Fukushima Masanori

Fukushima Masanori (福島 正則, 1561 – August 26, 1624) was a Japanese daimyō of the late Sengoku period to early Edo period who served as lord of the Hiroshima Domain. A retainer of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, he fought in the battle of Shizugatake in 1583, and soon became known as one of Seven Spears of Shizugatake which also included Katō Kiyomasa and others.

Fukushima Masanori
福島 正則
Fukushima Masanori
Lord of Hiroshima
In office 1600–1619
Preceded by	Mōri Terumoto
Succeeded by	Asano Nagaakira
Personal details
Born	Ichimatsu 1561
Died	August 26, 1624 (aged 62–63)
Nationality	Japanese
Spouse(s)	Omasa
Father	Fukushima Masanobu
Military service
Allegiance	Toyotomi clan Tokugawa shogunate
Unit	Fukushima clan
Battles/wars	Siege of Miki Battle of Yamazaki Battle of Shizugatake Korean Campaign Battle of Sekigahara

Biography

Fukushima Masanori's birthplace monument（Ama, Aichi Prefecture）

Ukiyo-e of Fukushima Masanori

Fukushima Masanori, or as he was first known, Ichimatsu, was born in Owari Province, the son of Fukushima Masanobu. He is believed to have been the cousin of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He first engaged in battle at the assault on Miki Castle in Harima Province, and following the battle of Yamazaki, he was granted a 500 koku stipend.

At the battle of Shizugatake in 1583, he defeated Haigo Gozaemon, a prominent samurai.[1] Masanori (Tenshō 11) had the honor of taking the first head, namely that of the enemy general Ogasato Ieyoshi, receiving a 5000 koku increase in his stipend for this distinction (the other six "Spears" each received 3000 Koku), he married with Omasa.

Masanori took part in many of Hideyoshi's campaigns; it was after the Kyūshū Expedition, however, that he was made a daimyō. Receiving the fief of Imabari in Iyo Province, his income was rated at 110,000 koku. Soon after, he took part in the Korean Campaign. Masanori was to once again receive distinction when he took Ch'ongju.[2]

Following his involvement in the Korean campaign, Masanori was involved in the pursuit of Toyotomi Hidetsugu. He led 10,000 men in 1595, surrounded Seiganji temple on Mount Kōya, and waited until Hidetsugu had committed suicide.[3] With Hidetsugu dead, Masanori received a 90,000 koku increase in stipend, and received Hidetsugu's former fief of Kiyosu, in Owari Province as well.[4]

Masanori sided with Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Battle of Sekigahara, and thus ensured the survival of his domain. Although he later lost his holdings, his descendants became hatamoto in the service of the Tokugawa shōgun.

Nihongo spear

Nihongo or Nippongo (日本号): A famous spear that was once used in the Imperial Palace. This is one of The Three Great Spears of Japan. Nihongo later found its way into the possession of Fukushima Masanori, and then Tahei Mori. It is now at The Fukuoka City Museum where it was restored.

In popular culture

Fukushima Masanori is featured in Koei's video games Kessen, Kessen III, Samurai Warriors, and as a non-playable character in Samurai Warriors 3. He is a playable character in the third installment's expansions, Samurai Warriors 3 Z and Samurai Warriors 3: Xtreme Legends, and in the fourth installment, Samurai Warriors 4 and its subsequent expansions. He is a playable character in Pokémon Conquest (Pokémon + Nobunaga's Ambition in Japan), with his partner Pokémon being Krokorok and Krookodile.[5]

Notes

1. Turnbull, Stephen (1998). The Samurai Sourcebook. London: Cassell & Co. p. 234,240. ISBN 9781854095237.
2. Turnbull, Stephen. Samurai Invasion. London: Cassell & Co., p. 120.
3. Turnbull, Stephen. Samurai Invasion. London: Cassell & Co., p. 232.
4. Berry, Mary Elizabeth. Hideyoshi. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, pp. 127–128.
5. "Masanori + Krokorok - Pokémon Conquest characters". Pokémon. Retrieved 2012-06-17.

External links

• Biography of Fukushima Masanori (in Japanese)