Pathway to Japanese Literature

Sanada vs. Tokugawa

There are various theories regarding Sanada Yukimura’s name, but given that his elder brother Nobuyuki stated, "My younger brother’s true name shares both the characters and appellation of Takeda Shingen’s younger brother Nobukata," it is certain he was called Nobushige. Momoi Tomonao, author of *Sanada Family Ancient Tales*, states: "Upon examination, he was initially called Nobushige, later known as Yukishige, and subsequently referred to as Nobuyoshi." Around the time of the Osaka Campaign, I believe he was called Yukimura, but the author of *Chronicles of Mount Tsune* writes it as Nobuyori. Judging by this, it may have been Nobuyori that prevailed during the Tokugawa era. However, in any case, it was likely because the name Yukimura was adopted by popular literary writers of the Tokugawa era that it became overwhelmingly famous.

In ancient times, there was no such thing as name divination; however, someone as exceptionally talented as Yukimura likely changed his name on various occasions when circumstances demanded it.

The Sanada were descendants of Ueshiro Kotarō, a renowned clan of Shinano, and were themselves a distinguished family. During Yukitaka's time, Sanada Yukitaka served the Takeda clan—this Yukitaka being a brilliant strategist who excelled at exploiting enemy spies through counterintelligence. Though called the Chronicle of Three Sanada Generations, with Yukitaka and Yukimura’s son Ōsuke included, it might well qualify as a chronicle of four generations.

Fundamentally, though Sanada Yukimura could not be called a samurai beholden to the Toyotomi clan, his reason for meeting such a flamboyant death in battle for Hideyori likely lay in the layered obstinacy toward the Tokugawa house that persisted since his father Masayuki's time. Numata in Kōzuke Province stood where the upper reaches of the Tone River met the Katashina River - an impregnable stronghold flanked by the Tone on its right and the Katashina on its left. After the Kantō Kanrei's downfall, the Sanada clan had seized this land through sheer martial prowess.

After the fall of the Takeda, the Sanada had temporarily submitted to Tokugawa; however, when Ieyasu concluded a peace treaty with the Hojo, at the Hojo's demand, it was decided that Numata would be handed over to their side. Ieyasu then told the Sanada, "Relinquish Numata to the Hojo, and in exchange, I shall grant you Ueda."

However, Masayuki argued that Ueda had been the Sanada’s seat since Shingen’s time and that there was no reason to receive it from Tokugawa. Moreover, Numata was territory seized through their own martial prowess. Declaring he could not cede it without just cause, he rejected Ieyasu’s demand and secretly dispatched an envoy to Hideyoshi to convey their intent to pledge allegiance. This occurred in Tenshō 13 (1585).

Tokugawa Ieyasu, enraged, ordered Ōkubo Tadayo, Torii Mototada, Ii Naomasa, and others to launch an assault.

Masayuki repelled them with considerable military strategy. It is also said that Hideyoshi had ordered Uesugi Kagekatsu to support Masayuki, as this occurred immediately after Komakiyama when relations between Hideyoshi and Ieyasu were strained. This conflict marked the first time the Sanada had faced Tokugawa. This also marked the first instance of the Sanada receiving Hideyoshi’s patronage. After Tokugawa Ieyasu made peace with Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Sanada Masayuki too concluded peace with Ieyasu due to geopolitical necessity. Tokugawa Ieyasu, deeming Masayuki’s martial prowess formidable, sought to make Sanada’s heir Nobuyuki the son-in-law of Honda Tadakatsu. When he sent an envoy, Masayuki declared, “Such an envoy is unacceptable. It must be your envoy’s mishearing. Return at once and report this,” refusing to accept the proposal.

One could well imagine Masayuki’s resolve—that he would never allow his son to marry the daughter of a Tokugawa retainer. So when Tokugawa Ieyasu consulted Toyotomi Hideyoshi, “Sanada is right. If you have taken in Nakatsukasa’s daughter and wish to make her my son-in-law, I shall consent,” he declared. Ieyasu promptly adopted Honda Tadakatsu’s daughter as his foster daughter and had her wed Nobuyuki. In the end, Nobuyuki—drawn by his wife’s connections—parted from his father and brother in later years and thus came to follow Tokugawa Ieyasu.

However, when negotiations began in Tenshō 16 (1588) for Toyotomi Hideyoshi to summon Hōjō Ujimasa to Kyoto, the condition put forth by the Hōjō family was once again the cession of Numata. During their earlier peace treaty with Lord Tokugawa, they had been meant to receive it, but Sanada had refused obstinately and they had ultimately failed to obtain it. This time they insisted on acquiring Numata unconditionally - only then would they come to the capital, they declared. The Hōjō envoy dispatched at this juncture was a man called Itabeoka Kenshūsai. For the Hōjō clan, Numata itself likely held little strategic value; rather, by posing such an impossible demand, they probably sought first to have their family honor formally acknowledged before consenting to appear in Kyoto.

Hideyoshi thus incorporated Numata, part of the Sanada territories in Kōzuke Province, compelled them to cede two-thirds to the Hōjō, and designated the remaining one-third—along with Nagurumi Castle—as Sanada domain. And concerning the substitute land for Numata, he decided to compel Tokugawa to grant it to Sanada. Kenshūsai also acknowledged this and returned.

However, Inomata Norinao, the warrior who had become castellan of Numata, acted recklessly, disregarding the treaty entirely, and even went so far as to attack and seize Nagurumi, part of the Sanada domain. Masayuki appealed this to the Taikō. The Taikō, enraged by the Hōjō clan’s treaty violation, finally resolved to launch the Odawara Campaign. From Masayuki’s perspective, Hideyoshi had mobilized a massive army for the Hōjō campaign to uphold his honor, so he must have been quite pleased, I imagine. The reason Masayuki unhesitatingly sided with Osaka during Sekigahara was likely that he recalled the profound gratitude from this time.

This is a digression，but after Odawara Castle fell，Hideyoshi captured Itabeoka Kenshūsai—the envoy from that time—shackled his hands and feet，brought him forth，and rebuked him：＂Was it not your deceitful words that brought about the Hōjō clan’s downfall？＂ ＂Does it please you to have destroyed your own lord’s house？＂ he reviled． However，this Kenshūsai，true to his role as envoy of the great Hōjō clan，showed not the slightest fear and declared，＂The Hōjō house harbored no intent of transgression．Yet warriors of the hinterlands，ignorant of the exigencies of the times，seized Nagurumi Castle—an act marking the exhaustion of Hōjō’s fortunes and a matter beyond redress． ＂However，to have taken on the great armies of the realm and held out for half a year—this is the Hōjō house’s honor！＂ he boasted．

Hideyoshi, deeming this response valiant, declared, “I had intended to send you to Kyoto for crucifixion,” and pardoned him. At that time, when Masamune, who had just arrived from Ōshu, was being entertained, Kenshūsai was also in attendance; thus, his dignified response must have greatly pleased Hideyoshi.

In any case, when they first fought the Tokugawa family, they received Hideyoshi's backing. From the fact that the Hōjō clan had seized Nagurumi, part of their domain, and that Hideyoshi launched the Hōjō campaign on their behalf, Masayuki must have been deeply impressed by Hideyoshi’s resolve. Afterward, Masayuki demonstrated his loyalty to Hideyoshi by offering Yukimura as a hostage. Therefore, Yukimura, being at Hideyoshi’s side, must have been treated quite favorably.

The Sanada in the Sekigahara Campaign

At the time of Sekigahara, as the Sanada father and three sons accompanied Tokugawa Ieyasu toward Aizu, a messenger from Ishida Mitsunari arrived. The messenger informed Masayuki, Nobuyuki, and Yukimura—the brothers—and they convened a council. Masayuki naturally declared his intent to support Osaka. Nobuyuki countered that since both he himself—the elder brother—and Lord Tokugawa were men of surpassing strategic vision who should not be vanquished, aligning with Tokugawa remained the wisest course.

Here, according to historical accounts, Nobuyuki and Yukimura engaged in a heated argument. I recall that in Mr. Sasaki Mijuzō’s popular novel, there was one that began with the scene of their vehement dispute. When Nobuyuki stated, “My ties to Honda make it impossible to side with Ishida,” Yukimura countered, “You’d draw your bow against our father, swayed by your wife’s connections?” “Supporting Ishida guarantees defeat,” Nobuyuki pressed. “When that day comes, all who joined us will face execution. We must save Father and you from peril—preserve our house from ruin.” Yukimura declared, “Should the Western Army fall, Father and I shall become earth upon this battlefield. Why would I seek your aid? Since Tenshō 13, we’ve owed profound debts to the Toyotomi. To stand with Ishida is our duty.” “When house and kin face annihilation,” he continued, “better to meet it with honor than scheme for shameful survival.” Nobuyuki, enraged, moved to strike Yukimura down. “Take my head if you will,” Yukimura said calmly. “I gladly yield this life for the Toyotomi cause—such is my resolve.” Masayuki mediated: “Both arguments hold merit. Nobuyuki likely believes Ishida’s actions don’t truly serve Hideyori.” “My judgment aligns with Yukimura’s,” he concluded. “We return together.” Nobuyuki was said to have parted ways with them, stating: “Do as your hearts dictate.”

As for the location of this meeting, some say it was Sano Tenmyō, while others claim it was a place called Inuvashi. This heated argument between the brothers was likely an invention of later generations, I believe. Both Nobuyuki and Yukimura were already over thirty and were prudent commanders of foresight, so there was no reason they would have engaged in such a heated argument. Moreover, there was no reason he would attempt to cut down his brother, who shared their father’s views. It must have been a somber, grave discussion.

As we of later years know, since it was not yet clear that the Ishida faction would meet defeat, father and sons must have found their views diverging. And it stood to reason that Nobuyuki—being Honda Tadakatsu’s son-in-law—had gradually grown closer to the Tokugawa over time. Within Masayuki’s heart too lay the conviction that by splitting their house between Eastern and Western Armies, at least one branch of Sanada blood might survive. Should defeat come, there may well have been an unspoken pact between them—a silent agreement to preserve one another through mutual aid. Men of their intellect would never have descended into heated quarrels when stakes ran high.

Later generations must have conceived such depictions from Yukimura’s subsequent actions. The Sanada clan’s division between the Eastern and Western Armies proved the optimal strategy to prevent familial annihilation. To use market parlance, it resembled “hedging”—maintaining both long and short positions. Yet hedging offers no path to decisive triumph. Had all three Sanada men—father and sons—supported Tokugawa Ieyasu, they might have secured a five hundred thousand-koku domain. Nobuyuki alone barely maintained their legacy as a daimyō of just over a hundred thousand koku.

However, compared to the daimyos who perished without a trace at Sekigahara, this outcome might have been somewhat preferable.

When Nobuyuki went to Ieyasu, the latter, pleased, declared, “It feels as though Lord Awa-no-kami has broken one arm of mine. If you wish to prevail in battle, take this as my pledge to grant you Shinano,” then cut the end of his sword’s cord and gave it.

Sanada Masayuki and Yukimura attempted to stop at Numata while returning to Shinano. Numata Castle was Nobuyuki’s stronghold, guarded in his absence by his wife—the daughter of Honda Tadakatsu. When Masayuki sought to enter the castle, she declared: “Now that father and son have become enemies and parted ways, I never imagined you would seek entry here—not even as his father.” With these words, she closed the gates, armed her attendants, and tethered a dappled gray horse from the stables before the main entrance. Masayuki was impressed, remarking, “Truly the daughter of Honda Nakatsukasu, hailed as Japan’s finest.” Declaring that “a warrior’s wife should indeed be thus,” he did not approach further and returned to Ueda. Honda Tadakatsu was the foremost stalwart commander of the Tokugawa house. At the Battle of Komakiyama, with a mere five hundred cavalrymen, he held off Hideyoshi’s army of tens of thousands—the man who left Hideyoshi awestruck. A warrior who wielded the Tombokiri long spear and stood foremost in military achievements. Once, Tadakatsu and his son Tadatomo floated a boat in Kuwana Castle’s moat. Tadakatsu told his son: “Try sweeping those reeds with an oar.” Though Tadatomo was a youth of peerless strength, when he took the oar and swept through the reeds, they snapped. Seeing this, Tadakatsu declared: “The youths of today lack vigor.” He then took the oar himself and swept it sideways—whereupon the reeds were cleanly severed. Whether such a feat was possible remains uncertain, but Honda Tadakatsu was hailed as Hideyoshi’s sole heir in loyalty—a quintessential warrior often compared to Tachibana Muneshige of western Japan as eastern Japan’s peerless exemplar.

The story of how Masayuki defended Ueda Castle, stalled Tokugawa Hidetada’s massive army advancing along the Tōsandō route, and ultimately prevented them from arriving at Sekigahara in time remains historically renowned. Had the Western Army triumphed at the Battle of Sekigahara and merit-based rewards been distributed, Masayuki would likely have been recognized as foremost in distinguished service. As Ishida Mitsunari had promised, he would probably have received three provinces—Shinano supplemented by Kōshū, the former domain of their ancestral Takeda lords, along with Jōshū where Numata lay.

Sanada Awa-no-kami Masayuki was likely among the foremost figures of the Sengoku period. A commander with political acumen comparable to Kuroda Yoshitaka, Ōtani Yoshitsugu, and Kobayakawa Takakage, he might have achieved deeds rivaling those of Ieyasu, Motonari, or Masamune had his position and circumstances allowed. Moreover, as a vassal of the militarily renowned Shingen, he was surely held in awe during his era. That Tokugawa Ieyasu praised him during the Osaka Campaign—declaring upon hearing of Yukimura’s fierce fighting, “He does not fall short of his father Awa-no-kami”—allows one to glimpse Masayuki’s caliber. Though his domain was small, Ieyasu and others must have found him thoroughly vexing.

When Hidetada's army surrounded Ueda, a messenger from the besieging force was ordered to deliver a message to their allies' camp on the opposite side. However, since going around the castle would take too long, he arrived at the main gate and requested passage through the castle. Masayuki, hearing this and deeming it a simple matter, permitted passage. On his return journey, the man came to the rear gate and requested passage once more. Masayuki, again deeming it a simple matter, allowed passage through the castle and even guided him around various places. People of the time reportedly marveled, declaring, "The audacity of the one who sought passage was matched only by the one who granted it!"

During this castle siege, Kamishimo Tenzen—later known as Ono Jirōzaemon—distinguished himself with the first strike. There are those who argue that master swordsmen are not necessarily useful on the battlefield, but this is not always the case; he recognized the futility of a frontal assault, left a defensive force, and advanced along the Tōsandō—yet failed to reach Sekigahara in time. After the Battle of Sekigahara, when Sanada Masayuki and his son were already in peril, Nobuyuki petitioned to exchange Shinano for his father and brother’s lives. However, Hidetada’s fury at having been thwarted by Masayuki was not easily appeased, but Nobuyuki persisted, declaring that before his father could be executed, the order for seppuku should be given to him—the one here referred to as Lord Izu-no-kami—and thus ultimately saved his father and brother’s lives. People of the time exclaimed in admiration, "How different Lord Izu is from Yoshitomo!"

Entry into Osaka Castle

After the Battle of Sekigahara, Sanada Masayuki and his son retired to the village of Kudoyama at the foot of Mount Kōya. At this time, the sideline work they invented is said to have been the Sanada Cord... Masayuki died at sixty-seven. On his deathbed, Masayuki lamented, "Three years after my passing, East and West will surely sever ties. Were I alive, I would have full confidence in managing this."

“Yukimura, teach me that strategy now,” he implored. Masayuki replied, “To impart strategies is simple enough, but you lack my renown. Even with sound tactics, none would follow them.” When Yukimura pressed further, Masayuki outlined his plan: “Should East and West break their alliance, lead our forces to meet them first at Mino Aonogahara. But do not commit to decisive battle—harass them lightly before withdrawing to Setta. There you could hold for four or five days. This would let rumors spread across the realm that Sanada Awa-no-kami alone sustained the Eastern Army’s efforts—daimyos beholden to the Taikō might then rally to Osaka’s cause. Yet this stratagem requires my standing to succeed,” he concluded. “Your military skill equals mine, but without equivalent prestige, none would heed it.” Years later when Yukimura entered Osaka Castle and urged sallying forth to intercept Tokugawa’s forces during the Winter Siege, his counsel went unheeded. Thus events unfolded precisely as Masayuki had predicted.

Before the Osaka Campaign began, a summons from Hideyori arrived at Yukimura’s residence. Given that he refused to serve under the Tokugawa house, Yukimura had no choice but to rely on Osaka to accomplish his aims. It was not merely loyalty to Hideyori, but also an inherited stubbornness from his father—and he likely harbored some measure of a warrior’s ambition.

Because rumors of Sanada’s entry into Osaka were circulating widely, Asano Nagaakira, the lord of Kishū, had secretly ordered the villagers near Kudoyama to remain vigilant.

However, under the pretext of holding a memorial service for his father Masayuki, Yukimura invited local village heads and wealthy landowners, plied them with drink regardless of their capacity, and left them collapsed in drunkenness. In the interim, his family and retainers—with busy efficiency—loaded luggage onto horses the peasants had ridden in on, then departed for Osaka with a force of roughly a hundred men: spears bared, naginata unsheathed, matchlocks primed, crossing the Kii River. The nearby villagers raised a clamor in confusion, but with the local leaders across every hamlet dead drunk at the Sanada residence, there was nothing they could do. When Asano Nagaakira heard this, he regretted that entrusting villagers to monitor someone of Sanada’s caliber had been his own error.

That part—so thoroughly befitting a military strategist—was admirable.

Upon arriving in Osaka, Yukimura went alone to Ōno Harunaga’s quarters. At that time, having shaved his head and calling himself Denshin Gessō—though a mountain ascetic of Ōmine—he stated he wished to present a prayer scroll. As Harunaga was absent at the time, he was made to wait beside the guardhouse where ten men happened to be playing at sword appraisal. One warrior asked Yukimura to show his blade. Yukimura declared through his ascetic guise, “There’s nothing here worth showing,” and presented his staff-like weapon. When the young warrior drew it, the blade’s scent and metal gleam defied description—the wakizashi proved equally extraordinary. Realizing this was no ordinary matter, they examined the tangs: the katana bore Masamune’s mark, the wakizashi Sadamune’s. As the young warriors clamored over his extraordinary identity, Harunaga returned and discerned this was Sanada.

Afterward, Sanada Yukimura met with those young warriors and teased them by asking, "Have your sword appraisal skills improved?"

Sanada Maru

When the East-West alliance ruptured, Yukimura exited the castle and argued vehemently for intercepting the Eastern Army; Gotō Mototsugu likewise supported Sanada's proposal. Yet Ōno, Watanabe, and their faction refused to accept it, and in the end, the strategy of siege defense prevailed. As written previously, they had pinned all their hopes on Osaka Castle itself.

As part of siege preparations, since the only path by which a large army could approach Osaka Castle lay to the south, it was decided to construct a fortress in this direction. Across from Tamatsukuriguchi stood a bamboo-covered hill—the most suitable location for building this stronghold—and construction began. The laborers engaged in the work gradually began murmuring among themselves that none but Sanada could firmly defend this outpost, until before long, it had come to be called Sanada Maru.

As a result of deliberations within the castle, he was appointed as defense commander. However, Yukimura declined, as he had only seventy-odd hereditary retainers; but Gotō said, “Since even the laborers are calling it Sanada Maru, would it not be against your true intentions to refuse command?” To this, he replied, “If that is so, then at the very least allow me to oversee the layout myself,” and accepted the position. Sanada constructed the outpost using the secret techniques imparted by Masayuki. It is recorded in *Keigenki Sankō* that Sanada’s carpenter-square-like layout of the outpost became military strategists’ secret techniques.

Sanada, during the Winter Siege, led the three thousand men assigned to him to defend this perilous small fortress. Facing tens of thousands of enemy troops on all sides, he showed not a trace of fear.

Ieyasu's Recruitment Offer The fortress of Sanada Maru was never breached during the Winter Siege.

After concluding the peace treaty, Tokugawa Ieyasu sought to recruit Yukimura, dispatching his uncle Oki-no-kami Nobutada as an envoy with the offer: "I shall grant you thirty thousand koku in Shinano," urging Yukimura to defect. Yukimura welcomed his uncle Nobutada outside the fortress for their first meeting in years, yet resolutely refused to join the Tokugawa house. When Nobutada reluctantly returned and reported this outcome, Ieyasu commanded: "Then inquire again—what if we grant him the entire province of Shinano?" As Nobutada conveyed this enhanced offer to Yukimura, the strategist declared: "Not only Shinano Province—even were you to bestow all under heaven itself—I shall never commit such disloyalty against Lord Hideyori." "Should you dare send another envoy," he concluded with finality, dismissing Nobutada, "know that I shall respond accordingly."

The author of *Jōzan Kidan* and others argued that in this instance, Yukimura’s efforts to fulfill his obligations to the Toyotomi house to such an extent could not necessarily be said to align with righteousness.

“The Toyotomi house is not a lord that the Sanada have served for generations. If one were to argue the duty of never betraying one’s lord, then when the Takeda clan fell, should they not have abandoned posterity and hidden in the mountains?”

—they offered such critiques.

But from Yukimura’s perspective, there existed both obligations to the Toyotomi house dating back to his father Masayuki’s time and—as previously written—layers of inherited stubbornness toward the Tokugawa house that had accumulated since Masayuki’s era. If that were not the case, there would be no reason for a samurai to be swayed now. Even though Toyotomi hereditary retainers had joined the Eastern Army in besieging the castle, for Yukimura—not even a hereditary vassal—to resolutely give his life for the Osaka side—was this not the ultimate expression of conviction? Now, this is a digression, but among the hereditary retainers who sided with Osaka, Katagiri Katsumoto stood particularly condemned.

In works like Dr. Tsubouchi Shōyō’s *The Falling Paulownia Leaf*, Katsumoto is portrayed as a man of profound foresight who devised desperate counterintelligence strategies to reconcile Eastern and Western sentiments after Hideyoshi’s death—but this is false.

Consulting records like *Sunpu-ki*, we find that Katsumoto incurred Hideyori’s displeasure and was expelled from Osaka Castle, after which he proceeded to Ieyasu’s encampment at Nijō in Kyoto. There, in His Highness’s presence, he plotted with Tōdō Takatora using maps to plan Osaka’s assault.

Moreover, early in the Winter Siege when Osaka forces pressed upon Sakai, Katsumoto dispatched his personal troops to aid Sakai and demonstrate loyalty to His Highness, as appears in the *Honkoku Kokushi Nikki*. Such abhorrent actions by Katsumoto stirred profound revulsion among Osaka's thoughtful populace of the time. There exists an account that certain bands of chivalrous vigilantes ultimately rose to assail Katsumoto, slaughtering roughly a hundred of his soldiers. Later, Katsumoto petitioned Ieyasu regarding this matter and entreated punishment for those vigilantes, but Ieyasu only laughed and declined.

It became clear how Katsumoto was regarded by the pro-Osaka faction at that time. It was deeply regrettable that works like *The Falling Paulownia Leaf* depicted Katsumoto as a loyal retainer—but if even Danjūrō were to die now, there would be no one left to perform [the role], so perhaps it’s just as well.

East-West Peace Treaty

When the peace treaty was concluded, Sanada Yukimura—together with Gotō Mototsugu—vehemently argued that the ceasefire negotiations from Kantō were entirely a stratagem and that Lord Hideyori must not grant his approval. Yet as was customary, this found no acceptance from Ōno, Watanabe, and their faction. Yukimura—who happened to share an old friendship with Harahayato Sadatane (a retainer of Lord Tadanaga, Lesser General of Echizen) dating back to their time in the Takeda household—one day invited him and hosted a reception. After several rounds of sake cups had been exchanged, Yukimura produced a small hand drum and struck it himself before having his son Ōsuke perform several kowaka dances to conclude the entertainment.

At this moment Yukimura declared: “This peace treaty is but a temporary measure.” Pointing to the alcove as he continued: “Since I believe matters will ultimately come to open warfare—I and my son have resolved to meet our deaths in battle within two years at most—that helmet you see there with its deer embracing antlers design is a Sanada family heirloom bestowed by my father Lord Awa-no-kami. When battle comes again I shall wear it to perish fighting.” He concluded: “Bear witness to this.”

Then he went out to the garden, had a saddle adorned with gold-rubbed Six Coins placed upon the sturdy frame of his Shirakawa-bake horse, swung up into the seat with practiced ease, and rode five or six circuits across the plain to demonstrate its mettle. "When the castle falls next," he declared, "the battle shall be on open ground. I shall sally forth to Tennōji’s front and fight to my death as long as this steed can still gallop—which makes me treasure it all the more." Having dismounted, he resumed the banquet until midnight, when these old friends reluctantly parted ways.

Indeed, the following year, Yukimura donned this helmet, mounted this horse, and fell in battle. Moreover, when this peace accord took effect, Sanada Maru—the fortress Yukimura had constructed—was marked for demolition.

For the overseer of this demolition work, Honda Masazumi came and attempted to dismantle it with his own hands, so Yukimura became enraged and lodged a protest. However, Masazumi also refused to back down. The news of their mutual snarling eventually reached Tokugawa Ieyasu’s ears. Thereupon, Tokugawa Ieyasu promptly rendered a verdict: “Yukimura’s argument is just. Masazumi has misunderstood his duties.” He then permitted Yukimura to demolish it himself as he saw fit.

Around this time, Tokugawa Ieyasu may have demonstrated his magnanimity to the fullest extent and attempted to sway Yukimura's allegiance toward the Kantō side.

But Yukimura, utterly indifferent, used his own laborers to scrape away even the terrain itself without leaving a trace, erasing all evidence of the secret techniques imparted by Masayuki.

The Battle of Tennōji-guchi

When Genna 1 arrived, the East-West peace treaty had already been broken, and word spread that the Kantō army had swiftly reached Fushimi.

On May 5th, at Dōmyōji Tamate-guchi, the battle had already begun; even to the Prince’s position where Yukimura had stationed his forces, the war cries and gunfire echoed. In the morning, Sanada Yukimura's scouts galloped back and reported: "Thirty or forty banners and twenty to thirty thousand troops are advancing over Kokufu Pass toward our position." These were Date Masamune’s forces. But Yukimura calmly leaned against the shoji screen and merely said, "Let them come from the left."

In the afternoon, the scouts returned once more and reported that approximately twenty thousand troops bearing different-colored banners from this morning’s were advancing through Tatsuta Pass. These were the troops of Matsudaira Tadateru. Yukimura had been feigning sleep, but he opened his eyes and declared, “Very well. Let them cross to their heart’s content.” “How exhilarating it would be to gather them all in one place and cut them down!” he proclaimed boldly. Toward the enemy forces, he displayed the calm composure befitting a military strategist who had already formulated a complete plan. Now, after concluding the evening meal, Yukimura calmly declared, “This encampment offers no advantage for battle. Let us draw the enemy near,” and solemnly led out his force of over fifteen thousand soldiers. That night, they encamped at the Dōmyōji front.

When dawn broke on the sixth day and they reached Nomura vicinity in the early morning, Watanabe Kuranosuke Tadamatsu had already engaged in battle with Mizuno Katsunari. In the fierce combat, Tadamatsu had already sustained grave wounds. When he realized Yukimura’s forces were approaching, Tadamatsu dispatched a messenger: “Having suffered injuries in this recent clash, I find myself unable to resume fighting.” “Therefore, fearing I might hinder your maneuvers, I have withdrawn my men to the flank.” “By feigning an assault from the side in this manner, we stand ready.” “Might this serve as some aid to you?” he conveyed.

Yukimura, delighted, declared: “Your efforts have left me astonished. The enemy from this point onward shall be ours to handle,” and advanced his forces. Mizuno Katsunari’s forces were a combined army of Date Masamune, Matsudaira Tadateru, and others. Upon hearing that Yukimura had finally appeared, Masamune’s soldiers attacked all at once.

To describe the terrain of Nomura here: the front and rear were hills, with an intermediate lowland stretching about ten chō, flanked by rice fields on both sides. Just as Yukimura’s troops had pushed halfway up this hill, Masamune’s eight hundred mounted musketeers unleashed a simultaneous volley.

These mounted musketeers were Masamune’s pride and joy.

Speaking of Sendai—renowned as a land of famed steeds—they mounted the robust second and third sons of the Date clan's samurai upon those fleet-footed horses and had them attempt simultaneous mounted gunfire. It was a savage tactic characteristic of Eastern soldiers: after gunfire disrupted the enemy's defenses, they would charge through the smoke and trample their foes beneath hooves. Even Yukimura's soldiers suffered bullet wounds in this fierce onslaught, with many perishing. Yet Yukimura commanded: "Hold here! Retreat but a single step, and complete annihilation awaits!" He galloped to the vanguard to issue orders. Using the nearby pine grove as their shield, not a soul retreated—all remained prostrate on the ground.

Initially fearing his soldiers would weaken under the scorching heat, Yukimura had them neither don helmets nor carry spears. When the enemy forces had approached within about ten chō, he sent a messenger to command: "Don your helmets!" Then as they closed to two chō, he dispatched another messenger with orders: "Take up your spears!" This produced an extraordinary effect on the soldiers' morale. Those who stood tightening their helmet cords and gripping spears before the enemy front found their courage multiplied a hundredfold. Thus did Yukimura's newly recruited forces—despite being hastily assembled—hold firm without retreating a single step against Date's formidable mounted musketeers.

Yukimura, finally, when the enemy’s gunfire had ceased and the smoke had begun to thin, judged the moment right and issued a thunderous command: "Now—charge!" At the sound of his voice, they all rose and charged, driving back Masamune’s vanguard seven or eight chō in an instant. Though Date Masamune’s vanguard included renowned commanders like Katakura Kojiro and Ishimoda Daizen—who had boldly declared, “The enemy is few! Let us draw them in and crush them!”—they were effortlessly shattered by Yukimura’s whirlwind troops.

This was what became known throughout the land as Sanada's Dōmyōji forces. Even Date's troops—who had attempted an Eastern-style ferocious assault with cutting-edge arms—ultimately proved no match for Sanada's military stratagems.

Yukimura then gathered his soldiers and came to Mōri Katsunaga’s position.

Then, taking Katsunaga’s hand, he said through flowing tears: “Today, we had sworn to charge into the Eastern Army alongside Gotō Mototsugu and yourself with full force, but the hour grew late. With Mototsugu having fallen in battle, our stratagem has come to naught.” “Is this too a sign that Lord Hideyori’s fortunes have reached their end?” Due to the thick fog on the morning of the sixth day—so dense that dawn’s light could not be discerned—Sanada Yukimura’s sortie was delayed. Had there been no such hindrance, it is impossible to say how deeply Yukimura and his forces would have penetrated into the Eastern Army.

Katsunaga too let tears flood his face as he praised: “Yet your deeds today—the display of martial valor overcoming a great army—surpass even the legendary commanders of antiquity.” Yukimura’s son Ōsuke, sixteen that year, had secured heads taken in close combat to all four sides of his saddle and sustained considerable arm wounds, yet without wiping away the flowing blood, he galloped to the scene. Upon seeing this, Katsunaga further exclaimed, “Ah, truly his father’s son!” it was said.

Thus, the battle of May 6th was marked throughout by the Sanada father and son’s outstandingly fierce fighting.

Sanada's Abandoned Flags

At dawn on the seventh day of the fifth month, Yoshida Shūri-no-jō Mitsushige—a retainer of Echizen Shōshō Tadanaga who was well-acquainted with the land of Kawachi—led over two thousand cavalry as the vanguard and advanced toward the Yamato River.

Afterwards, the large Echizen army advanced solemnly.

But as it was still dark, the Echizen forces were uncertain of the river's depth, and many lingered on the bank. Commander Yoshida Shūri-no-jō Mitsushige declared, "Though the river is wide, it is quite shallow," and leapt in first to cross. Yukimura, having long anticipated this event, had sunk iron chains into the riverbed; waiting until a large number had crossed halfway, he hauled them up all at once—over three hundred vanguard cavalrymen were swiftly entangled in the chains and collapsed into the river’s current.

At that very moment, caught in the raging currents of the rainy season’s swollen waters, they were mercilessly swept away.

The one who met the most tragic end here was Commander Yoshida Shūri-no-jō Mitsushige. He, having leapt in first, soon had his horse’s legs entangled in the chains and was felled, plunging headlong into the river’s current with a thunderous crash. But being large of frame and corpulent while clad in armor, he could not be saved, and by the following evening, his drowned corpse surfaced near Tenmabashi Bridge. At the same hour, the vanguard of Tennōji front—Ishikawa Izu-no-kami, Miyamoto Tango-no-kami, and over three hundred others—arrived at Hirano’s southern gate. When they looked, the gate of that encampment was tightly shut, leaving no way to enter. They circled around to peer at the eastern gate, but it was no different. Inside, three or four Six Coins banners fluttered in the morning breeze, standing in perfect formation.

“So this is Sanada’s fortified position,” one observed. “Do not act rashly.” Moreover, with the Echizen forces showing no signs of arriving due to their failure at Yamato River, Ishikawa and his men held their position on the eastern bank while observing the situation. Night began to glimmer faintly with the coming dawn. When they peered at the eastern gate there, the interior lay silent and still, with no trace of human presence. Exchanging bewildered words—“What’s happening here?”—as they attempted to open the eastern gate for their allies, the Echizen vanguard finally managed to press forward.

Replacing Yoshida Shūri-no-jō Mitsushige, who had been swept away in the Yamato River, were Honda Hida-no-kami, Matsudaira Iki-no-kami, and over two thousand cavalry under their command.

However, Ishikawa, Miyamoto, and their men mistook this for an attack by Sanada’s forces, and thus began a ferocious fratricidal combat here.

By the time Ishikawa, Miyamoto, and their men noticed the hollyhock crest, the battle had already escalated into an uncontrollably fierce melee. At long last, as they removed their helmets and knelt upon the earth, the Echizen forces too subsided. However, fearing what might happen should His Highness learn of this blunder, they cut off about thirteen foot soldiers' heads to cover up the situation on the spot, attached the Sanada flag found there as evidence, and presented it to Ieyasu.

His Highness Tokugawa Ieyasu was immensely pleased. “For one of Sanada’s stature to abandon his banners is truly remarkable,” he praised, then ordered the flag made a family treasure and presented it to Lord Yoshinao of Owari standing beside him.

Lord Yoshinao of Owari pressed it to his forehead and examined the banner closely, but his complexion changed as he declared, "This cannot become a family treasure." When Ieyasu looked closely, he saw that in a corner of the banner, written small in fine script were the characters “Abandoned Banner.” “A man of true military genius,” Tokugawa Ieyasu is recorded to have praised—though this was likely somewhat an attempt to hide his embarrassment. While the attacking forces dawdled amidst these repeated crimson defeats, Yukimura deployed his army into three divisions from before Shōman-in Temple to west of Ishi no Kahyō, raising battle standards adorned with dragon motifs.

A murderous aura pierced the heavens, as if black clouds were swirling upward—such was the air that hung over them.

As the sun finally rose and the battle was about to commence, Yukimura called his son Ōsuke and said, “You shall return to the castle, witness Lord Hideyori’s honorable death, and then meet your end.” However, Ōsuke stubbornly refused to comply, saying, “Why not leave that matter to the hereditary retainers?” And after soothing and coaxing him who insisted, “I wish to witness my father’s final moments to the very end,” Yukimura finally made him return to the castle.

Yukimura watched Ōsuke’s retreating figure and said, “Though he suffered grave wounds yesterday at Komata, I see no weakness in his bearing. With such resolve, none will mock his final hour—this brings me peace.” It is said he then wept.

Contemporaries likened this farewell to Sakurai Station. Why did Yukimura send Ōsuke back to the castle and have him witness Lord Hideyori's final moments? Deep within his heart, there likely stirred a father's wish: that if by some chance Hideyori were spared, he might allow Ōsuke to make his way in the world once. At the previously documented meeting with Gen Hayaotoko as well, Yukimura had reminisced: "It would be a pity to kill my son without ever letting him do anything worthy of a man."

It was precisely this stirring of fatherly sentiment that, conversely, evoked the noble grace inherent in Yukimura's character.

Yukimura's Final Moments

Yukimura’s final battle began with him directly confronting the massive Echizen forces. Yukimura, while repeatedly harassing the Echizen forces, had his soldiers consume provisions as they prepared their position at Ryū no Maru between Tennōji and Isshin-ji. Here, Yukimura first took a brief breather. Seizing this moment, he had Akashi Kamonnosuke Zenmitsu detour from Imamiya Front to Abeno to strike His Highness’s main camp from behind. However, this plan was obstructed by Matsudaira Musashi-no-kami’s forces and failed to progress steadily.

Therefore, Yukimura conferred with Mōri Katsunaga and resolved to formally request Lord Hideyori’s personal deployment. Lord Hideyori had his honorable banners and standards advanced to Tamatsukuriguchi while he devised a plan to divide the enemy forces and allow Akashi’s army to proceed to their destination. Sanada's Anayama Kojūrō and Mōri's Furibayashi Ippeiji raced to the castle as urgent messengers. The one who discovered the opportunity presented by the messengers' comings and goings was Sakakibara Hida-no-kami, overseer of the Echizen front. Hida-no-kami advised Lord Tadanao, “Now is the time to attack. If we delay, we will surely be pursued from behind.”

Lord Tadanao promptly had his younger brothers Iyō-no-kami Tadaakira and Dewa-no-kami Naotsugu lead the left and right armies, advancing with over twenty thousand cavalry. However, Yukimura, intending to wait a while longer before engaging, confronted them with his awaiting forces.

Then, unexpectedly, Honda Tadamasa, Matsudaira Tadaaki, Watanabe Ōtani, and their forces recklessly broke through and charged into Sanada's camp. Moreover, Mizuno Katsunari and his men, seeking to avenge yesterday's defeat, raised their battle cry and attacked from west of Shōman-in Temple with some six hundred soldiers. Yukimura finally came under attack from three directions.

Resolving that “The end has come,” he tied his helmet’s chin cord in an elaborate floral knot—a style used when preparing for death in battle—fastened his armor’s waist cord while mounted, swiftly donned the crimson crepe campaign jacket bestowed by Lord Hideyori, and took up his golden command baton to face the enemy, it is said. The attacking forces from three sides combined numbered thirty-five thousand, while Sanada’s forces amounted to barely over two thousand. Yet as the attackers’ combat achievements remained unimpressive, Tokugawa Ieyasu agonized to such a degree that he commanded Inatomi Kizaburō, Tatsuki Hyōgo, and others to lead gunners along the Echizen flank and bombard Sanada’s troops in relentless volleys.

The intensity of Sanada’s forces’ desperate struggle could well be imagined. Yukimura, already bearing three grievous wounds, was struck by a bullet from this firearm unit between the left side of his neck guard. As he began to fall from his horse while clinging to the front pommel of the saddle and bowing forward, Nishio Jin'emon—a retainer of Lord Tadanao—thrust his spear into him, causing Yukimura to tumble from his mount with a thud. Nishio took the head but remained unaware of whose it was. Later, when they examined the helmet—the very one he had previously described to Gen Hayaotoko—and opened the mouth to find two front teeth missing, they conclusively identified it as Yukimura’s.

Nishio, being a man of little resourcefulness, did not take the sword at that time; thus, the blade was later acquired and taken back by Saitō Kanshirō of the Echizen house. Yukimura’s severed head and sword were later bestowed upon his brother Izu-no-kami Nobuyuki. Thus, Nobuyuki had his second son Naiki inter the head at Kōyasan Tentei-in while taking the sword himself to establish it as a Sanada family heirloom, it is said. In this campaign, the Sanada clan members who had sided with the Western faction all perished in battle. Yukitsuna, Yukatada, and others perished on the same battlefield as Yukimura.

His only son Ōsuke, within the castle walls, committed seppuku and died near the time of Lord Hideyori’s demise, obeying his father’s words.