Sanada Nobushige aka Yukimura, the most dangerous and wisest warlord

In the medieval history of Osaka city, the presence of Toyotomi clan was huge.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a ruler of Japan in a period of time, made the base of today's Osaka city.
At the particular time with administration by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, practically Osaka was a central of the nation.

However, one can't keep his position forever.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi died in 1598, and after his death, the authority of Toyotomi clan among the nation declined.
Moreover, Hideyoshi's contender Tokugawa Ieyasu defeated Isida Mitsunari, a daimyo on Toyotomi clan side, at the war of Sekigahara in 1600.
Tokugawa Ieyasu executed Isida Mitunari in Rokujo-gawara, Kyoto, and he founded Tokugawa shogunate in 1603.
Ieyasu got a huge power at this time.

Finally he started "Osaka no Jin (the siege of Osaka)" in 1614 against declined Toyotomi clan.
Most of major daimyo joined Tokugawa side.
In contrast, Toyotomi clan didn't have daimyo who fought with them.
However,  ronin (samurai who isn't employed) soldiers and some warlords (including former daimyo who had been deprived their position by Ieyasu) joined Toyotomi side.
Among them there was Sanada Nobushige, as known as Sanada Yukimura, the legendary warlord.

Once Nobushige had fought on the side of Ishida Mitunari in 1600.
He and his father Masayuki stayed inside of their Ueda castle in Shinano province (today's Nagano prefecture) to against the besiegement by the military corps of Tokugawa Hidetada, son of Tokugawa Ieyasu.
They fought quite well and delayed arrival of the corps of Hidetada to Sekigahara field.
After the war, Ieyasu worried that the son and father of Sanada will joined his enemy side again.
Therefore Ieyasu forced a domiciliary confinement to them.
They had to stay at a hermitage in Kudoyama, Kii province (today's Wakayama prefecture).
In 1611 Masayuki died at the place, and later Nobushige and his son Daisuke escaped from their hermitage and joined Toyotomi side in the siege of Osaka.

Again, Nobushige fought well on Toyotomi side at the first battle.
He and his clan Sanada had been famous for their tricky and wise way of battle.
He suggested clever tactics to his bosses in Toyotomi clan.
But his plans denied, so he took a fighting with besiegement.
He built the "Sanada-maru" barbican outside of Osaka castle, and stayed inside.
He shoot missiles to enemy corps coming or passed by, and killed so many enemies there.

Tokugawa and Toyotomi stopped fighting a while, but it was temporary.

At the second battle he didn't have any nice plan because it was a loosing battle for him and Toyotomi clan.
At last Nobushige made an attempt to charge to where Tokugawa Ieyasu had been encamped.
He nearly killed Ieyasu, but he couldn't accomplish that.
Nobusige died at the nearby where Ieyasu was.

Nobushige's cleverness and courageousness impress us so much.
Today people visit the places related to the lives of Nobushige or Sanada family.
At Ueda castle, Kudoyama or Yasui shrine (where Nobushige died) in Osaka city, even you can see young ladies who are fans of Nobushige.

Nowadays Nobushige appears in video games or animes with the name of "Yukimura".
The name came from "koudan", the battle stories in Edo period.
People in Edo called Nobushige "Yukimura" with respect.
The tradition continues today.