Torii Sune'emon
Encyclopedia
was a ashigaru
(low class footman) who served the Okudaira family, retainer of Tokugawa Ieyasu
. He became famous for his bravery and incredible exploit at the siege of Nagashino
.
He was a retainer of Okudaira Sadamasa
and member of the Nagashino garrison when the fortress came under siege by the forces of Takeda Katsuyori
. Already renowned for his bravery and known for his knowledge of the surroundings, he volunteered for the extremely dangerous mission of sneaking through the siege lines to request aid from Tokugawa Ieyasu
in Okazaki
. After successfully warning Tokugawa, however, he was captured by the Takeda on his return to Nagashino.
Torii was taken prisoner and forced to shout to his compatriots in the fortress that no help was on the way, and that they should surrender. He instead encouraged the garrison that Tokugawa's army was, in fact, on the way, and that they should keep fighting. There is some dispute as to whether Torii was crucified before or after this proclamation, as well as in the precise details of his execution.
Nevertheless, the end result was the same. Although Sune'emon was an ashigaru class warrior, his family was promoted to samurai class and served the Okudaira family till the end of Edo period
. One Takeda retainer, Ochiai Michihisa
, even used an image of a crucified Torii Suneemon on his flag from then on. The flag is now stored in the University of Tokyo
library.
In 1923, a railway station opened near Torii's deathplace was named Torii Station
.
Ashigaru
The Japanese ashigaru were foot-soldiers of medieval Japan. The first known reference to ashigaru was in the 1300s, but it was during the Ashikaga Shogunate-Muromachi period that the use of ashigaru became prevalent by various warring factions.-Origins:Attempts were made in Japan by the Emperor...
(low class footman) who served the Okudaira family, retainer of Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu
was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan , which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu seized power in 1600, received appointment as shogun in 1603, abdicated from office in 1605, but...
. He became famous for his bravery and incredible exploit at the siege of Nagashino
Battle of Nagashino
The ' took place in 1575 near Nagashino Castle on the plain of Shitaragahara in the Mikawa province of Japan. Forces under Takeda Katsuyori had besieged the castle since the 17th of June; Okudaira Sadamasa , a Tokugawa vassal, commanded the defending force...
.
He was a retainer of Okudaira Sadamasa
Okudaira Sadamasa
was a Japanese daimyō of the Sengoku and early Edo periods. Nobumasa's family considered their origins to have been associated with Mikawa province. The clan was descended through the Akamatsu from the Murakami-Genji.-Originally named Sadamasa:...
and member of the Nagashino garrison when the fortress came under siege by the forces of Takeda Katsuyori
Takeda Katsuyori
was a Japanese daimyo of the Sengoku Period, who was famed as the head of the Takeda clan and the successor to the legendary warlord Takeda Shingen. He was the son of Shingen by the , the daughter of Suwa Yorishige...
. Already renowned for his bravery and known for his knowledge of the surroundings, he volunteered for the extremely dangerous mission of sneaking through the siege lines to request aid from Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu
was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan , which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu seized power in 1600, received appointment as shogun in 1603, abdicated from office in 1605, but...
in Okazaki
Okazaki, Aichi
is a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. As of August 2011, the city had an estimated population of 373,339 and a population density of 964 persons per km². The total area was 387.24 km².-Geography:...
. After successfully warning Tokugawa, however, he was captured by the Takeda on his return to Nagashino.
Torii was taken prisoner and forced to shout to his compatriots in the fortress that no help was on the way, and that they should surrender. He instead encouraged the garrison that Tokugawa's army was, in fact, on the way, and that they should keep fighting. There is some dispute as to whether Torii was crucified before or after this proclamation, as well as in the precise details of his execution.
Nevertheless, the end result was the same. Although Sune'emon was an ashigaru class warrior, his family was promoted to samurai class and served the Okudaira family till the end of Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
. One Takeda retainer, Ochiai Michihisa
Ochiai Michihisa
was a samurai retainer to the Takeda clan during Japan's Sengoku period. Fighting for the Takeda at the battle of Nagashino, he was moved by the bravery of Torii Suneemon, an opposing samurai who risked his life, escaping from the besieged castle to seek reinforcements from Tokugawa Ieyasu, only to...
, even used an image of a crucified Torii Suneemon on his flag from then on. The flag is now stored in the University of Tokyo
University of Tokyo
, abbreviated as , is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, 2,100 of whom are foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is considered to be the most prestigious university...
library.
In 1923, a railway station opened near Torii's deathplace was named Torii Station
Torii Station (Aichi)
is a train station on the Iida Line in Shinshiro, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It is located 29.3 rail kilometers from the southern terminus of the Iida Line at Toyohashi Station.-Station History:...
.