Higuchi, Kiyoyuki and Murotani Tsunezo, 1986. Date Masamune: Tohoku no yusho. (“Date Masamune: The Samurai General Who Conquered the North-East”) 伊達政宗 : 東北の勇将, Gakken manga jinbutsu Nihonshi, Edo jidai zenki series, # 31. Originally published in Tokyo by Gakushi Kenkyusha, reissued by Kodansha.
Translated into English by Kazuki and Chiyaki Wada, edited by K. M. Lucchese.
[This translation serves two purposes: first, to give a sense of what Japanese popular culture says about Daté, and second, to provide a “quick and dirty” biography for readers new to the subject. NOTE: the traditional Romanji transliteration used here renders the long O sound as OU. I have continued to use Japanese rather than English name order, and have rendered Date as Daté to minimize pronunciation difficulties.]
Page 1
During the period of national unification in Japan continuing from the reign of Nobunaga Oda, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, to Tokugawa Ieyasu, Daté Masamune settled the North-East part and established the Sendai area (approximately 620,000 koku*).
[*koku is a unit, traditionally the quantity of rice needed to feed one person for one year, used to measure land productivity and wealth.]
Boy: “This person is Daté Masamune who became the Great Feudal Lord of the North-Eastern parts during the Age of Civil Wars [the “Sengoku” Period]. He even had his sights on foreign affairs.”
Page 2
Becoming the head of the Daté Family at the age of 18, defeating waves of other feudal lords, he took control of half of the north-eastern territories in about 5 years.
Picture 1: The Father of Masamune – Daté Terumune, 16th generation.
Picture 2: Daté Tanemune - 14th generation. Helped solidify the family’s political and military strength.
Statue: Stone Monument of Daté Masamune placed in the remains of the Sendai Castle.
Picture of Scenery: The Suriagehara battlefield area. The river is Suriagegawa River.
Boy: “In 1589, Daté Masamune’s army fought in the this area against the Yoshihiro Ashina army.”
Page 3
Boy: “The picture shows when Daté Masamune’s army followed Tokugawa Ieyasu in the Summer War of Osaka.”
Picture 2: The 1,000,000 Koku Contract - Before the Battle of Sekigahara, Ieyasu promised to give Masamune 1,000,000 koku in return for an alliance. In the end, Masamune was only given 650,000 koku.
Page 4
Picture 1: The Jinkai Collection - The laws created by 14th Generation Tanemune.
Boy: “This is the Jinkai Collection made by Mr. Daté in order to govern his country. There are lots of detailed laws written down.
“Masamune was not only skilled in defeating his opponents with military power, but was good at planning strategically as well.”
Picture of Armor: Masamune’s armor and helmet.
Picture of fan: The fan traditionally belonging to the Daté Family
Picture of writing: The Ka-oh of Masamune Daté
Boy: “Ka-oh is the official signature of a feudal lord.”
Page 5
HISTORIC JAPANESE CHARACTERS - EDO PERIOD, FIRST HALF.
Title: The North-Eastern Heroic Lord – Daté Masamune
Page 6
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Birth of Bontenmaru: Masamune was born under divine prophesy.
2. Getting Smallpox: Though he survived, he lost his right eye.
3. The Young Daté Prince: The Rite of Passage of the 11th Birthday. The Renaming to Masamune.
4. Death of His Father: Masamune lost his father at the age of 19.
5. The Battle of Hitotori Bridge: A hard battle even for the war-skilled Masamune.
6. The Letter from Hideyoshi: Hideyoshi tries to force Masamune into submission.
7. The Rival Ashina Family’s Downfall: Masamune finally became the Great Feudal Lord of the North-Eastern Area.
8. Killing His Younger Brother, Kojirou: Masamune has to kill his younger brother for his family’s sake.
9. Face-to-Face Meeting with Hideyoshi: Masamune prepares for his death as he meets with Hideyoshi.
10. He Stirs Up a Rebellion: Masamune escapes from Hideyoshi’s suspicion.
11. Deploying Soldiers to Korea: Hideyoshi had ambitions for foreign territories.
12. The Great Battle of Sekigahara: Masamune joined Ieyasu on the deciding battle for the control of Japan.
13. Sending Tsunenaga Hasekura to Rome: Looking towards foreign affairs, Masamune sends an ambassador to Rome.
14. The Fall of Osaka Castle: Ieyasu takes control of Japan.
CHARACTER INTRODUCTION:
Daté Masamune: The hero who rose to be the Great Feudal Lord of the North-Eastern Area. He was not only good with battles, but was a skilled strategist. Birth name: Bontenmaru.
Daté Terumune: Father of Masamune. 16th Lord of the Daté Family since the Kamakura Period.
Yoshihime: Mother of Masamune. Loves Masamune’s younger brother Kojiro more than Masamune. (also known as Hoshuuin)
Kosai Souitu: A great monk who was the teacher during Masamune’s younger days.
Katakura Kagetuna Kojurou: The faithful servant of the Daté family. He was Masamune’s right-hand man.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi: Taking Nobunaga Oda’s place after his death, he stands up against Masamune.
Tokugawa Ieyasu: Takes control of Japan winning the Battle of Sekigahara. Establishes the Edo Feudal Government and is on good terms with Masamune.
Pages 8-9
The Age of Civil Wars, beginning from the Civil War of the Onin Era, was almost at its end by Nobunaga Oda in 1567 (10th Year of Eiroku), and Daté Masamune was born the same year. Losing his right eye to an illness, he did not let that handicap hold him back from using his young strength and ambition for taking over the country. With giants such as Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu standing in the way, how will Masamune stand up to them?
Page 10
CH. 1 “THE BIRTH OF BONTENMARU”
August 3, 1567 (Eiroku year 10), this is the Yonezawa Castle (Yamagata Prefecture, Yonezawa City) where the Daimyo of Oushuu (north-eastern parts), Daté Terumune, lives. [Most sources say September 5 for his birthday. Perhaps there is confusion with the earlier lunar calendrical system. -Ed.]
*ogyaa!* (cries of a baby)
Samurai 1: “oh!”
Samurai 2: “That’s a very healthy newborn cry”
Samurai 3: “It must be a prince”
Page 11
Terumune: “You did well, Yoshihime. It’s a great-looking boy.”
*suya suya* (sound of gentle sleeping)
Yoshihime: “In my dream, a great monk appeared, handed me a heisoku*, and told me he’ll give me a child of god.”
[*heisoku is a special folded paper hanging, used during a purification ceremony. They say a god dwells in it.]
Terumune: “Is that true?! Then that means this boy is chosen by the gods! So, the name shall be ‘Bonten.’ Yes, he shall be called ‘Bonten*maru.’”
*giro* (the child glaring)
[*bonten means “the place where God dwells”.]
Page 12
Bontenmaru is said to have started speaking a half a year earlier than normal kids.
*pera pera pera* (speaking with ease)
At the of 3, he was able to count to a hundred.
Terumune: “What a smart child.” *kuri kuri* (rubbing his head) “He is definitely one of God’s chosen.”
At the age of 5...
*giro* (a strong glare) [the prince is staring at a fearsome statue of Fudou-myouoh, the guardian-god]
Page 14
Man‘s voice: “Prince! Sir Bontenmaru!”
Priest: “Oh, you were here.”
Page 15
Priest: “Prince, it is night. It is time to be returning to the castle!”
*giro* (glaring)
Page 16
Masamune: “Priest, what is that monster?!”
Priest: “Yes, this Buddha is the Fudou-myouoh who received the command of Dainichinyorai to go and defeat demons.
Masamune: “So he has this terrifying face as he’s defeating demons. But, in truth, he is a Buddha with a very kind heart like my father.”
Masamune: “This glaring contest with Fudoumyouoh is a draw.”
*a ha ha ha ha* (laugh)
Page 17
CH. 2 “BECOMING ILL WITH SMALLPOX”
Terumune: “Wa ha ha. I see, you had a draw with Fudoumyouoh. You have guts. You’ll be a great man.”
Soon afterwards…
Terumune: “What?! Bontenmaru got smallpox?”
Nursemaid: “It’s an incredible fever! His life may be…”
Terumune: “Pray to the gods and Buddha! I shall also do mizugori*. We cannot let Bontenmaru die! He is the heir of the Daté Family!”
[*mizugori is a purification process done by pouring water on top of one’s self. The process was done when you have a wish for the gods and Buddha to fulfill.]
Masamune: “Uun. Ugugugu” (sound of struggling)
Terumune: “Get a hold of yourself! Don’t you dare die! Bontenmaru! You tied with Fudoumyouoh! Fight, and win out over this smallpox! Don’t die! Do all you can!”
Page 19
Nursemaid: “Oh! The fever is lowering! He survived! Prince, you have done well. You brilliantly defeated smallpox.”
Masamune: “I can’t see. Kita! My right eye!”
Nursemaid: “What?”
Masamune: “I cannot see through my right eye!”
Nursemaid: “Prince!”
Page 20
Nursemaid: The poison from the smallpox must have circulated to the right eye!
Another maid: “The King and Queen are here to see him.”
Nursemaid: “What? Oh!”
Terumune: “You fought well! I’m proud of you, Bontenmaru!”
*ba!* (sound of fan opening)
Masamune: “Yes, father.”
Page 21
Terumune: “Be happy! Today, your mother came to see you too! Mother has another child within her, so I didn’t allow her to come any closer because smallpox could spread.”
Mother: “How are you, Bontenmaru? Let me have a good look at your healthy face!”
Masamune: “Yes, mother.”
Page 22
Mother: “Gyaa!” (a frightful scream)
Terumune: “Ge!!” (a choke of surprise)
Mother: “That eye!!”
Page 23
Terumune: “MOTHER!”
Mother: “Oeee..” (sound of throwing up)
Masamune: “Kita! Mother was scared to see my right eye! Bring me a mirror!”
Terumune: “Bontenmaru! There’s no need! It’s crushed from the smallpox poison, but it’s not serious at all.”
Masamune: “But the way mother was frightened…”
Terumune: “Don’t worry. Her worrying made her very nervous. You just got well. You should rest.”
Masamune: “I’m going to the restroom.”
Terumune: “Very well, but keep your spirits up! Kita!”
Nursemaid: “Lord!”
Page 25
Masamune: “Uh” (shock) “Uwaaa” (scream)
Page 26
CH. 3 “YOUNG PRINCE OF THE DATÉ FAMILY”
Mother - Yoshihime: “Bontenmaru is too ugly.”
Terumune: “No matter how ugly he may be, he is still the heir to the Daté Family.”
Yoshihime: “The servants will not be give their allegiance to that.”
Terumune: “A man is not judged by his looks, but by his heart.”
Yoshihime: “Even that heart has become depressed after learning his own ugliness. He has avoided people and does not want to leave his room.”
Page 27
Terumune: “Hmm, yes, that is so. It’s true Bontenmaru has become depressed.”
Yoshihime: “In this case, let the little brother, Jikumaru, be the heir to the Daté Family.”
Terumune: “That cannot be. Let us appoint a good teacher and servants for Bontenmaru.”
[Shifuku Temple]
Priest: “I am Kosai Souitsu. Starting today, I will train the prince.”
Page 28
[Kosai Souitsu - From Mino (Gifu Prefecture). He was a renowned priest of Zen Buddhism. He was 43 at the time. Although he refused the plea of Terumune to train Bontenmaru at first, he eventually accepted it due to Terumune’s insistence.]
Souitsu: “It’s been 5 years. Bontemaru is 11 now. It’s the eye. Bontenmaru’s heart is not opening by reading books or listening to a good teaching. We’ll have to cut off that eyeball that is dangling on his cheek.”
Servant - Katakura Kojyurou Kagetsuna: “Then let us do it, Father Kosai!”
Page 29
Kosai: “If we fail, the prince may lose his life. In which case, we will not survive either.”
Kojyurou: “We have already pledged our lives to the prince.”
Kosai: “It is a good decision. So be it. Prince, please prepare yourself.”
Bontenmaru: “I see! So I may die.”
Kojyurou: “At that time, we too will…”
Botenmaru: “Uh-huh, will you all die with me?”
Page 30
Bontenmaru: “All right, then. Don’t hesitate and do it quickly! I can finally say farewell to this cursed right eye.”
Kosai: “Tie down the prince so that he cannot move. Put a cloth in his mouth so he will not bite his tongue when he’s struggling. Are you ready Kojyurou? “
Kojyurou: “Yes sir!”
*zuba* (sound of cutting or slicing) *ugugugugu* (Sound of suffering or pain)
Shadow 1: “Stop the bleeding.”
Shadow 2: “Hurry and cut the ropes!”
Shadow 3: “Is he dead?!”
Shadow 4: “No!”
Shadow 5: “He just fainted!”
Page 31
[Yonezawa Castle]
Kosai: “How are you?”
Kojyurou: “Prince!”
Servant: “How do you feel?”
Bontenmaru: “Yes, you did well. I thank you all. I am no longer afraid to look into a mirror.”
Page 32
Kosai: “Prince, take this.”
Bontenmaru: “Oh, it’s the guard of a sword. I see, this is very cool. I look very strong.”
Maid Servant: “He has finally laughed after getting the smallpox.”
[1577 (Tenshou 5th year), November, at the age of 11, Bontenmaru had a rite of
passage to adulthood.]
Terumune: “From today on, you are no longer Bontemaru but you are renamed Daté Masamune Toujirou.”
Masamune: “Yes sir!”
[The Daté Family of Yonezawa is a notable family since the Kamakura era, and generations of Feudal Lords was given one Chinese character from the name of the Shougun (military General) Ashikaga Family. The “Teru” of his father Terumune was also taken from the “Teru” of Yoshiteru Ashikaga.]
[But now, the rule of the nation passed on from the Ashikaga family to Nobunaga Oda. The 15th General, Yoshiaki Ashikaga was chased out of the capital and was taken in by the Mouri family.]
Page 34
Masamune: “There is no use in carrying a name from a fallen Shougun. Thus, I have taken the name ‘Masamune’ from the famous 9th Lord of the Daté Family”
Kojyurou: “The 9th Lord was a strong and great Feudal Lord.”
Terumune: “Masamune, be strong. I expect much from you.”
Masamune (thinks): “Father has high expectations of me, but my mother… As usual, she favors my little brother Kojirou and feels he should be the heir to the Daté Family.”
Page 35
Kosai: “Lord! The future is in danger if the Daté family is divided into two followings.”
Terumune: “Yes, about that. I have decided that Masamune is the heir since his birth. But, among the servants, some try to be on Yoshihime’s good side and the supporters of Kojirou are many. Therefore, I want Masamune to inherit the family as soon as possible.”
Kosai: “In that case, it seems a little early but…”
Terumune: “Yes, let him get married even if he’s only 13!
Page 36
[1579 (Tenshou 7) Winter. Megohime, the daughter of Kiyoaki Tamura, Lord of Miharu Castle, came to be wedded.]
[With the 13 year old and 11 year old sitting next to each other, they were like the Ohina* dolls.]
[*hina matsuri, the peach-blossom festival, held on the third day of the third month, is held in honor of the girls in the family, who display their wedding dolls.]
Masamune: “Will you love me even if I am one-eyed?”
Megohime: “Yes.”
Masamune: “Thank you.”
Page 37
[At the age of 15, Masamune took part in his first battle]
Terumune: “Oh! What a brave soldier he is!”
[At the age of 18, with his father Terumune, he conquered Kanayama Castle in the territory of Yoshitane Souma.]
Terumune: “What a great day! We have a peace settlement.”
*Map of Castles around Yonezawa Castle*
Page 38
Masamune: “Father! I disagree with this peace settlement with Souma.”
Terumune: “Oh, are we being too easy?”
Masamune: “That’s right. In this case, we need to completely annihilate them. Father, you are too kind.”
Terumune: “Hmm, so you say I am too generous.”
Mother: “Masamune, you have said too much. To criticize your father is the same thing as rebelling against him.”
Masamune: “No! Most of the Daimyo in Oushu are related to one another because of marriage and adoption! Thus, the struggles never end because they are all equally matched!”
Page 39
Masamune: “Nobunaga and Hideyoshi were never trapped in such private matters. That is why they could completely destroy their enemies. If you have the ambition to rule a whole nation, then you must bring down anyone who stands in the way – even if they are family – and move forward.”
Terumune: “The whole nation, huh? Hmmm”
Mother: “Then, even my family, the Mogami clan…”
Masamune: “If they become our enemies, of course!”
Mother: “What a frighteningly strict child! You will soon make all your relatives into enemies and the Daté family will be destroyed!”
Masamune: “In order not to be destroyed, you must become stronger!”
Page 40
Mother: “That is all very easy to say, but the Daté Family heir should be someone like Kojirou…”
Terumune: “Shut up! I have already decided Masamune as the heir!”
Mother: “Then I will not be responsible for what happens to the Daté Family.”
Masamune: “Father?”
Terumune: “Don’t worry. Hmm. Very well, I have decided. I will retire! Masamune, you are already 18. You will succeed me.”
Page 41
Masamune: “Father, it’s too early to retire. You are still only 41 years of age.”
Terumune: “That’s okay. I had my hands full with protecting my land. I have never once thought to take over this nation as you have. It is a new era for your generation.”
[Shifuku Temple]
Masamune: “Teacher Kosai, what do you think about this?”
Kosai: “It’s not too early. Nobunaga Oda succeeded his family at the age of 18.”
Page 42
CH. 4 FATHER’S DEATH
[1585, the year following Masamune’s succession]
Masamune: “What?! Sadatsuna Oouchi of Obama Castle conspired with the Ashina Family of Aizu to betray me?! He promised his allegiance when I took over control of the clan!”
Servant: “The reason why Oouchi was confident was because not only Ashina was behind him, but Satake of Hitachi (Ibaragi Prefecture) also cooperated.”
Page 43
Terumune: “Masamune! Ashina is a large country. If you defeat Oouchi, you will have to fight Ashina and Satake as well.”
Masamune: “But, if I am looked down upon by the likes of Oouchi, I will not be able to conquer this nation.”
Terumune: “Conquering the nation? Hahaha, you talk big again.”
Masamune: “Well, just watch, father. Deploy the troops!”
Page 44
[By Masamune’s success, the Kotemori Castle where Sadatsuna Oouchi was taking refuge in fell very quickly]
Masamune: “What happened to that Sadatsuna?”
Soldier: “He escaped to Obama in Honjou in the confusion. What are you going to do with those that surrendered?”
Masamune: “Don’t… let them live!”
Soldier: “What! There are also women and children!”
Page 45
Masamune: “Father would have pardoned them. But that’s why the enemies look at us as easy prey. Even if they surrender, they will betrays again soon afterwards. To take over the nation, I will be a demon. Kill them all! Show the nation that no one who stands up against Masamune lives. If you were going to complain, you should have surrendered from the beginning.”
[Masamune’s thought and action scared the enemy]
Enemy: “He is horrible.”
Page 46
[With this, the branch castles of Oouchi, TsukiDaté Castle, Iwazuno Castle, and Shionomatsu castle lost the will to fight and surrendered.]
Masamune: “All right! Now we are allied with my father-in-law’s Tamura Family. It’s easier to make plans now. That frightened Oouchi! So he abandoned Obama Castle and escaped into Nihonmatsu Castle of Yoshitsugu Hatakeyama! After we enter Obama castle, the next goal is Yoshitsugu Hatakeyama!” (thinks) “What?! Yoshitsugu was also afraid and came to surrender? My merciless plan worked very well.” *mufufu* (snicker) “Very well! The conditions for surrender are as follows… Tell Yoshitsugu this: first, excluding 5 villages, the rest of the land will be taken! Second, they must also offer their sons as hostages!”
Messenger: “Lord, this is the reply from Yoshitsugu.”
Masamune: “What! They will follow accordingly with the hostages but in order to support their servants, they want the expropriation of the land to be halved? That will not be! The conditions will remain as they were from the beginning. They will not change!”
Page 48
Terumune: “Masamune, I know a retiree like me should not interfere, but could you consider allowing more, for Hatakeyama’s sake?”
Masamune: “Father, you are too kind. (thinks) That Yoshitsugu! He’s clinging to my father’s generosity. Even if it’s father’s request, I cannot change this.”
Terumune: “I see. I pity Yoshitsugu.”
Masamune (thinks): “Father is too soft.”
Page 49
[October 8, 1585]
Masamune: “Hahaha, it’s been a while since I went hunting. I feel very good. I heard that yesterday, Yoshitsugu came to Father’s Miyanomori Castle to show his gratitude. No matter how much he sucks up to my father, my conditions will not be changed. It’s evening. Let’s head back to the castle!”
Page 50
Soldier: “Lord!”
Masamune: “Hm?”
Soldier: “Lord! I bring very serious news!”
Masamune: “What? My father in Miyanomori Castle was taken hostage by Yoshitsugu? What’s happened?! Everyone hurry!”
Soldiers: “Yes sir!”
Page 51
Soldier: “Today, that Yoshitsugu came again, and at the entrance, your father went to greet them and…”
Masamune: “He did not need to be so polite to the defeated Yoshitsugu. I’ll never forgive him!”
Page 52
[From Miyanomori Castle to Abukuma River, it is about 4 kilometers. If you
cross the river, you will come to the Nihonmatsu territory of Yoshitsugu Hatakeyama]
Masamune: “There it is!”
Page 53
Soldier: “With your father as a hostage, we cannot lay hands on them!”
Masamune: “Damn!” *giri giri giri* (grinding his teeth)
Page 54
Terumune: “Masamune! I do not care! Shoot me along with them!”
Page 55
Masamune: “Shoot my own father along with my enemies?”
Terumune: “If you are going to take over the nation, do not let your father live in shame!”
Yoshitsugu: “Gahahahahaha. Even the great Masamune cannot shoot his father! Ahahahaha.”
Masamune: “Father!”
Page 56
“FIRE!” *doga doga doga* (gunfire)
Masamune: “*kuu* (grunts). Let no one live!”
Page 57
[The river bank was stained red with a mountain of cadavers building up.]
Masamune: “Father! Father! I can never hate Yoshitsugu enough! Piece together his cut up body and display it on the town square!”
Page 58
Masamune: “Now, return to the castle. Be gentle carrying my father’s body back!”
Soldier: “Lord! Let us go immediately to Nihonmatsu Castle and massacre them!”
Masamune: “…First, let us bury my father. We will avenge him after that.”
[October, 1585 (Tenshou 13). It was the late autumn of Masamune, 19 years old and Terumune, 42 years old.]
Page 59
CH. 5 BATTLE OF HITOTORI BRIDGE
[After Terumune’s ‘First Seven Days’ was done (Buddhist Memorial Service), Masamune immediately began the attack on Nihonmatsu Castle]
Masamune: “We will avenge my father through this battle! Nihonmatsu Castle is small, but it is surrounded by low mountains and is strong in its defenses. It won’t fall so easily.”
Page 60
Soldier: “Lord! Yoshishige Satake of Hitachi (Ibaragi Prefecture) is making his move!”
Masamune: “I see. Just as I expected.”
Soldier: “With Satake in the center, Ashina, Nikaidou, Iwaki, Ishikawa, and Shirakawa’s allied forces of 30,000 are arriving at Suka River!”
Masamune: “We have less than 10,000. If we exclude the defensive forces, we can only move 6,000. If we retreat here out of fear, Oouchi will gain momentum, and our ally Tamura will be massacred for his loyalty. All right, then! A man can only die once! No battle is determined by purely numbers! I will show them Masamune’s tactics and spirit!”
Page 61
[November 17, 1585 - Masamune made a battle formation at Kannondou Mountain.]
Masamune: “Oh. The enemies 30,000 has covered the whole plain of Arai. By the way, what is that bridge over there?”
Soldier: “It is called Hitotori Bridge.”
Masamune: “Ha ha ha. So it is the bridge that will take the enemy and devour him.”
[the characters for “hitotori are “people” and “take”] “It has begun!”
Page 62
Masamune: “Our forces are being pushed back! What is it?”
Soldier: “Lord! Please get behind the lines! It is too dangerous here!”
Masamune: “How can the commander retreat?! When I move, it will be to move forward! All right! Signal to the Shisane Daté auxiliaries. We will head straight on down, into Satake’s forces below. Move out!”
Page 63
*sound of battle*
Masamune: “All right! We won!”
*crowd cheering*
Masamune: “Hahaha. Flanking the enemy with Shigesane’s small force was a success! We surprised Satake and made him think our 1,000 men looked 5 times the size.”
Page 64
Masamune: “Also, there is a great difference in strength and in momentum from those descending from a mountain and those going against it. With courage and strategy, we were able to win against a force 4 times our size! But we should never fight this kind of battle again. We sacrificed many lives for this battle, but Nihonmatsu Castle still stands. Certainly, it is the age of diplomacy.”
Page 65
Masamune: “As we negotiated good ties with Uesugi and Houjou, we caught Ashina and Satake in the middle so they could not make a move, and we took down Nihonmatsu Castle!”
[1587 (Tenshou 15), Masamune was able to relax and spend his 21st New Year’s Day at
Yonezawa Castle.]
Masamune: “Mego[hime]. How great peaceful times are!”
Mego: “Yes.”
Masamune: “I wish this nation will unite as soon as possible and make a world without wars.”
Page 66
CH. 6 A LETTER FROM HIDEYOSHI
[1588]
Masamune: “It’s a letter from Hideyoshi. It says they have made Shimazu, who was one of the strongest men in Kyushuu, submit to them. We have letters from Maeda Toshiie and Tokugawa Ieyasu. They both tell me that it is for my good to go present myself to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who governs this nation.”
Kojyurou: “Lord, what are you going to do?”
Masamune: “Does he truly govern? The Central Eastern Hero, Houjou, is still powerful. The Odawara Castle is Houjyou’s famous castle that even Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen could not conquer. Can Hideyoshi really take it down? Besides, there is the case with the death of Nobunaga Oda. If the attack on Odawara takes too much time, we may have another Mitsuhide Akechi. [Akechi Mitsuhide was a servant who betrayed Nobunaga Oda]. In that case, Masamune here will have also an opportunity to conquer this nation!”
Page 68
[1587 (Tenshou 15), Yet again, the Daimyous of Oushuu began to fight over territories.]
[And in 1588, a much more severe crisis came upon Masamune.]
[The failure of attacking the Oosaki of the north resulted in…]
“It’s our chance to defeat Daté!”
“Let’s beat him from all sides!”
Masamune: “Oh oh oh! I’m surrounded by enemies! Patience! When it’s a difficult time for us, the enemy is also enduring a difficult time. Whoever survives for one year will be the winner! We have won! First, Yoshiaki Mogami has asked for a peace treaty.”
Souma and Satake: “We cannot win with Mogami and Daté’s cooperation.”
Ashina: “Don’t fight father and son!”
Inawashiro: “Become Masamune’s ally?”
Inawashiro: “No way!”
Page 70
Masamune: “Ha ha ha. Finally, the crisis is behind us. The enemy crumbled under internal conflicts, but the Daté alliances have held strong! How about that?”
Soldier: “There is another request from Toyotomi Hideyoshi to travel to Kyoto.”
“To Masamune:
“1. Immediately stop all warfare in Oushuu.
“2. Leave all boundaries as they are currently and await Hidoyoshi’s judgement.
“3. Masamune must immediately travel to Kyoto.
“From Hideyoshi who was given all authority to govern the whole nation by the Tennou [Emperor].”
Page 71
Masamune: “Although it is a command from the Kanpaku [the highest political position assisting the Emperor] from far away, how can I neglect an enemy right next to me? I still want to stretch my boundaries as far as possible while I still can! Wa ha ha ha.”
[May 1589 (Tenshou 17)]
[Masamune defeated Ashina’s Akogashima Castle and Takatama Castle, and also defeated another two castles in Souma territory.]
Masamune: “Ohh! So this is the ocean!”
Page 72
Masamune: “Inawashiro Lake cannot even compare with this! Wonderful! This is the smell of the ocean! Away beyond this horizon, there are the countries of foreigners who build guns and large ships! The world is large… Someday, I would like to cross this ocean.”
Page 73
CH. 7 RIVAL ENEMY: THE ASHINA FAMILY DESTROYED
[June 1589 (Tenshou 17)]
Masamune: “Morikuni Inawashiro of the Ashina group are saying they will take our side. Finally, the day has come to fight and end our struggle with Ashina. First, we’ll make Inawashiro Castle our main base.”
Page 74
[June 5, 1589, Masamune left Inawashiro Castle and made a battle formation around Hachimori Mountain. On the other hand, Yoshihiro Ashina formed his forces around Takimori Mountain which is bordered on the north by the Nippashi River.]
“To the final battle!”
Page 75
[Masamune Forces 23,000]
[Ashina Forces 16,000]
“Move forward!”
[Both forces collided at Suriage Field. The battle became a battle against the strong winds.]
Page 76
“This is bad. The west wind is blowing us from the front. We cannot keep our eyes open because of the sand the horses are kicking up and the smoke from the guns!”
[The first Daté forces began to crumble. But in moments, the wind changed direction.]
Masamune: “This is good! This is the help of Heaven! Go forth! Begin the counter-attack!”
Page 77
Masamune: “Very well! Now is the time! With the dust and smoke, the enemy must be blinded! Shout and spread a false rumor! Are you ready? Shout as I say. ‘There are 20,000 more troops from Inawashiro Castle marching over here!’”
Soldier: “Yes sir! I see. It’s the reinforcement of our ghost armies.”
“The reinforcements from the castle arrived!”
“More than 20,000!”
“Geh! *choke* Is that true!?”
Page 78
Ashina: “Geh! It’s over! Not only do we have a disadvantage with the wind against us, but the enemy has a great reinforcement coming. Retreat! Go back across the river!”
Masamune: “Ashina Forces are crumbling! This is our chance to win. Go! Go! Go!”
Page 79
Ashina: “What! The bridge we came across is burned down!”
“Uwaaa!! *scream* Don’t push! Don’t push!”
“There is no bridge!”
[Countless men of the Ashina forces fell into the Nippashi River and drowned, and
more than 2,000 people died in this battle.]
Page 80
[Yoshihiro Ashina escaped to Kurokawa Castle temporarily and had to relocate to his
home town Hitachi [Ibaragi Prefecture] where Satake was.]
[June 11, Masamune entered Kurokawa Castle without a fight.]
Masamune: “Wa ha ha. I have become the Lord of 2,000,000 koku of territory at the age of 23. Let’s bring my mother and Megohime from Yonezawa.”
Page 81
CH. 8 KILLING LITTLE BROTHER KOJIROU
Kojyurou: “Lord! Another letter from Hideyoshi arrived!”
Masamune: “It says: ‘Ashina serves Hideyoshi. I cannot believe you destroyed him. Come to Kyoto at once and apologize to me.’”
Page 82
Masamune: “What! It says, ‘next spring in March, we will take a large army and bring judgment upon Houjou in Odawara Castle. It will benefit you to surrender at this time.’”
Kosai: “And we also have other problems”
Masamune: “About my mother, right?”
Kojyurou: “Yes! Queen Hoshuuin (Masamune’s mother) is…”
Hoshuuin [to little brother Kojirou]: “I heard Masamune has dawdled around about going to Kyoto and has angered Hideyoshi.”
Page 83
Hoshuuin: “At this rate, the Daté Family will perish! Look, we must remove Masamune and put his younger brother Kojirou as the head of the Daté Family.”
Masamune: “Hm. This is a difficult enemy. Because it’s my mother of course. This… is… troubling. Father, what should I do?”
Page 84
Masamune (to a ninja, arriving with news): “Oh! What is Hideyoshi up to?”
Ninja: “Yes! After receiving the sword from the Emperor, he departed Kyoto with an army on March 1st.”
Masamune: “I see. Because he is acting in direct order from the Emperor, if I go against him, I will make the Emperor my enemy as well.”
[Tokugawa Ieyasu received his orders from Hideyoshi and left Sunpu (Shizuoka Prefecture)]
[Toshiie Maeda left Kanazawa]
Page 85
[Kagekatsu Uesugi left Kasugayama Castle (Niigata Prefecture Takada City)]
Ninja: “Daimyos all over the country are coming together at Odawara one by one.”
[On the ocean side, Chousokabe of Shikoku, Kuki of Ise (Mie Prefecture), Katou and Wakisaka and such Daimyo’s are gathering by sea to Shimizu Port.]
[The strength of the army is about 220,000]
Masamune: “Hmmm. That is many more than I imagined.”
Page 86
Masamune: “Was this my miscalculation?”
[Toyotomi Hideyoshi is pushing Houjou back]
Masamune: “This is looking very bad. Will I make it?”
Page 87
Ninja: “We can no longer naively expect Hideyoshi’s army to run out of supplies as Houjou’s forces take refuge in their castle. The ships will keep bringing in food and supplies. There is a mountain of war funds. Even if Houjou drags this out, they will lose.”
Masamune: “I see! So it’s a matter of time before Houjou will surrender! Damn! I was born a little too late!”
Page 88
Masamune: “If only I was born a little earlier, I would have controlled the Central Eastern area [Kantou] and would have been able to fight Hideyoshi with equal forces.”
Servant 1: “Lord! Will you surrender to Hideyoshi?”
Servant 2: “But isn’t it too late?”
Servant 3: “I’ve heard Hideyoshi is very angry!”
Masamune: “Hmph! That monkey!”
Page 89
Servant: “Even if you join forces at Odawara, you will surely be executed!”
Servant: “If we are going to be annihilated anyway, let us show them what a desperate resistance of the Daté forces can do as a parting gift of death.”
Masamune: “Kagetsuna Katakura, come with me to Odawara!”
Kagetsuna: “Yes sir!!”
Mother: “Hmph!”
Page 90
Mother: “It’s too late! If he just shows up, he’ll have to commit seppuku [ritual suicide], be decapitated, or crucified certainly. And then the Daté Family will die out. Kojirou, make up your mind. Take out Masamune. We must do it before he leaves for Odawara. Then apologize to the Kanpaku Lord for your brother’s misdeeds and have him approve the Daté Family Territory.”
Kojirou: “I understand Mother! I will do it for the Daté Family.”
Page 91
Masamune: “Mother, I came to see you before I leave for Odawara.”
Mother: “I hear you are ready to die.” (to the servants) “Here! Prepare a dinner. Let us celebrate his departure.”
Masamune: “It has been a while since the three of us had a meal together.”
Mother: “Yes it has.”
Page 92
Masamune: “I am enjoying this greatly. Hahaha... I will certainly return home alive from Odawara. Don’t worry. Uh! *surprise* Th..this… Guwah *vomiting*. It’s… poisoned!”
Mother: “Hurry!”
Kojirou: “Brother! Prepare for death!”
Page 93
Masamune: “Kojirou! Why you!! Guwah! *sound of pain*”
“Lord!”
Page 94
CH. 9 MEETING WITH HIDEYOSHI
Kagetsuna: “Lord!”
Masamune: “Yes. And Kojirou?”
Servant: “Yes! … he has passed away.”
Masamune: “And mother?”
Kosai: “She escaped safely from the castle.”
Masamune: “So you let her escape safely!”
Page 95
Masamune: “Otherwise, I would have had to kill my mother with my own hands. But truly, Kosai’s antidote works very well! It was good that I carried it with me everywhere. Well, let’s go to Odawara.”
[At Odawara Camp. June 5, 1590.]
Page 96
Hideyoshi: “What? Masamune of Aizu has decided to come to me now? What a shameless man! Confine him at the Inn of Sokokura!”
Mitsunari Ishida: “Yes sir!”
[7th Day]
[Asano Nagamasa and Maeda Toshiie enter]
“Mr. Daté! We are the interrogators of the Lord Kanpaku! Please respond clearly to our questions!”
Masamune: “Yes sir!”
Nagamasa: “Mr. Daté. Why are you late?”
Toshiie: “Why did you attack and destroy Mr. Ashina and Mr. Nikaido who are the servants of the Lord Kanpaku?”
Third Interrogator: “And then…”
Toshiie: “And why did you arrive to this camp with only a 100 or so men?”
[Masamune answered very boldly and clearly every single question of Hideyoshi’s interrogators.]
Masamune: “The reason why I arrived in small numbers is to lessen your burden if I had to commit seppuku.”
Toshiie: “Oh! You are very brave. I will surely deliver your explanation to the Lord Kanpaku.”
Masamune: “By the way, Mr. Maeda. I heard that here in Odawara Camp, the master tea ceremonialist Mr. Sennorikyu is present. I will surely appreciate you arranging a lesson for me.”
[Hideyoshi’s castle, built on Ishigaki Mountain]
Hideyoshi: “What! He asked for a lesson from Rikyu? Even if he may be asked to commit seppuku?”
Page 99
[June 9, Masamune met Hideyoshi at Ishigakiyama Castle]
Hideyoshi: “So you are Masamune! Come closer!”
Masamune: “Yes sir!”
Masamune: “Oushuu is deep in the countryside! Because of the unexpected long journey, I have come very late! Please forgive me!”
Hideyoshi: “Yes! Oushuu is far. I forgive your tardiness!”
Page 100
Hideyoshi: “But in exchange, I will take away the Aizu territory from you. Is that fine with you?”
Masamune: “Yes! I am very grateful!” (thinks: “Damn! The territory that I took risking my life…”)
Hideyoshi: “So, Masamune! I told you I would forgive your tardiness, but if you were a little bit more late, this here would have been dangerous to you. [pointing to his neck]”
Page 101
Hideyoshi: “How is this, Masamune? Since you are here, why don’t you go see the Hideyoshi battle formations to attack Odawara as a souvenir to take back with you to Oushuu? Even across the whole of Japan, there is no one except this Hideyoshi who can command a grand army of more than 200,000. Wa ha ha ha!”
Page 102
CH. 10 STIRRING UP REBELLION
[July 1590 (Tenshou 18), Odawara Castle finally fell. Making Houjou Ujimasa commit seppuku and banishing Houjou Ujinao to Kouya Mountain (Wakayama Prefecture), Hideyoshi now accomplished the unification of the whole nation.]
Hideyoshi: “With Masamune Daté’s surrender, the unification of the nation arrived sooner than I expected. But even so, that Daté brat had a gleam in his eye that I cannot ignore…”
Page 103
Kagetsuna: “Lord! Gamo Ujisato became the Lord of Kurokawa Castle in Aizu [Fukushima Prefecture]!”
Masamune: “That Hideyoshi! He expects Ujisato to keep an eye on me! He will see. At any moment, the farmers and the laid-off samurai groups who are dissatisfied with the new Lord’s ways will begin a rebellion. I will support them in secret and beat down Ujisato! I will surely run him out of Aizu! Give the leader of the rebellion this sumitsuki [a treaty from a Shougun or Daimyo]! And tell them that Masamune here will support them from behind.”
Page 104
[The riot secretly stirred by Masamune exploded to great intensity.]
[But Gamo Ujisato is a renowned commander whom Hideyoshi respects.]
Ujisato: “Something is strange. This may be Masamune’s doing… Oh! This is Masamune’s sumitsuki! There is no doubt! I am glad you got a hold of this.”
[Ujisato immediately reported this, and appealed to Hideyoshi]
Hideyoshi: “What! That Daté brat!?”
Page 105
Kagetsuna: “Lord! This time, it will not go as well as it did in Odawara! The crucifixion…”
Masamune: “Hahaha. Then I will take a gold-plated cross! It’s beautiful and shining brilliantly. The curious crowds on the street are overwhelmed with surprise.”
“What the heck is that?”
“It’s the procession of Lord Daté going to the Lord Taiko (same as Kanpaku) to
explain himself.”
“It is very strange.”
Page 106
Hideyoshi: “Masamune! Of course you remember this!”
Masamune: “Huh! This signature looks exactly like mine.”
Hideyoshi: “What! Do you say it’s fake? Everyone will say it’s exactly like yours!”
Masamune: “No! It’s an absolute fake, sir!”
Page 107
Masamune: “Maybe someone I fired who was my yuuhitsu [a person like a secretary who wrote for their masters] wrote it instead? Please check the letter that Masamune here has given to his Lord! Please compare the eyes of the Wagtail of the signatures.”
Hideyoshi: “What! The eyes?”
Masamune: “Please check carefully!”
Hideyoshi: “Ah!!”
Masamune: “The Wagtail’s eye in my letter has a hole poked by a needle. The right
one’s eyes should have a needle hole!”
Page 108
Hideyoshi: “Oh I see. Hmmm. You are extremely detailed. Alright! I understand. Masamune is innocent.” Fufu *small laugh*. “This boy does well. He must have prepared two separate signatures from the beginning just in case. You can never let your guard down around him. Masamune! You are the only one who can control the Oushuu area! Move from Yonezawa to the Iwade Mountain where the riot occurred and secure the land!”
Masamune: “A territory transfer? The land is smaller than before! Damn!”
Page 109
CH. 11 SENDING SOLDIERS TO KOREA
[1592 (Bunroku 1st year)]
Masamune: “What! Lord Taikou [Hideyoshi] is seriously considering invading Korea?”
Ninja: “yes.”
Masamune: “Th.. That’s ridiculous! Has the Taikou gone mad?”
Masamune: “It’s already difficult enough with just Korea, so how can we win going also against Min Country [China]!”
Page 110
Kagetsuna: “Lord! The order to go into battle has arrived!”
Masamune: “What a pain it is to be involved with a mad, old man’s stupid dream but…”
Kosai: “But we cannot disobey.”
Masamune: “Okay. Let’s deploy twice the requested number of our troops!”
Servant: “Lord! Isn’t it better to decrease the numbers instead?”
Masamune: “And make crazy, bright-colored, decorated uniforms. So the Daté Family will stand out the most. Wa ha ha ha.”
Page 111
*Gin gira* *pika-pika* *kira-kira* (all effects of bright shining material)
Masamune: “Hahaha… With this many soldiers and a disastrously decorated army, he will surely not put us on the front-line. That monkey-gramps loves to stand out! He will reserve us for when he will go to Korea himself.”
Soldier: “I see. But we are standing out a little too much.”
Masamune: “Hahaha. The idea is to survive. I don’t want to lose my precious servants to be sent to the front and die.”
Page 112
Soldier: “This is embarrassing.”
Soldier 2: “It’s glittering bright colors of black, red, and gold.”
[March 1592 (Bunroku 1), With Hideyoshi’s command, the invasion of Korea began.]
[Masamune also departed with 3,000 soldiers, entered the Nagaya Castle of Hizen (Saga Prefecture), and from there he crossed the ocean]
[But the war in Korea was a terrible one]
Masamune: “This is a pointless war.”
Page 113
[The Korean Navy controlled the ocean and no food or supplies were being delivered from Japan!]
Masamune: “How can we fight on an empty stomach!”
[And also a infectious disease spread]
Masamune: “Damn! I lost too many precious servants. What an absurd war!”
[5 months later, Masamune returned to Kyoto]
Masamune: “Megohime! It was a terrible war.”
Megohime: “I’m glad you are safe! I heard that Korea has tigers…”
Page 114
[Megohime was in Jurakudai (a mansion Hideyoshi built in Kyoto) like other wives and children of other Daimyos as hostages of Hideyoshi.]
[Previous to and after the invasion of Korea, Hideyoshi’s politics became unreasonable.]
[He killed his political advisor, the Master of Tea, Sennorikyu for a foolish reason.]
[With the unexpected birth of his son by Yodogimi, his nephew Hidetsugu who was promised to be heir was accused of treason and executed.]
Masamune: “It is foolish to also suspect me of treason just because I was especially close to Lord Hidetsugu!”
Page 115
CH. 12 THE GREAT BATTLE OF SEKIGAHARA
[August 18, 1598 (Keichou 3). With the failure of the Korean invasion and overworking himself, Hideyoshi died of illness.]
Kosai: “The nation will surely split in two.”
Masamune: “Tokugawa Ieyasu against Ishida Mitsunari, huh? Ieyasu broke his promise with Hideyoshi and is going ahead with many politically arranged marriages. One of them is the engagement between my daughter Irohahime and TaDatéru the sixth son of Ieyasu.”
Page 116
[Mitsunari Ishida’s side initiated The Great Battle of Sekigahara.]
Masamune: “First he made the enemy fight Kagekatsu Uesugi of Aizu. His plan was to fight Ieyasu who left Osaka castle from behind with Mitsunari and attack from both sides. But… that clever rascal Ieyasu saw through the plan from the beginning and planned to leave the suppression of Uesugi to Masamune here, and make a U-turn to fight Mitsunari.”
Page 117
Kosai: “Now, Ieyasu is probably most afraid of you, Lord, making a move.”
Masamune: “Even if I don’t make a move, I will be given a reward for just keeping a sharp eye on Uesugi. What? With the betrayal of Kobayakawa Hideaki of the Western Army, Ieyasu made an enormous victory! I don’t like this! With this, this nation is already determined as Ieysasu’s! Without moving from Oushuu and by being on Ieyasu’s side, I could become the greatest Daimyo of Oushuu with 620,000 koku but…”
Page 118
CH. 13 SENDING TSUNENAGA HASEKURA TO ROME
[Souitsu Kosai died at the age of 83 on the spring of 1611 (Keichou 16), 8 years after Ieyasu Tokugawa established the Edo Government.]
Masamune: "So you are the European Priest, Sotero. I will give you the permission to teach Christianity. This is in gratitude for healing my servant that even my own doctor could not heal. What is this passion that makes you travel from the far ends of the world?"
Page 119
Sotelo: "For God. We are to spread the teachings of Jesus Christ to every corner of the world."
Masamune: "Hmm. All men are equal under God...?! Equality is troublesome. Society comes to peace with those who rule and those who are ruled. Wait a minute. Are the Europeans trying to rule the world by using the spread of Christianity? I have always felt that the core of human passion is the greed for power."
Page 120
Masamune: "All right. The way Japan is governed is already settled by Ieyasu's rule. There shouldn't be any war for some time. Then let me look to the world with this one eye. Let us make friends with the king of Spain and open trade with New Spain [Mexico]. I will raise my flag in New Spain, on the other side of the world. What? Ieyasu is also planning to open trade with Spain as well?"
Page 121
[But the government's ship wrecked as soon as it left port and Ieyasu's plan failed.]
Masamune: "I have the government's permission. I, Masamune, will do this with my own power.” (Looking at the ship) “500 tons. This is the two-mast, Western-style ship, San Juan Baptista! Renamed from Mutsumaru, from here on out, it will cross the Pacific Ocean."
Page 122
Masamune: " Hasekura Tsunenaga! Fulfill all your duties as the diplomat of Daté Masamune, The King of Oushuu and the next Emperor of Japan.'"
Tsunenaga: "Yes sir!"
[September 15, 1613 (Keichou 18). Night with a full moon. Mutsumaru left port from Tsukinoura (a fishing port of Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture) to the Pacific Ocean carrying with it, Masamune's dream of glory.]
Page 123
[3 months later, December 18, 1613]
Masamune: "What! The government declared Christianity illegal! We have to stop our relations with Spain? Damn! I can't believe people like Hideyoshi and Ieyasu keep crushing my dreams! From Ieyasu's point, he's afraid that I will join with Spain to cause a rebellion..."
[2 days before the Anti-Christianity Law was passed, it was the memorable day when Hasekura Tsunenaga landed on Acapulco, Mexico as the first Japanese to cross the Pacific Ocean. August 1620, Hasekura Tsunenaga returned proudly and with much hope after meeting the Pope. Two years later, he died at the age of 51 in disappointment.]
Page 124
[1614 (Keichou 19), Ieyasu attacked Osaka Castle of the Toyotomi Family blaming the wording of the name engraved on the bell of Houkou Temple.]
Masamune: "That stupid rascal! Whatever he does is vile and dirty! He felt his death approaching and decided to kill Hideyori while he still lives."
[Masamune also received orders to deploy his troops.]
Masamune: "What a shame for Hideyori Toyotomi. Not a single Daimyo who Hideyoshi set him up with came to his assistance."
Page 125
CH 14. THE FALL OF OSAKA CASTLE
Masamune: "Oh! Turning down Ieyasu's request, Sanada Yukimura entered Osaka Castle. This will be very difficult. If Yukimura is given all strategic command over Osaka Castle, it will be hard to tell who the winner will be. This is getting exciting."
[Sanada Yukimura, famous as a brilliant commander, was feared by Ieyasu]
Masamune: "If all goes well, there may be another chance for the ruling seat of the nation."
Page 126
Masamune: "I see. Yukimura's having a hard time with the strong opinions of loyal servants and Yodogimi. With a woman as commander, you cannot win a war! It looks as though my dream has yet again shriveled. That rascal! He's rushing a lot of things. Since he doesn't have much time left, he wants to annihilate Toyotomi while he's still alive. Although he calls for a temporary peace, he begins attacking as soon as he finishes filling in the moats. This summer battle will be a hard one."
Page 127
Masamune: "With their outer moats filled in and having to fight outside, the Osaka side will come out very desperately. There is nothing as scary as a wounded lion."
[As Masamune expected, Sanada Yukimura and Gotou Matabe's desperate counter attack scattered the surrounding armies.]
Masamune: "It is because the surrounding armies consider this the last war and are unwilling to put their lives on the line and fought half-heartedly."
Page 128
Masamune: "Yes, it will be foolish to die here. Even for me, this will be the last war. Yukimura's way of fighting is brilliant. Their spears are red. Their armors and flags are all red. They are like a raging army of red demons. You cannot even cripple Sanada's army of 3000?!"
Servant: "At this rate, our casualties will be too great!"
Page 129
Masamune: "I heard that Sanada's spears chased Ieyasu who ran for his life around at Tennoujiguchi. With one mistake, Ieyasu's rule would have been in danger. If... I had been on Osaka's side, without a doubt, Osaka's side would have won. The era for Hideyori Toyotomi would have come."
Page 130
Masamune: "But, I, Masamune, have no debt to Hideyoshi. Nor any obligation. There is only the anger from having Aizu territory taken from me in Odawara. And not least in importance, my sweet daughter, Irohahime, is the wife of TaDatéru, 6th son of Ieyasu. It is a parent's wish to have their daughters live peaceful and enjoyable lives. Look! The great Osaka Castle is engulfed in flames! With this Hideyoshi's dream has vanished in smoke. What strong luck Ieyasu has!"
Page 131
Masamune: "I will cooperate with this lucky Ieyasu, and I will give my wife, children, and many servants a peaceful time! The war is over!"
[The year following the fall of Osaka Castle, April 1616 (Genna 2), Ieyasu died at the age of 75 from food poisoning.]
Page 132
[Masamune Daté, who burned with a passion for taking over the nation and spent his dream-filled youth on the battlefield, came to understand the flow of history and the importance of peace, serving under Ieyasu, Hidetada, and Iemitsu from Sendai Castle (Aoba Castle) as a great Daimyo of 620,000 koku in Sendai area, cooperated in building the 260 years of peace of the Edo government, and left this world at the age of 70 in 1636.]
[the end]