Isono Kazumasa
Encyclopedia
was relatively the most senior of retainer beneath the clan of Asai
throughout the latter Sengoku Period
of Feudal Japan. Initially at the time in which Kazumasa began his service under the Asai, Sukemasa was the present head over the clan, and Kazumasa began his great line of feats by supporting the former in a desperate conflict against the Rokkaku
that took place in 1561. Within this event, the Rokkaku attempted to ultimately take over the entire Sawayama castle through means of besiegement, but were met with failure in this attempt after Kazumasa was sent as relief, convincing Sukemasa to allow this respective retainer complete jurisdiction over Sumamata castle as a reward for his reliability. Following the succession of Asai Nagamasa, Kazumasa willingly supported the former within many variable conflicts throughout the years that had passed, the most notable being Anegawa
of 1570, where Kazumasa was said to have fought with such conviction and courage on the battlefield that his favorite horse was shot out beneath him and he unhesitatingly mounted a new horse immediately following the first, charging even deeper into the Oda
ranks that surrounded him. In furthered justification to this, Kazumasa penetrated so far past the soldiers of Shibata Katsuie
and Toyotomi Hideyoshi
that he would have initially breached into the main camp of Oda Nobunaga
if the additional units of Mori Yoshinari
and Sakuma Nobumori
did not immediately assist their respective allies.
Even with such a showing of great heroism, Kazumasa was tasked with an overwhelming obligation by the year of 1573: Oda Nobunaga had already torn apart the Asakura and was charging upon the Sawayamasa castle with over 35,000 soldiers to back his aspirations. And as Nagamasa was too afraid of the humiliation that he would suffer from if he were to surrender to Nobunaga a second time, he took a hold of Kazumasa's aged mother, swearing that she will be crucified if Kazumasa fails in the ultimate attempt of forcing off the Oda besiegers from Sawayama. As Kazumasa was thus determined to fight on to his very last breath less his mother were to suffer such an excruciating death, he managed to hold out for over 8 months before initially possessing no remaining provisions at which his army would be able to feed upon. Knowing that defense was now an impossible ideal, Kazumasa had little other choice then to surrender to Nobunaga, who in return admired the warrior for his loyalty and conviction, awarding him Takashima District of western Omi
. Remaining within such a fief, Kazumasa surmiseably detested Nagamasa with an intense hatred, supporting the Oda with renewed resolve, even though abandoning his domain by the year of 1578, where it is said that he remained within the same respective province, employing a simple life of farming. Kazumasa then died in 1583. Also, while Nagamasa was married to Nobunaga Oda's younger sister Oichi, Kazumasa was very fond of Oichi, this was one of the reasons why he fought with such courage.
Asai clan
The was a line of daimyo during Japan's Sengoku period that was based in Ōmi Province . The Azai clan, along with the Asakura clan, opposed Oda Nobunaga in the late 16th century...
throughout the latter Sengoku Period
Sengoku period
The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...
of Feudal Japan. Initially at the time in which Kazumasa began his service under the Asai, Sukemasa was the present head over the clan, and Kazumasa began his great line of feats by supporting the former in a desperate conflict against the Rokkaku
Rokkaku clan
The was a Japanese samurai clan which wielded considerable power in the Muromachi period under the Ashikaga shogunate.-Rise and Fall:Founded by Sasaki Yasutsuna of Ōmi province in the 13th century, the name Rokkaku was taken from their residence within Kyoto; however, many members of this family...
that took place in 1561. Within this event, the Rokkaku attempted to ultimately take over the entire Sawayama castle through means of besiegement, but were met with failure in this attempt after Kazumasa was sent as relief, convincing Sukemasa to allow this respective retainer complete jurisdiction over Sumamata castle as a reward for his reliability. Following the succession of Asai Nagamasa, Kazumasa willingly supported the former within many variable conflicts throughout the years that had passed, the most notable being Anegawa
Battle of Anegawa
The 1570 came as a reaction to Oda Nobunaga's sieges of the castles of Odani and Yokoyama, which belonged to the Azai and Asakura clans. It was also referred to as the Battle of Nomura by the Oda and Azai clans and the Battle of Mitamura by the Asakura clan.As warriors sallied forth from the...
of 1570, where Kazumasa was said to have fought with such conviction and courage on the battlefield that his favorite horse was shot out beneath him and he unhesitatingly mounted a new horse immediately following the first, charging even deeper into the Oda
Oda clan
The was a family of Japanese daimyo who were to become an important political force in the unification of Japan in the mid-16th century. Though they had the climax of their fame under Oda Nobunaga and fell from the spotlight soon after, several branches of the family would continue on as daimyo...
ranks that surrounded him. In furthered justification to this, Kazumasa penetrated so far past the soldiers of Shibata Katsuie
Shibata Katsuie
or was a Japanese military commander during the Sengoku Period who served Oda Nobunaga.-Biography:Katsuie was born in the Shibata family, a branch of the Shiba clan . Note the differences between , , and the .Katsuie was the retainer of Oda Nobukatsu...
and Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
was a daimyo warrior, general and politician of the Sengoku period. He unified the political factions of Japan. He succeeded his former liege lord, Oda Nobunaga, and brought an end to the Sengoku period. The period of his rule is often called the Momoyama period, named after Hideyoshi's castle...
that he would have initially breached into the main camp of Oda Nobunaga
Oda Nobunaga
was the initiator of the unification of Japan under the shogunate in the late 16th century, which ruled Japan until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was also a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. His opus was continued, completed and finalized by his successors Toyotomi...
if the additional units of Mori Yoshinari
Mori Yoshinari
was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period and the head of the Mori family, who served the Saitō clan. The Saitō were the lords of the Mino province. When the Saitō clan were overthrown by the Oda clan Yoshinari and his family became retainers of Oda Nobunaga....
and Sakuma Nobumori
Sakuma Nobumori
was a retainer for the Oda clan. Nobumori's banishment by Oda Nobunaga to Mount Koyasan has widely been regarded as symbolic of Nobunaga's ruthlessness against even his longest-serving retainers, highlighting the leader's shortcomings as a military commander....
did not immediately assist their respective allies.
Even with such a showing of great heroism, Kazumasa was tasked with an overwhelming obligation by the year of 1573: Oda Nobunaga had already torn apart the Asakura and was charging upon the Sawayamasa castle with over 35,000 soldiers to back his aspirations. And as Nagamasa was too afraid of the humiliation that he would suffer from if he were to surrender to Nobunaga a second time, he took a hold of Kazumasa's aged mother, swearing that she will be crucified if Kazumasa fails in the ultimate attempt of forcing off the Oda besiegers from Sawayama. As Kazumasa was thus determined to fight on to his very last breath less his mother were to suffer such an excruciating death, he managed to hold out for over 8 months before initially possessing no remaining provisions at which his army would be able to feed upon. Knowing that defense was now an impossible ideal, Kazumasa had little other choice then to surrender to Nobunaga, who in return admired the warrior for his loyalty and conviction, awarding him Takashima District of western Omi
Omi Province
is an old province of Japan, which today comprises Shiga Prefecture. It was one of the provinces that made up the Tōsandō circuit. It is nicknamed as .Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake, is located at the center of the province...
. Remaining within such a fief, Kazumasa surmiseably detested Nagamasa with an intense hatred, supporting the Oda with renewed resolve, even though abandoning his domain by the year of 1578, where it is said that he remained within the same respective province, employing a simple life of farming. Kazumasa then died in 1583. Also, while Nagamasa was married to Nobunaga Oda's younger sister Oichi, Kazumasa was very fond of Oichi, this was one of the reasons why he fought with such courage.