A congenial man, highly regarded by his elder brother, Nobuyuki
The stone monument of ‘Sanada-shi Hasshō no Satō’ (Birthplace of the Sanada Clan) located in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture, which was governed by Sanada Yukitaka, the grandfather of Sanada Nobushige
When discussing the Siege of Osaka, the exploits of Sanada Nobushige (also known as Yukimura) are undeniably famous. So, who exactly was Nobushige?
Nobushige is often portrayed as a military genius, and many envision him as a hero. But how is he depicted in historical records?
According to “Biography of Lord Yukimura,” Nobushige’s character is described as follows, which is based on the words left behind by his elder brother, Sanada Nobuyuki (also known as Nobuyoshi):
- From birth, his manners and behavior often stood out as exceptional, differing from ordinary people.
- He was gentle and patient, seldom speaking much or getting angry.
- He was a true samurai who ruled over his domain.
The opening of the “Biography of Lord Yukimura” states, “It was only natural for Nobushige to gain a name for himself in the world”. Furthermore, Nobuyuki describes his own appearance as, “With a fake beard, sharp eyes, and appearing like an armed warrior – so different from Nobushige.”
Put simply, he means that while he might look the part, he lacked substance compared to his brother. It’s obviously an act of humility from Nobuyuki, but from his perspective, his younger brother, Nobushige, seemed like the rightful heir of the Sanada clan.
For Nobuyuki (or for the Sanada family), Nobushige was highly esteemed. Even if the brothers found themselves on opposing sides, there’s no way Nobuyuki would publicly slander him. This was due to the honor of the Sanada family being at stake.
Given this, there’s some speculation that Nobuyuki might have exaggerated things. Nevertheless, there’s evidence to suggest Nobushige was indeed exceptional.
Additionally, Nobushige was said to have no surliness in his personality. Whenever he conversed with others, laughter was never far behind, and he easily built rapport with others (according to the “Okinagusa” 『翁草』). In conclusion, Nobushige had a very affable personality and wasn’t the type to be arrogant or bossy.
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