know about it, and it is renowned as a prestigious military family. On the other hand, many parts of the Sanada family are shrouded in mystery. Memories such as its lineage are widely viewed as credible, with Yukitaka (Yukitsuna) Sanada, the founder of the Sanada clan, and grandfather of Yukimura (Nobushige) Sanada, being the founder of the Sanada family.

However, there is no conclusive data on Yukitaka’s (Yukitsuna’s) birth. Although it is possible to speculate about the origin of the Sanada clan and the family lineage before Yukitaka (Yukitsuna), it is still a mystery. We cannot trace the history back to before Yukitaka (Yukitsuna). It is only after Yukitaka (Yukitsuna) Sanada that we can learn more about the Sanada family lineage, which is called “Sanada Sanryo” and ends with Yukimura (Nobushige), whose history is only a little over a hundred years old.

Battle of Sekigahara and Farewell of Inubushi

After the death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1598, Tokugawa Ieyasu, a member of the Council of Five Elders, launched an army in Aizu (present-day Fukushima Prefecture) to defeat Uesoma Kagekatsu, another member of the Council of Five Elders. While Tokugawa Ieyasu was away, the opposing forces, including Ishida Mitsunari, one of the Five Magistrates, rallied their forces.

And the “Battle of Sekigahara” took place with Tokugawa Ieyasu leading the eastern forces and Ishida Mitsunari leading the western forces, with the battle for the throne of Japan on the line. Sanada Yukimura , his father, Masayuki Sanada, and his elder brother, Nobuyuki Sanada, discussed “whether the Sanada family should join the eastern or western forces” at Inubushi in Shimono (present-day Tochigi Prefecture).

After the discussion, Sanada Yukimura (Nobushige)  and his father, Masayuki Sanada, decided to join the western forces. At the same time, his brother, Nobuyuki Sanada, whose wife was a daughter of the Tokugawa retainer Tadakatsu Honda, entered the eastern forces. This is the famous “Inubushi no parting” associated with Yukimura (Nobushige) Sanada. Although there are various theories, it is said that the separation of the Sanada family into the eastern and western armies was a ploy by Masayuki Sanada to “ensure the survival of the Sanada family regardless of who wins.” Just before the Battle of Sekigahara began, Sanada Yukimura and Masayuki Sanada engaged Hidetada Tokugawa, the third son of Ieyasu Tokugawa.

He was leading a 38,000-strong army to control the Nakasendo Road. They holed up in Ueda Castle to intercept them. Although the number of soldiers in the castle was overwhelmingly small (2,500 to 3,000), they took advantage of the defenses of Ueda Castle. They succeeded in holding Tokugawa Hidetada’s army in place for five days. Hidetada Tokugawa, who was stranded, did not make it to the Battle of Sekigahara in time.

However, despite such successes by Sanada Yukimura, the Western Army was defeated in the Battle of Sekigahara. After the war, Ieyasu Tokugawa, who had become the ruler of Japan, almost ordered them to be executed as defeated generals. Still, Sanada Yukimura and Tadakatsu Honda, active as generals in the eastern army, pleaded for their lives, and Yukimura (Nobushige) Sanada and Masayuki Sanada were spared.

However, they were exiled to Koyasanroku Kudoyama in Kii (present-day Wakayama Prefecture), far from his home base in Shinano (present-day Nagano Prefecture). Life on Mt. Kudozan was peaceful, with no warfare, several vassals accompanying them from Ueda, and relative freedom of movement. Still, for Sanada Yukimura and Masayuki Sanada, life was harsh as time passed without much trouble, and they depended on their home country’s remittances. Many letters from Kaneko Mushin, written by Sanada Masayuki, have been left in the country. In 1611, 10 years after his exile to the island, Masayuki Sanada died of illness at age 65 in Kudoyama. In 1612, Sanada Yukimura became a monk and took the name “Kouhaku.”

Results of the Osaka Winter Campaign

In 1614, the relationship between the Tokugawa and Toyotomi families deteriorated after the Hokoji temple bell inscription incident. The Toyotomi family, which could not expect the support of the feudal lords, searched for ways to gather Ronin (masterless samurai). A messenger from Toyotomi Hideyori, the successor to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, came to Kudoyama, where Sanada Yukimura was residing.

And he presented 200 gold pieces and 30 kan (approximately 1.3 billion yen at current prices) of silver, asking for help from the Toyotomi family. Sanada Yukimura readily agreed and called on Masayuki Sanada’s former vassals in Ueda to join the war. He invited local farmers Ieyasu Tokugawa had ordered to watch over him at a banquet. Consequently, by making them get drunk, he could flee Kutoyama and enter Osaka Castle with his nephew, Yukimasa Sanada. In November of the same year, the “Osaka Winter Campaign” began, with the Toyotomi family holed up in their stronghold, Osaka Castle, to intercept the Tokugawa family.

While the Tokugawa forces numbered 200,000, the Toyotomi forces were at a disadvantage with 100,000, putting them at a disadvantage. Sanada Yukimura built an earthen rampart called Sanadamaru to the south of San-no-maru, considered the weakest point of Osaka Castle. However, the lowest point of Osaka Castle is considered to be in the center of the Uemachi Plateau, west of where Sanadamaru was built.

Sanada Yukimura seemed to make Sanadamaru in its current location because the topography had little elevation difference and the entire structure’s width was narrow. He anticipated it to draw the Tokugawa forces’ attention to Sanadamaru and make it easier to miss actual weaknesses. At the same time, a deep valley behind Sanadamaru was 200 meters wide.

He anticipated that even if Sanadamaru were to be dropped, the deep valley behind it would continue to protect Osaka Castle. Sanada Yukimura, who also commanded Sanadamaru, shot the Tokugawa forces on the southside of San-no-maru with guns and achieved great success. It is said that Sanadamaru caused 80% of the Tokugawa army’s deaths in this battle.

When the two sides agreed to a settlement during the “Osaka Winter Campaign,” the Tokugawas family offered two conditions. One was the “demolition of Sanadamaru,” and the other was the “reclamation of the entire structure of Osaka Castle.” The Toyotomi family agreed to these conditions. They demolished Sanadamaru and reclaimed the general structure of Osaka Castle.

This was a ploy by the Tokugawa family to force the Toyotomi family to accept these conditions and reduce the defenses of Osaka Castle. In February 1615, the Tokugawa family dispatched Nobutada Sanada, an uncle of Sanada Yukimura, as an envoy to the Tokugawa family to give them “100,000 provinces in Shinshu” as a condition. If he agreed to this, he was persuaded by Honda Masazumi to turn in his will. Still, Sanada Yukimura refused, saying that he owed Toyotomi Hideyori a debt of gratitude. However, Sanada Yukimura refused, saying he was indebted to Hideyori Toyotomi.

Defeat and Death in the Osaka Summer Campaign

In May 1615, Tokugawa Ieyasu saw that the demolition of Sanadamaru and the reclamation of the general structure of Osaka Castle had been completed. He, therefore, again launched a war against the Toyotomi family, who were holed up in Osaka Castle. This was the last battle of the Warring States Period, the “Osaka Summer Battle”. Since Osaka Castle had been deprived of its defenses in the previous fight, the Toyotomi family could not hold the castle.

So they decided to attack from the castle to Yamato and Kawachi. The Tokugawa forces were at an overwhelming disadvantage, with 150,000 Tokugawa and 8,000 Toyotomi troops. Ono Harunaga’s younger brother, Onohara Fusa, headed for Yamato, and the Toyotomi forces led by Onohara Fusa succeeded in capturing Yamato Koriyama Castle (Nara Prefecture), defended by Tsutsui Sadayoshi Tsutsui. Still, immediately afterward, the Tokugawa forces, including Mizuno Katsunari, invaded Nara and retreated to Osaka Castle. The Toyotomi family tried to intercept the Tokugawas advancing from the Yamato area at Domyoji in Kawachi.

However, when Mototsugu Goto arrived, Yukimura (Nobushige) Sanada and Katsunaga Mori, who had been lost in the thick fog, were delayed, and Mototsugu Goto was killed. At this time, Sanada Yukimura lamented to Katsunaga Mori. “I am ashamed that I could not save my allies and let them die because of the thick fog. I wonder if the Toyotomi family’s luck has finally run out.”  He was thus prepared to die in defeat here. In response, Mori Katsunaga encouraged Sanada Yukimura, saying, “There is no profit in dying here. Let us die in grand style in front of Toyotomi Hideyori’s horse.” Here, Sanada’s army was the last to retreat, defeating the pursuing forces of Date Masamune. In contrast, Toyotomi’s army successfully withdrew from the Honda.

At Honda, Sanada and Mori forces joined forces with Toyotomi’s army. They pushed back Date’s army, which was trying to make Toyotomi’s rear, to Domyoji. At the same time, in Yao and Wakae, Shigenari Kimura and Morichika Chosokabe intercepted the forces of Takatora Todo and Naotaka Ii of the Kawachi area army moving south toward Domyoji on the Higashi-Koya Highway. But they were defeated. Therefore, Sanada Yukimura and Katsunaga Mori, who had won the Battle of Eida, also retreated toward Osaka Castle, collecting their defeated soldiers. The Tokugawa forces then advanced to the Osaka Castle area, and the final decisive battle was to take place. Sanada Yukimura, together with Harufusa Ono, Zenoto Akashi, Katsunaga Mori, and others, drew up a final strategy.

The plan was first to position Sanada’s army on the right flank and Mori’s army on the left near Shitennoji Temple and Chausuyama. Second, they plan to isolate Tokugawa Ieyasu’s main camp through repeated firefights and assaults. Finally, they plan to have Akashi’s light cavalry detour and stand by to attack and flank it on cue. Honda Tadatomo’s forces opened fire on the vanguard of the Mori forces and began a firefight. Sanada Yukimura sent a messenger to the Mori forces to call off the shooting because of a discrepancy in their long-standing operation plan. Katsunaga himself urged them to stop, but the shooting battle only intensified and finally entered into full-scale combat, forcing them to abandon the operation. In response, Sanada Yukimura lamented his poor military fortune to his military attaché, Tono Igi, and prepared for his death. Sanada Yukimura, who was prepared to die, only made a desperate assault on Tokugawa Ieyasu’s main camp.

The Toyotomi forces, including Mori, Akashi, Ono Harufusa, and others, fought hard along the line. The Tokugawa forces were seen to be in total collapse. The Sanada forces, commanded by Sanada Yukimura, broke through the 15,000 troops of Tadanao Matsudaira of the Echizen Matsudaira family. And they engaged the Tokugawa forces, which numbered more than ten troops together, before finally charging toward Ieyasu’s main camp. They overran the elite Tokugawa SS, Hatamoto, and Shigetomi forces and charged into Ieyasu’s main camp twice. The attack on Sanada’s army was so terrible that Ieyasu was prepared to commit suicide twice. Sanada Yukimura, who had already lost many of his men, was resting his wounded.

His tired body was leaning against a tree in the precincts of Yasui Shrine (Tennoji Ward, Osaka City) near Shitennoji Temple. Unfortunately, Souji Nishio, head of the Echizen Matsudaira family gun team, discovered him. He was consequently killed with his last words, “Let my head be my credit.”  They also remained unable to win or lose against Date Masamune’s army but were defeated. That’s because other armies were defeated one after another and Osaka Castle was set on fire.

Summary of Sanada Yukimura

The six six-figure coins, Sanada Yukimura’s banner, represent the underworld coin (Meisen). Meisen is originally an ancient Chinese custom. In Japan, it refers to six coins placed in a deceased person’s coffin when they are buried. It is said to represent the fee for crossing the Sanzu River. Understandably, to use this as a banner means “not sparing one’s life”.

Sanada Yukimura’s valor deeply impressed the warlords of the time. Hosokawa Tadaoki, who participated in Osaka’s winter and summer battles, described Sanada Yukimura as “the greatest warrior of all time,” and Shimazu Iehisa, who learned of Sanada Yukimura’s bravery in a letter, said, “Sanada Yukimura is the best soldier in Japan.” Sanada Yukimura’s weapon of choice was the spear. The “Ouchidori Jumonji Spear” is one of the spears he is said to have used during the Osaka Summer Battle. The name “Ouchidori Jumonji Spear” comes from its cross-shaped spearhead with blades on both sides, which looks like a plover spreading its wings in flight. The handle is said to have been a bright vermilion color. This color was called “Shu-Yari,” and was given only to those who had distinguished themselves in battle.