Ryo Sanada - Yukimura Sanada

The Sanada Family, a reowned Samurai clan that didn't side with Tokugawa. Had regrouped and plotted against him in the mountains. For many years they stayed hidden there. Until one of Tokugawa's ninja assassinated the head of the samurai family and was forced to remerge before they planned. That left his son Yukimura Sanada as leader of the clan.

Yukimura had found out that Tokugawa had plans to attack Osaka Castle. If Tokugawa's plan succeeded it would eliminate Hideyori Toyotomi and end all hopes to Toyotomi clan had of getting back the Shogunate.

Toyotomi's clan had a vast army, but most were ronin. Who worked for nothing other than profit. Making them hard to rely on. So, he renounced his Samurai status and gathered a small renegade Ninja to aid the Toyotomi clan to defend his castle.

Sanada and his Ninja were successful in what is called as the 'Winter Campaign' at Osaka in 1615. He helped fortify the castle with barbican. That extended over the castle's moat. That housed hundreds of slots for firearms and special gates. That opened to drop heavy logs and stones on enemies that tried to take the castle.

To enhance advantage, Sanada dispatched one of his Ninja to sneak into Tokugawa's camp. Where the Ninja slipped a hallucinogenic drug into their food and water supplies. When Tokugawa's army attacked the next morning. They were easily repelled by the castles new defenses combined with the effects of the drug they were given.

However, in the 'Summer Campaign' of 1616. Tokugawa's forces were able to burn down the castle. Even with the Ninja and Samurai fighting side by side. Hideyori Toyotomi committed suicide and opposition fell. No one else dared to stand against him. Nothing is mentioned of Yukimura Sanada…

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Touma Hashiba - Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Toyotomi Hideyoshi started out as what many pictured as an adventurer. That was until he returned to Owari sometime in 1557. Where he some how helped rebuild the Kiyosu Castle attracted attention and earned the enmity of the senior Oda retainers. This is where he is given a position as one of Nobunaga's sandal-bearers and is present for the Battle of Okehazama - 1560.

In 1564 he's now known as Kinoshita Hideyoshi and manages to bribe a number Mino Warlords to desert the Saito. This impressed Nobunaga and likes his natural talent. Hideyoshi is the one Nobunaga thanks for the take over in Abayama. By 1573 Hideyoshi adopts a surname, Hashiba. Which he created by borrowing characters from two ranking Oda retainers, Niwa Nagahide and Shibata Katsuie.

He was said to enjoy his drink and women more than most and as a younger man. Made friends easily. He had an innate sense for manipulation and reading other men. Attributes that no doubt helped him rise through the Oda ranks.

In the battle of Anegawa 1570. He commanded troops and was active in Nobunaga's campaigns against Asai and Asakura.

By 1576 the Oda and the Mori had gone to war. Where Nobunaga directed Hideyoshi to co-command a campaign with Akechi Mitushide.

Hideyoshi's first takeovers were Himeiji, Kozuki and Sayo Castles. He managed to take Kuroda Yoshitaka (Kanbei) and Himeiji peacefully. Who were becoming fast friends to Hideyoshi.

Kozuki and Sayo had to be taken by force. Bessho (Betshusho) Nagaharu, originally in the Oda Campaign defied Hideyoshi and shut himself up in Miki Castle.

Hideyoshi attacked Miki's satellites (including Hataya and Ogo) and began a siege of the Besso's stronghold. At the same time. Ukita Naoie began to attack Oda holdings in the area and Mouri Terumoto sent a powerful army into Harima. The Mouri force surrounded Kozuki. Hideyoshi marched to help, but Nobunaga forced to stand down and Kozuki fell.

So, Hideyoshi resumed his attack on Miki. Settsu and the Mouri were determined to make sure the Miki Castle stood though. Besso held out, but gave in 1580.

After the 200-day starve out of Tottori they gave also. 1582 Hideyoshi entered Bitchu province and besieged Takamatsu Castle and a fortress the Mouri considered imperative to their home defenses. This was considered Hideyoshi's great stand off. He had managed to beat back one of Japan's most powerful clans. Terumoto Mouri did not make any aggressive counter attacks. For he was a cautious leader.

Hideyoshi though decided to dam up the waters by Ashimorigawa and divert it around the castle. That left Takamatsu Castle isolated.

When Terumoto arrived with his troops. He hesitated to make any move and waited for developments.

Hideyoshi kept his attack on the castle strong, but was afraid that the Mouri army would interfere. So, he requested Nobunaga to send help. He agreed, but one, Akechi. Turned on Nobunaga himself. Nobunag was killed in 1582.

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Shin Mouri - Motonari Mouri

Motonari is known as the intellectual among warriors, who, through careful planning as well as warfare, pacified the Chugoku region.

He was a warrior during the Sengoku period. He was only 5 when he lost his mother and 11 when he lost his father. Leaving him to be raised by a retainer of the family. Where he was treated as every one else until his adolescence and suffered as a common person.

When he was 27 in 1523. He took over leadership of the family. At this time, the Mouri were small time landholders. Motonari affiliated himself with Ouchi of Suo instead of Amoko. Becoming more and more powerful.

Later… he sent…. Gave adoption of his second son to Kikkawa of Aki and third son went to Kobayakawa of Nuta also by adoption. This ensured a powerful alliance with those two houses: where he took the dominant role of the alliance. He used others to his own suit and over threw the Sue Harukata, Ouchi Yoshiinaga and Amoko Yoshihisa to gain control all of Chugoku.

Motonari was the founder of strategic studies in Japan and a worthy successor to the ancient Oe Masafusa. He was also the most formal thinker among Sengoku Daimyo and the most brilliant battle planner.
He is also famous for teaching 'Sanbon Ya' to his three sons.

Before sending his sons off he took them aside. Giving each son an arrow and let them try to break it. They could not break it on their own. After that, he told them this. You can be defeated if you are alone, but all three of you stick together you won't be.

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Seiji Date - Masamune Date

In 1613 an interesting chain of events unfolded. Masamune, largely lenient towards the Christians in his lands, interceded on the behalf of a certain Father Soteho who had been condemned to death for preaching his faith in Japan in defiance of the anti-Christian edicts.

Soteho was released and sent to Sendai, where Date asked if he might arrange for a trade mission to Europe, accompanied by a few Date retainers. Soteho agreed, and Ieyasu reluctantly consented to Masamune's requests for authorization, despite fears that the crafty Date was somehow fishing for European aid in a possible overthrow of the Tokugawa. Masamune dispatched Hasakura Tsunenaga to head the mission, which returned seven years later.

The long-time travelers found that Date had been pressured into initiating a persecution in his territory, and Soteho, arriving at Nagasaki, was once again condemned to death, and this time burned. Though Date's embassy had come to naught, he maintained his status as a first rate general, serving in the Osaka Campaigns (1614,1615).

His somewhat unusual and at times controversial manner of doing things was best demonstrated by an incident that occurred during the 1615 siege. Evidently, Masamune became frustrated at the lack of aggression on the part of friendly troops under Jinbo Sukemochi, and ordered his own men to let off a few rifle volleys in their direction to goad them into action. Needless to say, this was not an act well looked upon by his fellow generals.

When Ieyasu was on his deathbed in 1616, Masamune was one of the last of the great daimyo to see him, presenting his overlord with a piece of Zen poetry. Yet, while they were ostensibly on very good terms, Tokugawa (nor anyone else for that matter) never fully trusted the unfathomable lord of Sendai. A number of anecdotes have survived that paint the picture of a lord with an attitude both unreadable and outspoken. In addition, Masamune had a keen appreciation of the arts, despite his rustic background.

(The Katakura, Shiroishi, Endo, Rusu, Oniniwa, and Hasekura clans served the Date loyally.)

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Shu Lay Fang - Lei Feng

For the most part... All I seemed to find was folklore. That goes by the name of Lei Feng.

Your basic hero… (no sarcasm here) One during the communist times. That could see the goodness in it. He was also a simple farmer who loved his parents and helped the poor. Although, I have not found any concrete info. I have also stumbled upon two places that are called: The Shu Kingdom and the Shu States. That coincides with the Ching Dynasty.

If you have any info to add or if this is wrong…
drop me a line. @ takii99@yahoo.com