Praised by Nobunaga and Hideyoshi as “a warrior with both bravery and intelligence” and as “Japan’s unparalleled hero from past to present”
Honda Tadakatsu participated in Ieyasu’s battles 57 times over 50 years, from his first engagement at 13 to his passing at 63. The spear he wielded on these battlefields is famously known as “Dragonfly Cutter (Tonbokiri)”, with a 3.3 meter black handle and a 43.5 cm blade measuring. Tadakatsu fought battles swinging effortlessly this long and heavy spear, never receiving even a scratch, earning him the title of the unscathed brave general.
The name “Dragonfly Cutter” is believed to originate from tales that it could cut a dragonfly in mid-air with just one swing, or from a story where a dragonfly landed on the blade and was instantly cut in two.
There are many other tales highlight Tadakatsu’s immense strength. One such tale tells of how he stopped a renowned horse known to cover over 100 kilometers in a day named “Demon Black Mane (Onikage)” from bolting by grabbing its snout with just one hand.
Many fellow warriors praised Tadakatsu’s bravery. Nobunaga called him a warrior possessing both ” bravery and intelligence”, while Hideyoshi lauded him as ” Japan’s unparalleled hero from past to present”. Despite their many confrontations with Takeda Shingen’s forces, Takeda’s soldiers would admire Tadakatsu, who always came to battle clad in black-laced armor and a deer-antlered helmet, wielding his spear. They said, “There are two things that surpass Ieyasu: the fur-covered helmet and Honda Tadakatsu”. The fur-covered helmet is a reference to Ieyasu’s distinctive headgear. Essentially, this means Tadakatsu was such an extraordinary asset that it felt almost wasteful for him to be just a retainer under Ieyasu.
Born in 1548 in the castle of Nishikuramae in Mikawa Province (now Okazaki City) as the eldest son of Honda Tadahira, Tadakatsu faced hardship from a young age. Both his father and grandfather, Honda Tadatoyo, died young in battle, causing Tadakatsu, left behind, had to persevere and survive. Despite these early challenges, Tadakatsu served Ieyasu (then known as Matsudaira Motoyasu) from his childhood and grew into a distinguished general.
Among the Tokugawa retainers and the Four Heavenly Kings, none lived as martially and valorously as Tadakatsu did. It’s no exaggeration to label him as one of the emblematic warriors of the Sengoku period. In another light, one could say that Tadakatsu was not suited for politics or bureaucracy — only the battlefield brought him purpose and passion. Tadakatsu participated in all of Ieyasu’s battles, making numerous accomplishments. Whether it was the Battle of Mikatagahara against the undefeated Takeda Shingen, the Battle of Nagashino, the skirmishes at Komaki and Nagakute, the Siege of Odawara, or the Battle of Sekigahara, Tadakatsu’s valor was evident.
After the Siege of Odawara, Tadakatsu became the lord of Ōtaki Castle in Kazusa Province (now in Chiba Prefecture) with an income of 100,000 koku.
Tadakatsu passed away in October 1610, at the age of 63. It’s worth noting that his eldest daughter was married to the eldest son of Sanada Masayuki and the lord of Matsushiro Castle in Shinshū, Nobuyuki.
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