was a regional ruler of Japan's

Azuchi–Momoyama period The was the final phase of the in Japanese history from 1568 to 1600. After the outbreak of the Ōnin War in 1467, the power of the Ashikaga Shogunate effectively collapsed, marking the start of the chaotic Sengoku period. In 1568, Oda Nobuna ...

through early

Edo period The or is the period between 1603 and 1867 in the history of Japan, when Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and the country's 300 regional '' daimyo''. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengoku period, the Edo period was characte ...

. Heir to a long line of powerful ''

daimyō were powerful Japanese magnates, feudal lords who, from the 10th century to the early Meiji period in the middle 19th century, ruled most of Japan from their vast, hereditary land holdings. They were subordinate to the shogun and nominal ...

'' in the

Tōhoku region The , Northeast region, or consists of the northeastern portion of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. This traditional region consists of six prefectures (''ken''): Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi, and Yamagata. Tōhoku reta ...

, he went on to found the modern-day city of Sendai. An outstanding tactician, he was made all the more iconic for his missing eye, as Masamune was often called ''dokuganryū'' (独眼竜), or the "One-Eyed Dragon of Ōshu". As a legendary warrior and leader, Masamune is a character in a number of Japanese period dramas.

Early life and rise

Date Masamune was born as Bontenmaru (梵天丸) later Tojiro (藤次郎) the eldest son of

Date Terumune was a Japanese samurai clan leader of the Sengoku period. Turnbull, Stephen. (2012) ''Samurai Commanders: 1577-1638,'' Vol, 2, p. 52 He had close relationship with Oda Nobunaga, one of the leading figures of the period. Terumune was the father o ...

, born in

Yonezawa Castle is a flatland-style Japanese castle located in the center of the city of Yonezawa, southern Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. Throughout the Edo period, Yonezawa Castle was home to the Uesugi clan, ''daimyō'' of Yonezawa Domain. History The first ...

(in modern

Yamagata Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu. Yamagata Prefecture has a population of 1,079,950 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 9,325 km² (3,600 sq mi). Yamagata Prefecture borders Akita Prefecture to the nor ...

). At the age of 14 in 1581, Masamune led his first campaign, helping his father fight the

Sōma clan The was a Japanese samurai clan who ruled the northern Hamadōri region of southern Mutsu Province in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan for over 700 years, from the Kamakura period through the Meiji Restoration of 1868. The Sōma claimed ...

. In 1584, at the age of 17, Masamune succeeded his father, Terumune, who chose to retire from his position as ''daimyō''. Masamune's army was recognized by its black armor and golden headgear. Masamune Date's armour

Masamune is known for a few things that made him stand out from other ''daimyō'' of the time. In particular, his famous crescent-moon-bearing

helmet A helmet is a form of protective gear worn to protect the head. More specifically, a helmet complements the skull in protecting the human brain. Ceremonial or symbolic helmets (e.g., a policeman's helmet in the United Kingdom) without protect ...

won him a fearsome reputation. As a child,

smallpox Smallpox was an infectious disease caused by variola virus (often called smallpox virus) which belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus. The last naturally occurring case was diagnosed in October 1977, and the World Health Organization (WHO) c ...

robbed him of sight in his right eye, though it is unclear exactly how he lost the organ entirely. Various theories behind the eye's condition exist. Some sources say he plucked out the eye himself when a senior member of the clan pointed out that an enemy could grab it in a fight. Others say that he had his trusted retainer

Katakura Kojūrō was the common name of the head of the Japanese Katakura clan, who served as senior retainers to the Date clan. Following the Date clan's move into Sendai han, they were granted holdings at Shiroishi Castle (12,000 ''koku'' in total), which th ...

gouge out the eye for him, making him the "One-Eyed Dragon" of Ōshu. The

Date clan The is a Japanese samurai kin group. Papinot, Jacques Edmond Joseph. (1906). ''Dictionnaire d’histoire et de géographie du Japon''; Papinot, (2003)"Date", ''Nobiliare du Japon'', p. 5 retrieved 2013-5-5. History The Date family was founded ...

had built alliances with neighboring clans through marriages over previous generations, but local disputes remained commonplace. Shortly after Masamune's succession in 1584, a Date retainer named

Ōuchi Sadatsuna was a Japanese samurai and military commander of the Sengoku period. He was the lord of the Obama Castle. Sadatsuna belonged under the command of Tamura Kiyoaki. But Sadatsuna switched from the Tamura clan to the Ashina clan and he became inde ...

defected to the Ashina clan of the Aizu region. Masamune declared war on Ōuchi and the Ashina for this betrayal, and started a campaign to hunt down Sadatsuna. Formerly amicable alliances were cast aside as he began to attack and conquer the lands of Sadatsuna's allies in pursuit, even those of his kin in Mutsu and Dewa Provinces. In the winter of 1585, one of these allies, Nihonmatsu Yoshitsugu felt defeat was approaching and chose to surrender to the Date instead. Masamune agreed to accept the surrender, but on the heavy condition that the Nihonmatsu give up most of their territory to the Date. This resulted in Yoshitsugu kidnapping Masamune's father Terumune during their meeting in Miyamori Castle, where Terumune was staying during the time. The incident ended with Terumune and Yoshitsugu killed as the fleeing Nihonmatsu party clashed with the pursuing Date troops near the Abukuma River. Due to the death of Date Terumune by the hands of Nihonmatsu Yoshitsugu, Masamune swore vengeance. In January 1586, Masamune had his revenge by launching an attack against the Nihonmatsu at the

Battle of Hitotoribashi A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and forc ...

. Various records of the event exist, although they present different accounts of its circumstances. The Date clan fought many battles with their neighbours afterwards, including the Battle of Koriyama in 1588, the

Siege of Kurokawa The siege of Kurokawa Castle was a battle during the Azuchi–Momoyama period (16th century) of Japan. Following the assassination of Ashina Moritaka. Satake Yoshinobu, son of Satake Yoshishige, was chosen to inherit the leadership of the cla ...

and the

Battle of Suriagehara was a battle during the Sengoku period (16th century) of Japan. It was fought at a field called Suriagehara, whose modern location is split between the towns of Inawashiro and Bandai in Fukushima Prefecture. Background The Battle of Suriageha ...

in 1589. After defeating the Ashina clan, Masamune made Kurokawa Castle in Aizu domain his base of operations. File:Take ni Suzume.svg, The emblem ( ''mon'') of the Date clan Date Masamune Battle Standard; Shimazu Matsuhisa (1616-1695) Banner.jpg, Date Masamune

uma-jirushi were massive flags used in feudal Japan to identify a ''daimyō'' or equally important military commander on the field of battle. They came into prominence during the Sengoku period. While many were simply large flags, not very different from ''s ...

(right) Nabeshima Tadanao Battle Standard; Date Masamune (1567-1636) Large Battle Standard.jpg, Date Masamune (1567–1636) uma-jirushi (left)

Service under Hideyoshi

In 1590,

Toyotomi Hideyoshi , otherwise known as and , was a Japanese samurai and ''daimyō'' (feudal lord) of the late Sengoku period regarded as the second "Great Unifier" of Japan.Richard Holmes, The World Atlas of Warfare: Military Innovations that Changed the Cour ...

seized Odawara Castle and compelled the Tōhoku-region ''daimyō'' to participate in the campaign. Although Masamune refused Hideyoshi's demands at first, he had no real choice in the matter since Hideyoshi was the virtual ruler of Japan. Masamune still delayed, infuriating Hideyoshi. Expecting to be executed, Masamune, wearing his finest clothes and showing no fear, faced his angry overlord. Not wanting further trouble, Hideyoshi spared his life, saying that "He could be of some use." Being a major power in northern Japan, Masamune was naturally viewed with suspicion, as any potential rival would be viewed. Toyotomi Hideyoshi reduced the size of his land holdings after his tardiness in coming to the Siege of Odawara against

Hōjō Ujimasa was the fourth head of the later Hōjō clan, and ''daimyō'' of Odawara. Ujimasa succeeded the territory expansion policy from his father, Hojo Ujiyasu, and achieved the biggest territory in the clan's history. Early life and rise In 1538, Uj ...

. In 1591, Masamune forfeited the ancestral land of the Date Clan (present day Date City, Kawamata,

Koori Koori (also spelt koorie, goori or goorie) is a demonym for Aboriginal Australians from a region that approximately corresponds to southern New South Wales and Victoria. The word derives from the Indigenous language Awabakal. For some people ...

, and Kunimi) to Hideyoshi, causing widespread riots. He never regained the territory. After he fought against Kunohe Rebellion, he was given Iwatesawa and the surrounding lands as his home domain. Masamune moved there, rebuilt the

Iwadeyama Castle was a castle in Ōsaki, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. After serving Hideyoshi for a time, Date Masamune was a regional ruler of Japan's Azuchi–Momoyama period through early Edo period. Heir to a long line of powerful ''daimyō'' in the T ...

, renamed it Iwadeyama, and encouraged the growth of a town at its base. Masamune stayed at Iwadeyama for 13 years and turned the region into a major political and economic center. He and his men served with distinction in the Hideyoshi Korean invasions In 1592–1598.

Service under Ieyasu

In 1598, after Hideyoshi's death, Masamune began to support

Tokugawa Ieyasu was the founder and first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan, which ruled Japan from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was one of the three "Great Unifiers" of Japan, along with his former lord Oda Nobunaga and fello ...

—apparently at the advice of

increased the size of his lands again, but was constantly suspicious of Masamune and his policies. Although Tokugawa Ieyasu and other Date allies were always suspicious of him, Date Masamune for the most part served the Tokugawa loyally. In 1600, under Tokugawa eastern army, he fought in Sekigahara Campaign at

Siege of Shiroishi The siege of Shiroishi, in 1600, was one of several feudal Japanese battles leading up to the decisive battle of Sekigahara which ended the period of over 100 years of war, and was immediately followed by the establishment of the Tokugawa shogu ...

and

Siege of Hasedo A siege is a military blockade of a city, or fortress, with the intent of conquering by attrition, or a well-prepared assault. This derives from la, sedere, lit=to sit. Siege warfare is a form of constant, low-intensity conflict characterize ...

. Later, Tokugawa Ieyasu awarded Masamune the lordship of the huge and profitable

Sendai Domain The , also known as the , was a domain of the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan during the Edo period from 1600 to 1871. The Sendai Domain was based at Aoba Castle in Mutsu Province, in the modern city of Sendai, located in the Tōhoku region of the i ...

, which made Masamune one of Japan's most powerful ''daimyō''. Tokugawa had promised Masamune a one-million '' koku'' domain, but, even after substantial improvements were made, the land only produced 640,000 ''koku'', most of which was used to feed the Edo region. In 1604, Masamune, accompanied by 52,000 vassals and their families, moved to what was then the small fishing village of Sendai. He left his fourth son, Date Muneyasu, to rule Iwadeyama. Masamune would turn Sendai into a large and prosperous city. In 1614, he fought in the Osaka campaigns against

Toyotomi Clan The was a Japanese clan that ruled over the Japanese before the Edo period. Unity and conflict The most influential figure within the Toyotomi was Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the three "unifiers of Japan". Oda Nobunaga was another primary ...

. Later in 1616, when Tokugawa Ieyasu was on his deathbed, Masamune visited him and read him a piece of

Zen Zen ( zh, t=禪, p=Chán; ja, text= 禅, translit=zen; ko, text=선, translit=Seon; vi, text=Thiền) is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China during the Tang dynasty, known as the Chan School (''Chánzong'' 禪宗), and ...

poetry. Masamune was highly respected for his

ethics Ethics or moral philosophy is a branch of philosophy that "involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior".''Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' The field of ethics, along with aesthetics, concer ...

; a still-quoted aphorism is, "Rectitude carried to excess hardens into stiffness; benevolence indulged beyond measure sinks into weakness."

Death

In 1636, Masamune died of a combination of esophageal cancer and

peritonitis Peritonitis is inflammation of the localized or generalized peritoneum, the lining of the inner wall of the abdomen and cover of the abdominal organs. Symptoms may include severe pain, swelling of the abdomen, fever, or weight loss. One part o ...

at the age of 68 years. He was returned to Sendai in the same daimyō procession as when he was alive. The

bakufu , officially , was the title of the military dictators of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor, shoguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country, though during part of the Kamakura ...

gave approval for his eldest son,

Date Tadamune was an early Edo period Japanese samurai, and the 2nd '' daimyō'' of the 625,000 ''koku'' Sendai Domain in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan. He was the half-brother of Date Hidemune of Uwajima Domain. Biography Tadamune was born as Tor ...

, to inherit the Date clan territory. Zuiho-den06s3200

Patron of culture and Christianity

Masamune expanded trade in the northeastern Tōhoku region. Although initially faced with attacks by hostile clans, he managed to overcome them after a few defeats and eventually ruled one of the largest fiefdoms of the later

Tokugawa shogunate The Tokugawa shogunate (, Japanese 徳川幕府 ''Tokugawa bakufu''), also known as the , was the military government of Japan during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)"''Tokugawa-jidai''"in ''Japan Encyclopedia ...

. He built many palaces and worked on many projects to beautify the region. He is also known to have encouraged foreigners to come to his land. Even though he funded and promoted an envoy to establish relations with the Pope in Rome, he was likely motivated at least in part by a desire for foreign technology, similar to that of other lords, such as Oda Nobunaga. Further, once Tokugawa Ieyasu outlawed Christianity, Masamune reversed his position, and though disliking it, let Ieyasu persecute Christians in his domain. For 270 years, Tōhoku remained a place of tourism, trade, and prosperity. Matsushima, for instance, a series of tiny islands, was praised for its beauty and serenity by the wandering

haiku is a type of short form poetry originally from Japan. Traditional Japanese haiku consist of three phrases that contain a ''kireji'', or "cutting word", 17 '' on'' (phonetic units similar to syllables) in a 5, 7, 5 pattern, and a ''kigo'', or s ...

poet Matsuo Bashō. He showed sympathy for Christian missionaries and traders in Japan. In addition to allowing them to come and preach in his province, he also released the prisoner and missionary Padre Sotelo from the hands of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Date Masamune allowed Sotelo as well as other missionaries to practice their religion and win converts in Tōhoku. Sanjuanbautista

Masamune notably funded and backed one of Japan's few journeys of far-flung diplomacy and exploration in this period. He ordered the building of the exploration ship ''San Juan Bautista'', using foreign (European)

ship-building Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and other floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to befor ...

techniques. He sent one of his retainers,

Hasekura Tsunenaga was a kirishitan Japanese samurai and retainer of Date Masamune, the daimyō of Sendai. He was of Japanese imperial descent with ancestral ties to Emperor Kanmu. Other names include Philip Francis Faxicura, Felipe Francisco Faxicura, and Phi ...

, Sotelo, and an embassy numbering 180 on a successful voyage to establish relations with the Pope in

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

. This expedition visited such places as the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

and Rome. Previously, Japanese lords had never funded this sort of venture, so it was probably the first successful voyage. At least five members of the expedition stayed in Coria (Seville) of Spain to avoid the persecution of Christians in Japan. 600 of their descendants, with the surname Japón (Japan), are now living in Spain. When the Tokugawa government banned Christianity, Masamune had to obey the law. However, some sources suggest that Masamune's eldest daughter, Irohahime, was a Christian.

Family

Statue-of-Date-Masamune-in-Aobayama-Park-Sendai-2016

* Father:

* Mother:

Yoshihime Yoshihime (義姫, 1548 – August 13, 1623) was a Japanese noble lady and aristocrat from the Sengoku period. She was a daughter of Mogami Yoshimori from the Mogami clan, she married Date Terumune and gave birth to Date Masamune. Yoshihime becam ...

(1548–1623), daughter of

Mogami Yoshimori was a Japanese samurai and 10th head of the Mogami clan. His daughter Lady Yoshi married Date Terumune and gave birth to Date Masamune was a regional ruler of Japan's Azuchi–Momoyama period through early Edo period. Heir to a long li ...

the ''daimyō'' of

Dewa Province was a province of Japan comprising modern-day Yamagata Prefecture and Akita Prefecture, except for the city of Kazuno and the town of Kosaka. Dewa bordered on Mutsu and Echigō Provinces. Its abbreviated form name was . History Early per ...

* Wife:

Megohime was a Japanese noble lady and aristocrat from the Azuchi–Momoyama period to the early Edo period. She is the daughter and only child of Tamura Kiyoaki,Ōshima Kōichi, ''Ichinoseki Domain (Clan Stories Series)'', , page 12 the lord of Miharu ...

, daughter of

Tamura Kiyoaki was a Japanese samurai and head of the Tamura clan. Tamura clan was a daimyō were powerful Japanese magnates, feudal lords who, from the 10th century to the early Meiji period in the middle 19th century, ruled most of Japan from thei ...

owner of

Miharu Castle is a hilltop-style Japanese castle located in the town of Miharu, Tamura District, Fukushima Prefecture, in the southern Tōhoku region of Japan. It also called Maizuru Castle (舞鶴城). Built in 1543, the castle and its surrounding land is m ...

Miharu Domain was a feudal domain under the Tokugawa shogunate of Edo period Japan. Papinot, Jacques Edmond Joseph. (1906). ''Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie du Japon''; Papinot, (2003). It was based at Miharu Castle in southern Mutsu Province in ...

, Mutsu Province * Sibling: Date Masamichi * Concubines: ** Īsaka no Tsubone (1569–1634) ** Shōkoin (1583–1656) ** Oyama no Kata (1587–1668) ** Shōgo'in (d. 1644) ** Okachi no Kata (d. 1669) ** Hosshōin (d. 1664) ** Shinzo no Kata (d. 1612) * Prostitute: Kōnomae (1577–1641) * Children: **

Date Hidemune was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the early Edo period. He was the eldest son of Date Masamune, born in 1591 by Shinzo no Kata (a concubine). Coming of age while living with Toyotomi Hideyoshi, he received a character from Hideyoshi's name and took ...

by Shinzo no Kata **

Irohahime was a Japanese noble lady and aristocrat from the Sengoku period and Edo period. She was the first daughter of Date Masamune and Megohime, as well as the wife of Matsudaira Tadateru, the sixth son of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Her Buddhist name is Tenri ...

by Megohime **

by Megohime ** Date Munekiyo (1600–1634) by Shinzo no Kata ** Date Muneyasu (1602–1639) by Shoukoin ** Date Munetsuna (1603–1618) by Megohime ** Date Munenobu (1603–1627) by Oyama no Kata ** Date Munetaka (1607–1626) by Oyama no Kata ** Mūhime by Oyama no Kata ** Takematsumaru by Megohime ** Date Munezane (1613–1665) by Shōgo'in ** Minehime (1616–1632) married Date Munesane by Okachi no kata ** Date Munekatsu (1621–1679) by Okachi no kata ** Sengikuhime (1626–1655) married Kyogoku Takakuni by Hossoin ** Tsuta married Harada Munesuke by Konomae ** Watari Munemoto (1600–1669) by Konomae

Others

* Aunt:

Onamihime Onamihime (阿南姫, July 4, 1541 – August 30, 1602) was a late-Sengoku period Onna-musha. She was the first daughter of Date Harumune, sister of Date Terumune and aunt of Date Masamune. She was the ruler of Sukagawa castle in Mutsu Province. ...

(1541–1602) daughter of

Date Harumune was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the Sengoku period.Date Terumune was a Japanese samurai clan leader of the Sengoku period. Turnbull, Stephen. (2012) ''Samurai Commanders: 1577-1638,'' Vol, 2, p. 52 He had close relationship with Oda Nobunaga, one of the leading figures of the period. Terumune was the father o ...

and owner of Sukagawa castle in Mutsu. *Wet nurse (foster mother): Katakura Kita (1538–1610), half-sister of

Katakura Kagetsuna was a Japanese samurai of the Katakura clan during the late Sengoku period. Also known by his court title, ''Bichū no Kami'' (備中守), or more commonly, as Katakura Kojūrō. Together with Oniniwa Tsunamoto and Date Shigezane, Kagetsuna was ...

and

Oniniwa Tsunamoto (1549 – July 13, 1640) was a Japanese samurai of the late Sengoku period through early Edo period. He was the son of Oniniwa Yoshinao. His half-sister, Katakura Kita was also Katakura Kagetsuna's half sister. Together with Katakura Kagets ...

also mentor of Kagetsuna and Masamune.

"Three Great Men" of Date clan

(片倉景綱, 1557 – December 4, 1615) was a samurai of the Katakura clan, also known by his court title, Bichū no Kami (備中守), or more commonly, as Katakura Kojūrō. *

Date Shigezane was a Japanese samurai of the late Sengoku through early Edo periods. Founder of the Watari-Date clan. A senior retainer of the Date clan of Sendai, he was a cousin of Date Masamune on his mother's side, and a cousin of Masamune's father Date ...

(伊達成実, 1568 – July 17, 1646). A senior retainer of the

of Sendai, he was a cousin of Date Masamune and founder of the Watari-Date clan. *

(鬼庭綱元) (1549 – July 13, 1640). Deeply trusted by Masamune, he was made a senior retainer at the young age of 35.

Retainers

Oniniwa Yoshinao also known as Oniniwa Sagetsusai was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period who served Date clan. He was deeply trusted by Date Terumune and Date Masamune. Yoshinao at the age of 73, bravely fought to let Masamune go during the Battle of Hi ...

Rusu Masakage was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period through Azuchi-Momoyama period. Served as a retainer of the Date clan Masakage was the uncle of the famous Date Masamune.

* Shiroishi Munezane *

Kokubu Morishige was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku through early Edo period. He was a fifth son of Date Harumune. Morishige, also known by his court title '' Noto no Kami'' 能登守, was the uncle of Date Masamune. He was also the last lord of Matsumori Cas ...

Yashiro Kageyori (1563–1608) was a Japanese samurai of the Azuchi-Momoyama period through the early Edo period. He served the Date clan during the tenure of Date Masamune as lord. Kageyori was also known as Genzaburō (源三郎) and Kageyuhyōe (勘解由兵� ...

Katakura Shigenaga was a Japanese samurai of the Azuchi-Momoyama period through early Edo period. The son of Katakura Kagetsuna, Shigenaga was the second man to bear the common name Kojūrō. His name was originally Shigetsuna; however, to avoid conflict with th ...

Inawashiro Morikuni was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku Period, who served the Date clan. He formerly served with the Ashina but he switched from the Ashina clan to the Date clan when Date clan invaded Mutsu Province. In the Sendai domain The , also known ...

Date clan's prominent castles

: original base of power for the

from 1548 and possibly Masamune's birthplace. *

Tateyama Castle is a Japanese castle are fortresses constructed primarily of wood and stone. They evolved from the wooden stockades of earlier centuries, and came into their best-known form in the 16th century. Castles in Japan were built to guard important or ...

spent retired life in the castle. There is a possibility Date Masamune was born in Tateyama castle. * Obama Castle: Masamune stayed in the castle from 1585 to 1586. * Kurokawa Castle: original base of power for the

from 1589 to 1591. *

: original base of power for the

from 1591 to 1601. *

Aoba Castle 260px, Layout of Aoba Castle is a Japanese castle located in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. Throughout the Edo period, Aoba Castle was home to the Date clan, ''daimyō'' of Sendai Domain. The castle was also known as or as . In 2003, the c ...

: original base of power for the

from 1601. *Wakabayashi Castle: Masamune's fortified residence but now Miyagi prison is on site, He spent most of his time in the castle after he reconstructed it in 1627. *

Nihonmatsu Castle is a Japanese castle located in what is now the city of Nihonmatsu, northern Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. Throughout most of the Edo period, Nihonmatsu Castle was home to the Niwa clan, ''daimyō'' of Nihonmatsu Domain. The castle was also known ...

*Hachōme Castle:

Date Sanemoto was a Japanese samurai and commander of the Sengoku period. He was the third son of Date Tanemune His son Date Shigezane was also an important vassal of the Date clan. Date Tanemune tried to adopt him to the Uesugi clan The is a Japanese s ...

Matsumori Castle , also known as , was a Japanese castle in Mutsu Province. Located in modern-day Izumi-ku, Miyagi Prefecture, the castle belonged to the Kokubu clan, which ruled the area before the entry of the Date clan. Matsumoridate was also known as Flying ...

Fukushima Castle was a Japanese castle that formed the administrative center of Fukushima Domain, a feudal domain of the Itakura clan, located in the center of what is now the city of Fukushima in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. Nothing remains of the castle t ...

Date Harumune was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the Sengoku period.Date Sanemoto was a Japanese samurai and commander of the Sengoku period. He was the third son of Date Tanemune His son Date Shigezane was also an important vassal of the Date clan. Date Tanemune tried to adopt him to the Uesugi clan The is a Japanese s ...

Shiroishi Castle is a flatland-style Japanese castle in what is now the city of Shiroishi, Miyagi. During the Edo period, it was the castle of the Katakura clan, who were hereditary retainers of the Date clan of Sendai Domain. During the Boshin War, it was also t ...

* Iwakiri Castle:

Rusu Masakage was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period through Azuchi-Momoyama period. Served as a retainer of the Date clan Masakage was the uncle of the famous Date Masamune.

*Watari Castle: Watari Motomune, Katakura Kagetsuna

In popular culture

Like many figures of the Sengoku period, Date Masamune has been featured in literature, film, manga, anime, video games, and other media. There are a few prominent and notable examples. In the Iver P. Cooper ''1632'' series book '' 1636: Seas of Fortune'', Masamune is a prominent character in the short novel ''Rising Sun'' which is set in the North Pacific region focusing on Japan's expansion into North America. Masamune is the protagonist of the anime series ''

Masamune Datenicle ''Masamune Datenicle'' is a Japanese anime series produced through the cooperation of the anime studio Gaina and the city of Date, Fukushima. It is one of a number of anime produced by Gaina in promotion of Fukushima Prefecture. Otherwise know ...

'', produced by the city of Date in collaboration with Fukushima Gainax in order to promote the city's historic connection to the Date Clan. In this series, he is depicted as a child taking on the role of leader of his clan for the first time. Previous leaders of the Date Clan manifest in order to help him prepare for his first battle. In the video game series ''

Samurai Warriors is the first title in the series of hack and slash video games created by Koei's Omega Force team based closely around the Sengoku ("Warring States") period of Japanese history and it is a sister series of the ''Dynasty Warriors'' series, relea ...

'' ( Koei) Masamune Date is featured as a playable character. In his first appearance, he was a very young man and fought with dual wooden swords, later, his appearance was changed to be a bit older and his weapons were switched out for a more European style sword and a pair of pistols. He is also a prominent character in the ''

Sengoku Basara is a series of video games developed and published by Capcom, and a bigger media franchise based on it, including four anime shows, an anime movie, a live action show, a magazine series, a trading card game, and numerous drama CDs, light nov ...

'' series ( Capcom), and has been featured in every major release, portrayed as a reckless, but astute general with a penchant for using humorous English verses, he is also notable for carrying six katanas, which he can equip as "dragon's claws", wielding them between his fingers, three in each hand. The

professional wrestling Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring or ...

organization

Osaka Pro Wrestling Osaka Pro Wrestling is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in 1998 by Super Delfin. The promotion held a major flagship event called the Osaka Hurricane each year from 2003 to 2012 and also hosted the fourth edition of the Sup ...

featured two wrestlers using the ring names

Masamune , was a medieval Japanese blacksmith widely acclaimed as Japan's greatest swordsmith. He created swords and daggers, known in Japanese as ''tachi'' and ''tantō'', in the ''Sōshū'' school. However, many of his forged ''tachi'' were made into ...

and Hideyoshi, who together form the

tag team Tag team wrestling is a type of professional wrestling in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. Tag teams may be made up of wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of establish ...

"Sengoku". In '' Oda Cinnamon Nobunaga'', Masamune is reincarnated as a French bulldog nicknamed Boo in modern-day Japan. In ''Ginga Densetsu Weed: Orion'' Masamune's dog version is the main antagonist. His father, Terumune and Kojuuruu also play roles in the comic. In the popular

Netflix Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fi ...

miniseries '' Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan'', Date Masamune is portrayed by actor

Hideaki Itō is a Japanese actor. Biography Ito is best known for starring in the hit franchise ''Umizaru'' film series which consistently topped the Japanese box office of the year. He has also head-lined many other major Japanese films such as Takashi M ...

. In the video game '' Persona 5 Strikers'' (known as ''Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers'' in Japan), Masamune is referenced multiple times upon the cast arriving in Sendai. The statue at Aobayama Park is visited immediately upon arriving in the city, and a shrine that appears similar to his gravesite also appears. In the video game '' AI: The Somnium Files'', the protagonist, Kaname Date, has his left eye removed prior to the game's story, which is likely a reference to Masamune, himself.

Ken Watanabe is a Japanese actor. To English-speaking audiences, he is known for playing tragic hero characters, such as General Tadamichi Kuribayashi in '' Letters from Iwo Jima'' and Lord Katsumoto Moritsugu in ''The Last Samurai'', for which he was nomi ...

played the role of Date Masamune in the 1987

NHK , also known as NHK, is a Japanese public broadcaster. NHK, which has always been known by this romanized initialism in Japanese, is a statutory corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee. NHK operates two terrestr ...

Taiga drama Dokuganryū Masamune.

References

External links

The official website of the Date clan

Zuihoden – The mausoleum of Date Masamune.
When he died, twenty of his followers killed themselves (committed

junshi refers to the medieval Japanese act of vassals committing seppuku (a voluntary suicide) for the death of their lord. Originally it was only performed when the lord was slain in battle or murdered. Background The practice is described by Chines ...

) to serve him in the next life. They lay in state at Zuihōden
Aoba-jo (Sendai Castle) website

An example of Date-influenced architecture

– (Japanese)-Kabuto(Samurai Helmet) Papercraft {{DEFAULTSORT:Date, Masamune 1567 births 1636 deaths Daimyo Date clan History of Christianity in Japan Japanese politicians with disabilities Sendai Warlords Deified Japanese people People from Yamagata Prefecture

Early life and rise

Service under Hideyoshi

Service under Ieyasu

Death

Patron of culture and Christianity

Family

Others

"Three Great Men" of Date clan

Retainers

Date clan's prominent castles

In popular culture

References

Further reading

External links