Pathway to Japanese Literature

On the fifteenth day of the sixth month of Kanei 9 (1632), patrol officers dispatched by Kuroda Uemonnosuke Tadayuki, lord of Fukuoka Castle in Chikuzen Province, apprehended a suspicious-looking man in Dōmachi, Hakata Tsuji.
When they investigated him, they found he was carrying in his bosom a sealed letter from Kuriyama Daizen Toshiaki addressed to Takenaka Uemonnojo, the Tokugawa intelligence officer stationed in Hita, Bungo Province.
When they opened and examined it within the castle, it proved to be an accusation stating that Tadayuki was plotting rebellion.

At that time, Tadayuki and Toshiaki had entered into a state of extreme tension between them.
At the beginning of the year when former Shogun Tokugawa Hidetada's funeral rites had concluded and Tadayuki returned to his domain, though all prominent retainers went to welcome him as far as Hakozaki, Toshiaki alone secluded himself in his town residence under pretext of illness and did not appear.
Thereupon when passing before Toshiaki’s residence, Tadayuki dispatched Yamashita Heibei as a messenger to inquire after his condition with instructions to convey: “Once fully recovered, report for duty.”
Thereafter Tadayuki repeatedly dispatched envoys to inquire after his well-being and also sought updates from Takatori Chōshōan, the physician treating Toshiaki.
When hearing reports from these messengers and physicians alike became clear that Toshiaki was not seriously ill after all.
Then on June 13th came Tadayuki’s dispatch of Kuroda Ichibei and Okada Zennemon as envoys bearing fresh demands—since his condition likely permitted movement despite claims otherwise—that he present himself even if requiring attendants’ support.
To this came reply that walking remained impossible; attendance must await full recovery.
Immediately ordering their return with escalated terms—palanquin transport authorized should dizziness strike en route—Tadayuki added final proviso:
Should even this prove unacceptable then he himself would come meet him.
Yet again came refusal—absolute insistence on awaiting complete recovery before emerging.
Tadayuki then questioned these envoys regarding numbers of retainers about Toshiaki and presence of weaponry.
Their answer told of twenty retainers encircling them on all sides with arms displayed.
Having heard this report within castle chambers’ Takibi-no-Ma council room did Lord Tadayuki—now resolved—abruptly declare:
“In any case we press onward to Kuriyama’s residence—all prepare yourselves,” before withdrawing inward.
Samurai scattered townward for arms retrieval.
Rumor’s wildfire spread saw chief retainers’ factions and young warriors massing before Toshiaki’s gates.
Here intervened elder statesmen Inoue Suōnokata Yuki—then styled Dōhaku—and Kogawa Kurōnosuke clutching their lord’s sleeve in protest:
“This rashness risks Edo’s ears—entrust us with handling Kuriyama! Should ritual suicide be required we’ll see it done!”

Tadayuki finally calmed down.
Inoue and Kogawa emerged next and proclaimed that not a single person was to approach Toshiaki's faction. They made those gathered before Toshiaki's residence—under the direction of his brother-in-law Kuroda Mimasaka, who at the time went by the name Suigō—withdraw to Mimasaka's residence and the council hall across from it.
On the following fourteenth day, Inoue and Kogawa informed Toshiaki of the matters within the castle.
Toshiaki immediately shaved his head and sent his wife and second son Yoshijirō to the castle as hostages.
The hostages were entrusted to Toshiaki's father-in-law, Kuroda Hyōgo.
It was on the following day that Tadayuki obtained the secret letter Toshiaki had addressed to Takenaka, the Tokugawa intelligence officer.

Both Tadayuki and the retainers attending at the castle found it unexpected that Toshiaki had written such a document.
That Tadayuki harbored no intention of rebelling against the Tokugawa house went without saying.
The perpetual anxiety among daimyo of that era lay here: though bearing no rebellious intent, they feared any trivial matter might be seized as pretext to have them branded traitors.
This had begun when Tōdō Sadoshige Takatora took the lead in Keichō 14 [1609] by stationing his wife and children in Edo—then after Osaka Castle's fall in Genna 1 [1615], even within the Kuroda house, Tadayuki's father Nagamasa had resolved to place Lady Hoshina in Edo accompanied by three children: eldest daughter Toku, second son Inumatsu, and third son Mangiku.
Lady Hoshina was presently in Edo together with Lady Hisamatsu, wife to the current lord.
This too constituted a method through which they endeavored to demonstrate their absence of hostile designs toward the Tokugawa house.

Moreover, that it was Toshiaki—the very person accusing Tadayuki, who harbored no rebellious intent, of rebellion—left Tadayuki and those around him utterly dumbfounded.
Indeed, Tadayuki and Toshiaki had reached a state of extreme tension between them.
The conflict between lord and retainer had escalated to the brink—one more step, and Tadayuki would likely order Toshiaki to commit ritual suicide.
Yet this conflict arose from Tadayuki’s perspective—thinking it outrageous that man should act so insolently, relying on his merits however great they might be—and equally from Toshiaki’s conviction: however wise the lord might be, how could he scorn this elder who had devoted loyal service across two generations?
Tadayuki loathed yet remained apprehensive, while those around him maintained respectful wariness toward Toshiaki—why he would attempt to frame his lord with false charges remained beyond anyone’s comprehension.

Toshiaki’s secret letter had not merely shocked and dismayed Tadayuki and his retainers. Lord and retainers simultaneously harbored great fear. For why? Because appended to Toshiaki’s document—beyond its main text alleging Tadayuki’s rebellion—was a postscript. The wording stated that to ensure this document would reach your hands without fail, two copies had been made simultaneously and entrusted to two men who were to deliver them via separate routes. Considering this, while the Kuroda house had by chance intercepted one copy, it could be inferred that another copy had safely reached Takenaka in Hita and been forwarded from there to the Tokugawa house in Edo. For in truth, though the cautious Tadayuki had been dimly aware that killing a meritorious retainer of his own house might incur censure from the Tokugawa house as misconduct, now that this accusation had gone to Edo, Toshiaki had become a man who could no longer be killed under any circumstances. For why? Because when the matter of whether rebellion exists comes to be subjected to interrogation by the Tokugawa house, there remains no path to clear one’s name other than confronting Toshiaki, who dared to fabricate these false charges.

――――――――――――

Toshiaki’s father, Kuriyama Toshiyasu, originated from a branch of the Akamatsu clan of Harima Province. His childhood name was Zensuke; in his middle years he was called Shirōuemon, and later took the name Bingo.
Born in Tenbun 20 (1551) at Awaji Castle in Harima Province; at age fifteen in Eiroku 8 (1565), he entered the service of Kuroda Kanbei Yoshitaka, lord of Himeyama Castle in the same province; and following the birth of Yoshitaka’s legitimate heir Matsuhisa in Eiroku 11 (1568), he was appointed as attendant to the young lord.
Yoshitaka was Tadayuki's grandfather; Matsuhisa, who later became Nagamasa, was Tadayuki's father.

In Tenshō 6 (1578), Araki Settsu-no-kami Murashige holed up in Arioka Castle in Itami, Settsu Province, and rebelled against Oda Nobunaga.
At that time, Yoshitaka went to Arioka Castle to admonish Murashige and was captured by him.
Toshiyasu, together with Morita Tahee Tomonobu—later called Tajima—and Inoue Kurōjirōnokata Yuki—later called Suō—took turns disguising themselves as merchants and prowled the vicinity of the prison where Yoshitaka had been confined to guard their lord.
In particular, Toshiyasu persuaded a silversmith in Itami’s town quarter, deceived the guards under cover of night, swam across the retention pond behind the prison, entered the prison compound, and met with Yoshitaka.
The following November, when Takigawa Sakon Kazumasu stormed Arioka Castle, Toshiyasu arrived at the site after the guards had fled, shattered the lock’s mechanism, led Yoshitaka out, journeyed to Arima for therapeutic bathing treatments, and gradually restored his lord’s capacity to stand unaided.

In the tenth year, Nobunaga was killed by Akechi Hyūga-no-kami Mitsuhide.
From this time onward, Kōtaka and his son served under Kinoshita Hideyoshi, and in the fifteenth year, Kōtaka was made lord of six districts in Buzen Province.
At this time, Toshiyasu was granted a portion of the fief.
In the seventeenth year, Kōtaka retired, took the name Jōsuiken Ensei, and the Kuroda house entered the era of Kai-no-kami Nagamasa.
It was on the twenty-second day of the first month of Tenshō 19 (1591), two years later, that Toshiyasu’s wife Morio gave birth to their legitimate heir Daikichi—this Daikichi being the future Daizen Toshiaki.
In the Bunroku 1 Korean campaign, Nagamasa crossed over accompanied by Toshiyasu and Tomonobu, and Kōtaka later entered Keijō as Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s envoy.

In Keichō 4 (1599), when Tokugawa Ieyasu marched east to attack Uesugi Kagekatsu in Aizu, Nagamasa joined the campaign. Before departing, he summoned three men at his Osaka Tenma residence: Toshiyasu, Tomonobu, and Miyazaki Sukedayu Shigemasa—later called Oribe—and gave them detailed instructions.
"If a revolt by the Toyotomi faction occurs during my absence, take my mother and wife and flee to Nakatsugawa before they are taken as hostages to the castle."
"You must not act hastily and let them be captured before the revolt has even occurred."
"Moreover, in such an event, the two women must not be mistakenly captured."
"Toshiyasu will confront the enemy alongside Tomonobu, while Shigemasa remains by the two women’s side—should it become clear they cannot escape, Shigemasa is to kill them both and then take his own life."

After some time, Ishida Jibushōyū Mitsunari indeed emerged from Sawayama Castle and gathered his allied daimyo in Osaka.
Toshiyasu and his men wrapped Yoshitaka’s forty-eight-year-old wife Lady Kushihashi and Nagamasa’s sixteen-year-old wife Lady Hoshina in straw rice bags, placed them into wicker baskets, breached the bathhouse wall below to carry them out, had Tomonobu—disguised as a merchant—shoulder the load, guided them through reeds growing thick along the riverbank behind the residence, and concealed them at the premises of Naya Kozaemon, a merchant frequenting the Tenma district.
This was to avoid detection by the Toyotomi forces’ lookout sentries.
At the Naya residence, they first placed the two ladies in the inner storehouse. Then, as a precaution against potential house searches, Master Kozaemon dug out a section of the planked floor in the sleeping quarters—equal in width to one tatami mat—laid tatami mats beneath the floorboards, and prepared a way to transfer them there from the storehouse.
Then Master Kozaemon and his wife delivered meals without letting the servants know.
At Master Kozaemon’s house, Shigemasa was being sheltered and stood guard, while Tomonobu kept watch from the neighboring house.

A few days later, when Toshiyasu went to Tōjō Kiinokami’s residence to inquire about the situation and was speaking with him, news arrived that troops were gathering at the Kuroda residence. Stating that this was entirely unexpected and inquiring what circumstances could have led to this, Toshiyasu observed Lord Kiinokami’s demeanor—for depending on the response, he thought to kill Kiinokami and return to the Kuroda residence. Kiinokami stated that he had no knowledge whatsoever. Toshiyasu spurred his horse and returned to Tenma. At the Kuroda residence, nothing had yet occurred when a secret messenger from Kunishūme Munehisa arrived and reported that troops were now gathering. Soon, fifty horsemen and over six hundred foot soldiers armed with two hundred firearms surrounded the Kuroda residence. The leader of the attacking force asked whether the two ladies were present. Toshiyasu assured them that both were indeed present. The attacking force withdrew, leaving behind a garrison. Next, an envoy from the castle arrived and stated that since they would send someone familiar, they should present the two ladies for inspection. Toshiyasu initially refused, declaring that inspection of samurai wives’ identities could not be permitted. The envoy countered that since they had been authorized to inspect even the inner chambers of other daimyos, they must absolutely be allowed to view them from behind a screen. Toshiyasu relented—though he might face unknown repercussions once Lord Kai-no-kami returned—stating he would allow viewing from behind a screen given the unavoidable circumstances. Someone familiar arrived: one woman whom Lady Kushihashi had seen in her youth; another whom Lady Hoshina had seen when she was twelve. Toshiyasu had a Shinano-born maid—daughter of one Ogasawara Naizen-no-suke—whose age and appearance resembled Lady Kushihashi’s lie inside a mosquito net, seated her serving daughter outside it to converse, then guided the two familiar persons to peer from a room away. Fortunately, they affirmed the ladies’ identities and withdrew.

Toshiyasu and his men plotted to somehow help the two ladies escape.
There existed a boatman named Kajiwara Tarōzaemon from Ieshima in Harima Province who served as transport contractor for the Kuroda family.
They persuaded Tarōzaemon to have a boat prepared.
However, the Toyotomi forces had stationed boat guards beneath Fukushima at the confluence of the Denpō and Kizu Rivers, taking precautions to prevent the escape of various daimyo wives.
This guard station consisted of a large vessel carrying one hundred armed soldiers and two smaller boats.
Toshiyasu and his men watched for an opening, but ultimately could find no means to slip past the guard station.

Amidst all this, July seventeenth arrived.
Finally, as it was decided to place the wives of Tokugawa-aligned daimyos as hostages within Osaka Castle’s main keep, the Toyotomi forces first dispatched a contingent to the residence of Hosokawa Etchū-no-kami Tadaoki near the castle.
Without heeding the Hosokawa senior retainer’s refusal, the troops pushed into the inner quarters.
Lady Hosokawa Akechi, finding it unbearable to enter the castle and suffer the shame of exposure while declaring she must not hinder her husband’s service to the Tokugawa house, took her own life.
The retainers Ogasawara Bizen and Kawakita Iwami closed the gates to mount a defense before finally setting fire to the premises and committing ritual suicide.
The Toyotomi forces, chastened by this incident, ceased bringing the wives of various daimyos into the castle.

Toshiyasu and his men had previously sent out a small boat upstream of Fukushima to survey the boat guard station’s situation.When the boat guards saw that the Hosokawa residence was burning, they boarded small boats in large numbers and headed to the fire site.Upon receiving this report, Toshiyasu and his men placed the two ladies into a large box and loaded them onto a boat from the storehouse’s back entrance.Tomonobu had them carry a large spear—its blade over two shaku six sun in length, its blue-shell-inlaid haft measuring seven shaku five sun two bu, fitted with a bearskin sheath shaped like a cedar branch—and guarded the boat with fifteen young retainers from Kukkyō.When the boat came before the boat guard station, Tahee, holding his spear at the ready, requested a meeting with Sueemonhachi, the guard station chief with whom he was acquainted.“Urgent business in my home region necessitates my return,” he stated.“I wish to request the boat inspection.”Knowing that Tomonobu was a man of large build and immense strength, Sueemonhachi declared,“There is no need to inspect the vessel.”Thereupon they went down the Denpō River, where Tarōzaemon—who had been kept waiting—transferred the two ladies to the boat.At that moment, one of Lady Hoshina’s maids named Kiku slipped away from the residence and followed their trail, so they took her aboard as well.The boat, under Tomonobu's protection, successfully reached Nakatsugawa on the fourth day.Shigemasa exited via the water route to the Izumi Province border, then boarded another ship from there; Toshiyasu traveled overland to Muro in Harima, then boarded a ship from there to return to Nakatsugawa.From Nakatsugawa, Retired Lord Yoshitaka Nyūdō Jōsui, having ascertained the situation in Osaka, had Mori Yosobei dispatch a boat to receive the two ladies, but it did not arrive in time.At the Osaka Tenma residence, Shinomiya Ichibei remained behind and made a life-risking explanation to the Toyotomi officials.After this,Kajiwara Sukehē took Katō Kiyomasa’s wife and similarly escaped Osaka, arriving at Nakatsugawa where they stayed at the house of his wife’s brother Kajiwara Hachirōdayū.Yoshitaka presented garments to Lady Katō and sent along the maid Kiku—who had followed Lady Hoshina back—all the way to Kumamoto.

The followingyear,Kechô five due tohismeritsat Sekigahara,Nagamasa received Chikuzen Provinceandatyear’sendfinallyenteredNamejimaCastleinKasuyaDistrict.InthesixthyearafterconsultingwithJousui—whohadoncetraveledtoKyotoandreturned—NagamasabuiltacastleinFukusakiwhichwasthenpartofKeigoVillageinNakaDistrict.Thisispresent-dayChikushiDistrict,Fukuoka.Atthistimeamongthesixbranchcastlesconstructedtogether,SayuraCastleinKamijôDistrictwasentrustedtoToshiyasu,TakatoriCastleinKurateDistricttotomonobu,andKurosakiCastleinOngaDistricttoyukifusa.Intheeleventhmonthoftheseventhyear,Nagamasa’slegitimateheirTadayukiwasbornintheEastBaileyofFukuokaCastle.ThelocalnamewasMantoku.ThemainkeepstoodontheformersiteofKeigoDaimyôjinShrine,sotoavoidbloodpollution,thebirthingchamberwasestablishedintheEastBailey—whichhadalsobeenentrustedtoToshiyasu.Intheninthyear,Jousuidiedatagefifty-nineinthecasde’ssannomaru.Intheeleventhyear,Nagamasas’eldestdaughterToku;inthefifteenthyear,hissecondsonInuman;andintheseventeenthyear,hisfirdsonMankichiwereborn.InumanwaslaterknownasNagaataka,andMankichiwaslaterknownasTakamasa.

From Keichō 19 through Genna 1, the Toyotomi clan’s uprising occurred in Osaka.
In the Winter Campaign of Keichō 19, Nagamasa guarded Edo while thirteen-year-old Tadayuki, though still unhealed from typhoid fever, pressed onward from Fukuoka.
Under Nagamasa was Toshiaki, while Toshiyasu came down from Edo to manage Fukuoka in his absence.
In the Summer Campaign of Genna 1, Nagamasa departed from Edo and Tadayuki from Fukuoka to Osaka.
Toshiyasu remained in Chikuzen, and Toshiaki joined Tadayuki’s forces.
Hoshina-shi went to Edo with Toku, Inuman, and Mankichi immediately after Osaka Castle’s fall.

In Genna 2 (1616), when Tokugawa Ieyasu died in Sunpu, Kuroda Nagamasa’s third daughter Kame was born in the Kuroda household.
In the eighth year [Genna 8 (1622)], Shogun Hidetada adopted Hisamatsu Kai-no-kami Tadayoshi’s seventeen-year-old daughter as his own and arranged her marriage to Tadayuki.
The ninth year marked when Hidetada ceded the shogunate to Iemitsu.
When Hidetada and his son journeyed to the capital, they had Nagamasa depart ahead from Edo.
Nagamasa, now fifty-three years old, took Tadayuki along to the capital, where he stayed at Nijō Castle and succumbed to a throat obstruction illness.
Toshiaki and Kogōchi Naizen received his final instructions.
The remains were transported to the domain and cremated at Hakozaki Pine Barrens.
At this time, thirty-three-year-old Toshiaki placed his hands at the coffin’s front, while twenty-two-year-old Tadayuki placed his at its rear.

When Nagamasa died, Toshiyasu, at seventy-three years old, shaved his head and took the name Ichiyōsai Boku’an.

Why did Tadayuki and Toshiaki, bound by such ties, come to wage a life-and-death struggle?
It was not Toshiaki who had changed—it was Tadayuki.

Tadayuki, in the prime of his life, suddenly became a daimyo ruling over 522,416 koku.
Being innately intelligent, he wished to manage state affairs single-handedly without being constrained by the old retainers.
For this purpose, he needed samurai who could be wielded as freely as his own limbs.
There existed a clever young man named Jūdayū—the son of Kurahachi Chōshirō, an ashigaru troop commander who had been enlisted in Nakatsugawa the previous year.
Tadayuki promoted him to his inner circle and gradually appointed him to positions. With the frequency of his promotions and stipend increases growing numerous within a short span of time, those with discernment grew concerned for their lord’s house and domain, the timid came to fear and avoid him, while the base and wicked sought to exploit him for their own ends.

Now, according to the final instructions that Toshiaki and Kogō had heard from the late Nagamasa on his deathbed, all matters of governance were to be deliberated by the three senior retainers—Toshiaki, Isshō, and Naizen—with significant affairs first reported to the two retired lords, Yukifusa and Toshiyasu, for final determination.
Thereupon, in April of Kanei 1 (1624), the year following Nagamasa’s death, the three senior retainers drafted a sworn oath and presented it to Tadayuki.
First: The three shall harbor no rebellious intent toward Tadayuki. Second: Regardless of who it may be, when recognizing anyone defying Tadayuki or harming the domain, the three shall report to Tadayuki and request that person’s disposition. Third: Should any schemer seek to sow discord among the three, they must confide in one another and rectify right from wrong. Fourth: The three shall conduct themselves as brothers. Fifth: Should any among the three face slanderous schemes, all three shall unanimously report this to Tadayuki. These were the five articles.
Jūdayū—who had received an extraordinary promotion and whose true intentions remained inscrutable—became an object of constant surveillance by the three senior retainers, who suspected he might fall under the purview of that second article.

However, there were no conspicuous flaws in Jūdayū’s conduct.
The first thing Toshiaki and the others noticed was simply that matters which had previously been handled through their own hands were gradually being settled without their knowledge.
In this manner, the matters that Tadayuki and his subordinates handled directly were at first nothing but trivial affairs that could be dealt with however they pleased, but before one knew it, they had gradually escalated into more significant issues.
When Toshiaki and the others afterward inquired with those in charge about it, they would say there was no particular issue—they simply hadn’t noticed.
Such exchanges grew increasingly frequent.
Toshiaki and the others increasingly found themselves having to pursue the traces of incidents.

Toshiaki and the others found this disquieting.
When they occasionally complained to Tadayuki about discrepancies in procedural matters, Tadayuki would say there was no particular issue—he simply hadn't noticed.
Even when they directed their inquiries downward or voiced their appeals upward, no effect could be seen.

Toshiaki and the others had come to think they must somehow reform this pernicious practice before long.
That this pernicious practice was linked to the conduct of the newly appointed Jūdayū—who never left his lordship's side even momentarily—went without saying.
However, not only were there no conspicuous flaws in Jūdayū alone, but there were also no conspicuous faults in political affairs.
Toshiaki and the others could only sense the shifting situation almost instinctively.

Toshiaki and the others sharpened their gaze and watched.
And gradually, they came to discern the shifting situation.

The first thing noticed was a general slackening in administrative affairs.
Tadayuki’s time for appearing in his official chambers grew increasingly delayed, and his retreat into his private quarters became earlier.
As a result, the officials too began appearing late and retreating early.
During his Edo attendance as well, Tadayuki behaved according to this habit—delaying his castle attendance and leaving early.
Messengers dispatched from the domain to Edo, as well as those sent to Tokugawa inspectors stationed in Bungo, began having their departure dates postponed more frequently than before.

Next to be noticed was how matters were lightly settled yet hastily revised.
The most egregious example occurred when the messenger to Edo was first assigned to Mori Shōzaemon, then changed to Tsukise Uma no Jo, reverted back to Mori, and finally replaced with Tsubota Shōzaemon.
Even in personnel appointments, there were instances where those carefully employed until yesterday would suddenly incur displeasure.

Next came observations that recreational activities or their equivalents were conducted with vigor while serious matters grew neglected—accompanied by strict, detailed rules governing these pursuits.
Noh performers were frequently summoned via urgent messengers, while falconry sites barred even travelers from passing—incidents of this nature stood out.
On his return from Edo at a Hyogo inn, Tadayuki went so far as to summon puppeteer women without heed to public censure.

Next, traces of extravagance were observed.
The furnishings and garments gradually grew more splendid, and the daily meal menus became increasingly elaborate.

Next came the observation that rituals such as funerals and condolence visits were being neglected. On the fifteenth day of the ninth month of Kanei 3 [1626], when Oda Tatsu-ko—mother of former Shogun Hidetada, honored as the Great Lady Dowager—passed away, Tadayuki not only neglected to observe mourning but went hawking. He failed to maintain abstinence on the death anniversaries of Ieyasu and Takataka, and even after returning from Edo, he ceased paying visits to the spirit halls of Takataka and Nagamasa.

For now, these were the matters that had come to notice, yet none were of significant import.
However, as matters pressed forward under these circumstances, issues might yet arise that could give rise to grave consequences.
Toshiaki and the other two had resolved that should an opportunity present itself, they would firmly address their lord.

Before long, there arose in succession two incidents: one where a man was punished despite being innocent, and another where a man was pardoned despite being guilty—both linked to Jūdayū.
One involved a Hakata townsman who owned a folding screen by Ukiyo Matahachi; when the townsman refused Jūdayū’s request for it, he had his retainers seize it by force and imprisoned him when he attempted to reclaim it.
The other involved a peasant from Shima District who had been arrested for theft; when it became known that he was the brother of Jūdayū’s concubine, he was released.

Toshiaki finally resolved himself, consulted with Isshō and Naizen no Jo, took up the brush himself, and drafted a memorial. Divided into categories and expounded through citations from classics and histories, it amounted to twenty-five articles in total. The unjust trial that had become the immediate cause of his resolve was categorized under "unclear rewards and punishments," with emphasis placed not on impeaching Jūdayū but solely on seeking Tadayuki's reflection. Having cleanly copied it, he requested Michikashi and Bokuan's review—this occurred on the twelfth day of the eleventh month of Kanei 3 (1626). Michikashi and Bokuan promptly appended their endorsements and requested Kobayashi Takumi, Kinugasa Bokusai, and Oka Zenzaemon—three individuals—to make it public.

Tadayuki read the memorial and became enraged.
He felt it was jealousy toward Jūdayū and also perceived it as fault-finding.
As the memorial quoted classics and histories, it was immediately clear that Toshiaki had written it, and the wrath fell upon Toshiaki alone.
Tadayuki wanted to summon Toshiaki and reprimand him, but since Toshiaki was not a man who would endure scolding in silence, he, feeling vexed, reconsidered and decided it would be better to abandon the matter rather than listen to troublesome arguments.

Naturally, Toshiaki and the others—along with Michikashi and Bokuan—had waited expecting Tadayuki to take some measure, but there was no sign of such developments.
The machinery of governance continued to operate as before.
Jūdayū continued to carry himself with cunning affectation as before.
The only thing that had changed from the previous day was that Tadayuki would turn his face away whenever he encountered Toshiaki.
The memorial had produced no more than this effect.

If Tadayuki stubbornly continued this cold treatment, Toshiaki too would stubbornly endure and respond in kind.
In time, the mourning period for Lady Kushihashi—wife of Takataka, who had passed away in Kanei 4 (1627)—also concluded.

In the fifth year [Kanei 5 (1628)], Tadayuki—claiming it was for sailing between Osaka and the domain during his Edo attendances—had constructed a large ship called Hōgyokumaru.
Furthermore, declaring they would be attached to Jūdayū’s unit, he recruited three hundred foot soldiers without reporting it to Edo.
The extravagance cited in the memorial had now surpassed mere clothing and furnishings—manifesting in both this grand vessel’s construction and these troop reinforcements.
Toshiaki could no longer endure passive observation; though restrained by Isshō and Naizen no Jo, he pleaded illness and resigned as senior retainer.
Tadayuki immediately granted this request.
Without a word, Toshiaki vacated his castle-town residence and withdrew into seclusion at the Sayura villa.

Tadayuki believed he had rid himself of an irritant when early in the sixth year, an admonition arrived from the shogunate through Doi Ōi no Kami Toshikatsu.
The Kuroda family's retainers—the Kuriyama father and son—ought to guide their young lord; while Bokuan approaching eighty might be excused, Lord Daizen's seclusion was improper.
Arrangements had been made for his return to duty as being proper, they declared.
Tadayuki reluctantly ordered Toshiaki back to service.

Toshiaki resumed his duties after prolonged absence, yet Tadayuki still averted his face.
Nothing differed from before his resignation.
Though powerless against Toshiaki under shogunal protection, Tadayuki found his long-nursed resentment not merely persisting but intensifying.

Amid this mutually unpleasant and strained relationship that persisted between them, on the fourteenth day of the eighth month of Kanei 8 (1631), Toshiaki's father Bokuan passed away at the Sayura villa as though in sleep.
He was eighty-one years old at the time of his death.
Around that period, Jūdayū was finally added to the ranks of senior retainers and granted nine thousand koku.
This constituted a fief yielding thirty thousand koku in actual revenue.
Toshiaki—along with Isshō, Naizen no Jo, and Inoue Naiki—naturally argued that however useful Jūdayū might prove in service, appointing someone lacking proper qualifications as senior retainer was inadvisable; yet Tadayuki paid no heed.

Before long, Tadayuki declared that a senior retainer’s household must possess heirlooms and bestowed upon Jūdayū the armor Ieyasu had given his father Nagamasa during the Battle of Sekigahara.
Upon hearing this, Toshiaki personally went to Kurahachi’s residence and confiscated the armor—yet undertook this action without notifying Tadayuki by so much as a word.
Tadayuki became enraged but likewise said nothing of it to Toshiaki.

Amidst their stalemate came Kanei 9 (1632). Former Shogun Hidetada passed away; Tadayuki attended funeral rites in Edo before returning to his domain.
It was then that their dispute over Toshiaki’s attendance reached its peak—prompting Tadayuki himself to visit Toshiaki’s residence.
Stubbornness had always characterized both men.
That Tadayuki now grew agitated enough to lose composure stemmed from another cause.
Hidetada died on First Month 24th. On Night 26 came Zōjō-ji’s funeral procession; Second Month 22 saw an imperial envoy depart; belongings were distributed on Second Month 26; Third Month 11 brought Tadayuki leave to quit Edo.
The April of his domainal return coincided with calamity striking neighboring Higo.

On April 10th, someone brought an anonymous letter to the residence of Muroga Genshichirō Masatoshi in Nagatachō, Edo.
It was a document alleging rebellious intent on the part of Katō Higo-no-kami Tada Hiro, lord of Kumamoto Castle in Higo Province.
Inoue Shinzaemon, Masatoshi’s father-in-law—who was been on good terms with Doi Toshikatsu—reported it to Toshikatsu.
Toshikatsu ordered Masatoshi to search for the man who had brought the anonymous letter.
On the fourteenth day, when they captured the man at Kōjimachi’s earth bridge, it proved to be Tada Hiro’s legitimate son Bungo-no-kami Mitsumasa and his retainer Maeda Gorōhachi.
As Shogun Iemitsu had made a pilgrimage to Nikkō and was staying in Utsunomiya, Shimotsuke Province, Toshikatsu dispatched Masatoshi to Utsunomiya to file the complaint.
Thereupon, Inaba Tango no Kami Masakatsu was appointed as shogunal envoy to Kumamoto, and Tada Hiro was summoned to Edo.
Since Masakatsu would pass through Yamaga in Onga District, Chikuzen Province on his way to Kumamoto, Tadayuki—having just returned to his domain—sent envoys from Fukuoka to greet him.
The chief envoy was Jūdayū, and the deputy envoy was Kuroda Ichibei.
Jūdayū’s contingent consisted of two hundred newly recruited foot soldiers along with infantry and arquebusiers, totaling three hundred and fifty men, while Ichibei’s party numbered a mere thirty-eight retainers.
When they arrived in Yamaga and paid their respects at Masakatsu’s inn, Masakatsu declared:
“Kurahachi Jūdayū is a name unknown to me; Kuroda Ichibei I recognize as being of proper lineage. Admit Kuroda.”
Though chief envoy, Jūdayū could not gain audience with the shogunal envoy and withdrew.
The townspeople of Fukuoka and Hakata had long resented Jūdayū’s tyranny; wherever they gathered now spread gossip about the Yamaga incident.
Hearing this, Tadayuki grew more enraged than when reading Toshiaki’s memorials, commanding that any discussing Yamaga be cut down on sight.
Soon townspeople were slain across various districts.
In Hakata Abamachi Town: Sugihara Heisuke killed one of two conversing men while letting another escape.
In Fukuoka Gofukumachi Town: Sakata Kazaemon slew one from a trio in triangular discussion while two fled.
In that same Tōjinmachi Town: Hamada Tazaemon struck down one of two talkers while sparing another.
The townspeople quaked with terror.

Although it became known that the Katō family incident arose from Mitsumasa slandering his father, Tada Hiro was found to have taken an unregistered two-year-old illegitimate child back to his domain without reporting it to the Tokugawa family; thus, on the first day of the sixth month, the matter was settled through an order for domain confiscation.

The rage that drove Tadayuki to personally attempt storming into Toshiaki’s residence—where he refused to attend duties—was compounded by both the humiliation suffered by his favorite retainer Jūdayū and the exhilaration of having slaughtered townspeople across Fukuoka and Hakata.

――――――――――――

On August 25th of Kanei 9 Year (1632), a messenger from the Tokugawa shogunate came to Tadayuki and conveyed the command for Edo attendance.
Tadayuki, for the first time, felt as though he had awoken from a dream and, accompanied by Isshō and Naizen no Jo, departed Fukuoka.
As they neared Edo and learned of it, dozens of direct retainers—from the firearms commander downward—were waiting at Shinagawa entrance, attempting to place Tadayuki in Tōkai-ji Temple at Shinagawa.
Even if Tadayuki could not escape his own ruin, he wished to meet his end at the main residence if possible. To this end, Naizen no Jo devised a plan: surrounding Tadayuki’s palanquin with a small retinue, arming them with a single plain spear, and departing Kanagawa during the Hour of the Rat.
This party dashed through Shinagawa under cover of night and entered the upper residence at Sakurada.
Now, when dawn broke after Isshō and Naizen no Jo had the Kuroda family’s procession approach Shinagawa entrance, a messenger came from the guardhouse and stated that by order of Abe Tsushima-no-kami, Lord Kuroda was to first proceed to Tōkai-ji Temple on official business.
Naizen no Jo answered that his lord Uemonnosuke, due to an urgent summons, had already entered Edo with a small retinue during the night.

Before long, a messenger from the senior councilors came to the Sakurada residence. It was intended that Tadayuki be placed in Shibutani Hasedera. Tadayuki responded that while he remained unaware of what suspicions might exist, he wished to settle matters within the residence grounds. The messenger withdrew unchanged. Subsequently, Naruse Hayatonosho Masatora—retainer of the Owari branch—Andō Tōtō Naotsugu—retainer of the Kii branch—and Takiguchi Bungo-no-kami arrived seeking an audience. As these three men had long maintained cordial relations with Tadayuki, they persuaded him until at last he relocated to Hasedera.

From the upper residence, a courier departed for Fukuoka.
When that arrived, in Fukuoka Castle, the acting senior retainers, unit commanders, and various samurai gathered and held a council.
When the council concluded, the group leaders relayed it to their respective subordinates.
Those among the retainers who wished to surrender the castle and withdraw may do so freely.
It was declared that those who wished to die in battle with the castle as their pillow should prepare themselves.

However, none of the samurai spoke of withdrawing. Thereupon, they brought their wives and children into the castle as well, and it was decided that after one battle, they would all die together. The defensive positions were divided into Akamaguchi, Unemachi, Kinedeguchi, Kinedejuku, Saifuguchi, Hienohara, Iwato-guchi, Misakoe, Karatsuguchi, Ikumatsubara, the naval forces, and within the castle. At Akamaguchi were Inoue Naiki, Kuroda Hyōgo, Kuroda Ichibei, Ogawa Nuinosuke, Ogawa Oribe, Hisano Shihei, Ogawa Sentayu; at Unemachi were Inoue Kenmotsu, Yoshida Iki, Itami Kurando, Takahashi Chūzaemon, Ogawa Nagagorō; at Kinedeguchi were Nomura Ukyō, Katō Toshokan, Murata Dewa, Mōri Mataemon, Hisano Gaiki, Kitamura Ryokunojō, Katō Yasabunojō; at Kinedejuku were Kuroda Kenmotsu, Kuroda Heikichi, Hayashi Kamon, Murayama Kakuemon, Noguchi Sasuē, Kitamura Kageyu; at Saifuguchi were Mōri Sakon, Tsukisuke Uma no Jo, Kinugasa Inaba, Ōtone Rokusaemon, Suge Kanbeiē, Yoshida Uma no Tayū, Nagahama Kurōemon; at Hienohara were Nomura Ichiemon, Akashi Shirōbeiē, Kuroda Sōhyōē, Saitō Jinemon, Nomura Hatsuemon; at Iwato-guchi were Satani Gorōdayū, Matsumoto Noto; at Misakoe were Ōtsuka Gonbeiē, Kobayashi Takumi, Takenaka Shūzen, Uragami Saburōbeiē, Suge Yasuichiemon, Kuroda Hanemon, Okada Saemon, Kōri Emon, Makita Genemon, Ōtone Yasudayū; at Karatsuguchi were Kōri Masadayū, Saitō Chūbeiē, Yoshida Hisadayū, Mōri Kichiemon; at Ikumatsubara were Kōri Kanemon, Matsushita Gensuke, Kitamura Tarōbeiē, Nagase Shinjirō, Kushihashi Shichinojō; at the northwestern naval forces were Matsumoto Kichiemon, Matsumoto Tono no Kami, Matsumoto Zenbeiē, Matsumoto Jiemon, Yoshida Magosaburō; within the castle were Ibi Iyo, Hanabusa Jiemon, Takemori Shinemon; along with retired elders, second sons, third sons, and others.

The general arrangement was roughly of this sort.

In Edo, on November 17th, Tadayuki was summoned by the senior councilors and went to the western enceinte.
The appointment of retainers and the matter of envoys dispatched to the Higo front were deemed oversteps by the shogunate; it was declared that a full inquiry would subsequently be conducted.
In the evening, Naruse claimed illness, and Andō came to offer his sympathies.
In the evening during the Hour of the Dog, Tadayuki went to visit Naruse.
On the nineteenth day, Tadayuki was permitted to return to his residence, but as the upper residence was deemed improper, he moved to the Azabu lower residence where his brother Takamasa had been living, and Takamasa relocated to the longhouse.

In early February of Kanei 10 Year (1633), with intervals of two or three days between each summons, Tadayuki was called to the western enceinte three times in total and underwent interrogations by the senior councilors. Though questioned about the rebellion plot Toshiaki had accused him of, Tadayuki’s defense proved logically sound. Once these interrogations were decided upon, Tadayuki deliberately withdrew into seclusion once more at Hasedera Temple.

Meanwhile, Takenaka Uemonnojo arrived in Edo from Kyushu with Toshiaki in tow. Thus it was arranged that on February 24th, Toshiaki and Jūdayū would confront each other at the residence of Doi Toshikatsu. As official witnesses, the following took their seats to Toshikatsu’s left and right: Ii Kamon-no-kami Naotaka; Sakai Uta-no-kami Tadayo; Sakai Sanuki-no-kami Tadakatsu; Matsudaira Shimōsa-no-kami Tadahiro; Nagai Shinano-no-kami Naomasa; Aoyama Daizen-no-suke Yukitoshi; Itakura Suō-no-kami Shigemune; Inaba Tango-no-kami Masakatsu; Naruse Hayatonosho of the Owari branch; Andō Tōtō of the Kii branch; Yagyū Tajima-no-kami Munenori, chief inspector; Akiyama Shūri-no-suke; Mizuno Kawachi-no-kami; and Kagatsume Minbu.

At a distance of one ken from the chief inspector’s seat, Toshiaki sat on one side accompanied by Takenaka Uemonnojo. Directly across sat Isshō, with Jūdayū positioned beside him.

At that time, the necessary arrangements had been made.
Toshiaki stated he had reported this matter solely from some awareness of it; he wished for thorough investigation into points he had drafted in his memorial years prior and similar matters arising thereafter—if done, he said, this incident's origins might become clear—then fell silent.
Isshō and Jūdayū declared there was no trace of rebellious intent in their lord Uemonnosuke, stating they could not fathom why Toshiaki had lodged such accusation.
Next, the two men underwent factual interrogation by the senior councilors regarding each recognized transgression of Tadayuki.

During this interval, Kuroda Kenmotsu was summoned.
He was questioned about this matter concerning the reinforcement of foot soldiers.

Next, Naizen no Jo was summoned.
Because he had ventured forth despite not being summoned, no words came from the shogunal officials.
After bowing to the officials, Naizen no Jo offered his customary acknowledgment to Toshiaki as well, then made this statement:
"Lord Uemonnosuke harbors no rebellious intent.
I find it perplexing why Toshiaki raised this accusation.
When Toshiaki was born, the previous lord—Lord Chikuzen-no-kami Nagamasa—presented his father Toshiyasu with a protective charm, a wakizashi short sword, swaddling clothes, and a ceremonial cask of sake and fish.
I carried these gifts to the Kuriyama residence myself. At that time, Toshiaki’s father Toshiyasu came out barefoot to the gate to bid me farewell and express his gratitude.
Even after Toshiaki came of age, Lord Chikuzen-no-kami imposed hardships upon him."
"Why he would bring this accusation," said Naizen no Jo, tears falling,
"is beyond comprehension." Then he declared that if Lord Uemonnosuke truly harbored rebellious intent, Michiyasu of Yukifusa could not possibly remain ignorant of it—and with that rose to bring Michiyasu, who had been seated nearby, before the officials.

After Michiyasu bowed to the assembly, he abruptly stepped before Toshiaki and crouched there.
And he called out, “Michiyasu will sit here—step back a bit if you would.”
Toshiaki said, “Please take your seat,” and remained unmoving.
Michiyasu repeated, “Lord Uemonnosuke will soon take his seat—would you not step back?”
At this moment, Toshiaki stepped back about one ken.
Michiyasu took a seat above Toshiaki.

Michiyasu, like Naizen no Jo, had not been summoned today.
However, as Toshikatsu was acquainted with him, he addressed him.
Subsequently, Naotaka said, “That’s Awaji’s father, isn’t it?”
Michiyasu answered, “That is correct.”
Naotaka knew Michiyasu’s legitimate heir.

“I was a friend of your father Toshiyasu,” Michiyasu said to Toshiaki. “Toshiyasu never told a lie his whole life. You were born inferior to your father.”
Toshiaki said, “You know nothing of recent affairs—you cannot comprehend this.”

Next, Michiyasu turned to face the officials and stated: “The realm is taken by military might and maintained through civil governance. Were Lord Uemonnosuke plotting rebellion, he would not neglect to consult seasoned warriors. In the Kuroda house, first and foremost stand veteran meritorious retainers such as Isshō. Naizen no Jo and Kenmotsu have also seen battle two or three times. I too possess some experience in these matters. The retainers worthy of consultation are precisely these few men—Toshiaki does not conduct proper military operations. That Toshiaki alone claims knowledge of Lord Uemonnosuke’s supposed plot while we remain unaware constitutes evidence of its nonexistence. Should administrative negligence stemming from Lord Uemonnosuke’s youth warrant domain confiscation, resistance would prove futile. Yet I implore you to dispel at least this false charge of rebellion.” He then invoked history: “At Sekigahara camp, the Divine Lord clasped hands with his predecessor Lord Chikuzen-no-kami Nagamasa, declaring: ‘Through your deeds have I achieved my true intent; I shall not interfere with the Kuroda house for all generations.’ Lords Doi, Ii, and Sakai present here must surely recall this pledge.”

Isshō and Naizen no Jo expressed agreement with Michiyasu’s proposal.
With this, Michiyasu, Isshō, and Naizen no Jo were granted leave.
Toshiaki was directed by Masatora to withdraw.

Two or three days later, Tadayuki was summoned by the senior councilors to Nishi-no-Maru and received his verdict.
On charges of negligence, Chikuzen Province was to be confiscated.
Yet upon departing, his ancestral military merits since his grandfather’s time and his own genuine intent were recognized, and thus it was declared that he would be newly granted Chikuzen Province once more.
That evening, Naotsugu came with a letter stating that he wished him to maintain the usual understanding.

Tadayuki entered the Azabu residence in the middle of the night.

In early March, Toshiaki was summoned to Naotaka’s residence.
Doi Toshikatsu would attend the proceedings.
Tadayoshi and those below him were the same as during the time at the Doi residence.
Toshiaki took his seat unarmed.
Now, it was delivered through Umenonosuke.
The various points regarding administrative matters contained within the remonstrance—along with other matters—were largely not in dispute.
However, the allegations regarding Lord Uemonnosuke’s rebellion were conclusively deemed false.
It was declared that he must now clearly state his reasons for having made such an accusation.
Toshiaki answered.
“That Your Honors have deemed legitimate the remonstrance and other submissions is a most fortunate outcome.”
“The reason I accused Lord Uemonnosuke of harboring rebellious intent was to halt his punishment against me.”
“If I had been punished in the domain as things stood, my meaningless death would have been no great loss—but Lord Uemonnosuke would have had his domain confiscated without undergoing investigation.”
He stated that this measure—presumptuous as it might be—was what he humbly considered to be an aspect of military strategy.
A look of stirred emotion appeared among the officials.

Two or three days having passed, Toshiaki was again summoned to Naotaka’s residence.
The attendees were the same as last time, with Nanbu Yamashiro-no-kami Shigenao now joining them.
Through Matsudaira Tadahiro, the following was delivered to Toshiaki.
This time, Lord Uemonnosuke had Chikuzen Province temporarily confiscated on charges of negligence; however, in further consideration of his ancestors’ achievements and his own sincere intent, he was newly granted Chikuzen Province once more.
It was declared that he was to be placed in the custody of Nanbu Yamashiro-no-kami.
Toshiaki said, “Understood,” and step by step retreated about three tatami mats’ distance, tears welling in both eyes as he declared, “I humbly consider this a most fortunate outcome.”
Shigenao advanced his seat and informed him that he would receive a 150 koku stipend from the shogunate and, upon proceeding to Morioka, would be permitted to move freely within a range of two or three ri.
Toshiaki once more expressed his gratitude.

Around the same time, Masatora and Naotsugu came to the Azabu residence and met with Michiyasu, Isshō, Naizen no Jo, Kenmotsu, and Jūdayū. Masatora said, “I rejoice that Lord Uemonnosuke has prevailed in his legal proceedings. Yet should he by any chance have been sentenced to exile, I wish to ascertain beforehand what course of action you all would have taken.”
Michiyasu pondered for a while and stepped forward.
“Had such a verdict been rendered,” he said, “the senior retainers as a whole would have renounced secular life.”
Masatora asked, “Does everyone agree with this?”
“We have no objections,” replied Isshō and the others.
“This is truly commendable resolve,” said Masatora. “The Kuroda house is blessed with excellent senior retainers.” With these words, he rose from his seat.
This was done to obtain a formal pledge from the senior retainers, ensuring that their earlier preparations for a siege in Fukuoka would not become grounds for controversy.

Two or three days later, Jūdayū was summoned to the Andō residence.
Naotsugu had Masatora attend and advised Jūdayū to shave his head and ascend Mount Kōya.
Jūdayū humbly accepted.

On May 8th, Tadayuki had an audience with Iemitsu.
Thus, relations between the Tokugawa and Kuroda houses were restored.
Five years later, in Kanei 15 (1638), Tadayuki distinguished himself in the Shimabara Rebellion; after an interval of two years, in Kanei 18 (1641), he was appointed to the Nagasaki garrison.
From this time onward, Dutch ships that had previously come to Hirado were now to come to Nagasaki.

Prior to this, when the Shimabara Rebellion broke out in Kanei 14 (1637), Jūdayū escaped from Mount Kōya and joined the throng of Christians; but when Hara Castle fell, he was cut down amidst the chaotic fray.

――――――――――――

Toshiaki’s relocation to the castle town of Morioka in Iwate District, Mutsu Province occurred at the end of March in the eleventh year of Kanei (1634).
The Nanbu family established a grand residence in Hirokoji to welcome him.

Two years ago, June 14th was a day of dread for Toshiaki.
Toshiaki sent his wife and second son Yoshitsugu from his Fukuoka residence to the main house as hostages, wrote two accusatory letters addressed to Takenaka Uemonnojo, had one copy carried by a seasoned agent via backroads to Hita, and deliberately entrusted the other copy to a peasant whose suspicious appearance would draw attention, ensuring it was apprehended by patrol officers in the city district.
Before resorting to this final measure, Toshiaki had his retainers tidy up both his castle-town residence and the Sayura villa, disposing of each important item one by one.
Among them was a document from Tokugawa Ieyasu to Nagamasa, dated Keichō era, fifth year, September 19th.
"A missive containing such phrases as: 'The pacification of the realm has been achieved through your most sincere loyalty; henceforth, your descendants shall never face neglect.'"
Toshiaki handed this to Kajiwara Heijūrō Kagenao and said.
"Since both Lord Uemonnosuke and this humble one are to be summoned to Edo this time, there is no guarantee that the rise or fall of the Kuroda house will not be at stake. In such an event, take this document to Edo and present it among the three senior councilors—Doi, Ii, and Sakai—I said."

Kagenao’s father, Kagesue, was born between Takasago’s castle lord Suruga-no-kami Kagenori of Harima Province and Akashi—the elder sister of Takataka’s mother—and it was this Kagesue who married Oe-shi and fathered Kagenao.
Oe-shi’s father was called Yasuemonsuke and was Takataka’s brother-in-law.
After Yasuemonsuke died in battle and his widow Kuroda-shi became a nun, Oe-shi became a maidservant to Takataka’s wife Kushihashi-shi, during which time she became pregnant by Takataka.
Kagesue married her by the lord’s command and fathered Kagenao.
Therefore, Kagenao was in truth Takataka’s illegitimate child, Nagamasa’s younger brother, and Tadayuki’s uncle.
Although this document ultimately went unused, in Meiwa 5 (1768), it was returned from the Kajiwara family into the hands of Kuroda Chikuzen-no-kami Tsugutaka.

Around the time Tadayuki was summoned to Edo, Toshiaki had taken refuge at Takenaka's official residence in Hita, and before the deliberations began, he was taken by Takenaka to Edo.

When Toshiaki set out for Morioka, he took along his legitimate heir Daikichi Rishū.
The retainers who accompanied him were Sengoku Kakuenmon, Zaitsu Daiemon, and several dozen hereditary vassals.
Toshiaki’s wife Kuroda-shi and second son Yoshijirō, who had been entrusted to the residence of Kuroda Hyōgo in Fukuoka, were later granted a 500 koku stipend.

When Toshiaki went to Morioka at forty-four years of age, still being in the prime of life, he took a concubine from the Uchiyama clan.
In this woman’s womb, a daughter was later born.

――――――――――――

In the winter of Kanei 18 (1641), when Tadayuki was appointed to the Nagasaki garrison, a certain Inoue—magistrate of the shogunal territory not far from Morioka—expressed his desire to meet Toshiaki, drawn by admiration for his character.
Toshiaki responded: “As one of itinerant status, I might well decline your request; yet finding myself at leisure in idle retirement, should you deign to call upon me, I shall grant an audience.”

When Inoue visited the Hirokoji residence and was shown into a room, Toshiaki—wearing a hood and sitting by the hearth—lifted his face and said, “Your visit must have been arduous,” offering a greeting without rising.
He was fifty-one years old, but his complexion did not pale in comparison to that of a man in his prime.

Inoue felt that the greeting directed at himself as a direct retainer was somewhat unconventional; he observed the situation for a time, but the master committed no further discourteous acts beyond that initial salutation. Thereupon, he exchanged a few words and took his leave.

After leaving the residence, Inoue recalled the master’s attitude and pondered what state of mind had prompted such a greeting.
Even after returning home, he continued to ponder it.
However, as he simply could not comprehend it, he resolved to make inquiries and probe the other party’s true intentions.

When he went for the second time, Toshiaki again greeted him in the same manner.
Thereupon, Inoue opened the verbal engagement.
“The reason I have come again is that, having heard you are an extraordinary person, I wish to consult on matters and, depending on the situation, seek your guidance.
Yet your manner does not appear particularly different from that of an ordinary person.
I must say this comes as something of a surprise,” he said.

Toshiaki answered.
“Indeed, I may be an ordinary person.”
“However, a person’s wisdom or folly, righteousness or wickedness can only be discerned after having substantial discussions.”

Inoue said.
“Then I shall inquire.”
“I, though unworthy, am of direct retainer status.”
“Moreover, I would like to hear your esteemed thoughts on why you offer greetings without rising.”

Toshiaki answered: “That stems from your inadequate consideration. When I resided in Chikuzen, I governed Sayura Castle with a twenty-five thousand koku fiefdom. After the Osaka campaign, when all minor fortresses across the land were demolished, Sayura did not escape this fate. Yet my domain remained intact. Furthermore, as senior retainer to the Kuroda house, I oversaw governance of over five hundred thousand koku and commanded more than fifty thousand troops. The decisions of a clan like the Kurodas determine the realm’s stability. Did not the Tokugawa house secure unification through aligning with Takataka and Nagamasa at Sekigahara? Thus I see no cause to bow before a magistrate holding three hundred koku.”

Upon hearing this answer, Inoue acknowledged its truth, apologized for his own presumption, and engaged earnestly with Toshiaki to seek counsel on various matters.

When Inoue inquired about the merits of different military schools, Toshiaki declared: “Governance demands both civil and martial arts. Civil affairs require benevolence; martial affairs demand severity. The martial way speaks not merely of wielding weapons. All resolute governance belongs to martial principle. Military strategy constitutes but one facet of martial application. Debating schools proves futile—nothing surpasses the Seven Classics. Secure your foundations first; assess enemy conditions thoroughly before battle, and victory follows. Martial principles endure eternally. Those who mistake troop formations for military law will never grasp strategic advantage.”

When Inoue asked about evaluating castle layouts, Toshiaki declared: “A castle in turbulent times serves as a storehouse for wives, children, provisions, and implements.” “No different from the granaries of peasants and townsfolk,” he continued. “True commanders give no weight to fortifications.” His voice grew emphatic: “Loyal retainers themselves form the castle walls. For those who rule provinces, only the Emperor warrants deference.” Leaning forward, he concluded: “The essential task lies in nurturing capable vassals, reading the currents of the age, and seeking any opportunity—however slight—to expand one’s domain.”

When asked about the aspirations of warriors, Toshiaki said:
“Ambition must be grand.”
“If born in China, one should aspire to become the Son of Heaven.”
“If born in Japan, one should aspire to become Chancellor or Shogun.”
“Now, to accomplish that, there is no path but to discipline oneself and win over others.”
“Once provinces and districts have been obtained, one must appraise individuals and appoint them.”
“A person of utility praises six out of ten people and censures four.”
“One whom all ten out of ten praise is a sycophant.”
“There remains one principle you must understand: the way of expediency.”
“This we call decisive judgment.”
“To take requires transgression; to defend demands compliance. Even when recognizing this as unjust, if the misstep remains contained, one must resolutely execute this judgment and see it through.”

―――――――――――

Toshiaki died on March 1 of the first year of Jōō at the age of sixty-two.
It was the year after Tokugawa Iemitsu died in Edo and Ietsuna succeeded him.
The grave of Toshiaki and a large monument remain today on the mountainside of the former site of Hōrin-in Temple on Mount Atago in Yonezawa Village, Iwate District, Rikuchū Province.

The daughter born to the Yamauchi clan's concubine took in an adopted son-in-law who served the Nambu house. This was Uchiyama Zenkichi, a retainer with a two-hundred-koku stipend. Arguing that the Kuriyama name would prompt remembrance of his former lord's failings, Toshiaki deliberately had them adopt his maternal relatives' surname. Toshiaki's retainers Sengoku and Zaitsu were likewise summoned by the Nambu house, each granted fifty koku. The legitimate son Toshikane spurned the Kuroda house's summons and lived out his days as a private scholar.

(Taishō 3 Year, September)