Ishida Mitsunari

Ishida Mitsunari was born in 1559 as the second son of Ishida Masatsugu, who was a retainer for the Azai clan. His childhood name was Sakichi. He met Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1577, when the latter was the daimyō of Nagahama. He became a loyal samurai officer of Hideyoshi and participated in many battles and campaigns, such as the Siege of Tottori, the Siege of Takamatsu, the Battle of Shizugatake, the Battle of Komaki and Nagakute, and the Siege of Oshi. He also served as a kenchi (survey magistrate) and a bugyō (top administrator) of Hideyoshi's government. He was known for his talent in financial management and calculation. He was appointed as the daimyō of Sawayama Castle in 1590 and ruled over a domain of 180,000 koku. He was also given the court title of Jibu-no-shō. After Hideyoshi's death in 1598, Ishida maintained his position in the government, but real power was exercised by a council of five regents, acting in the name of Hideyoshi's infant son Hideyori. The foremost among the regents was Tokugawa Ieyasu, who had a different vision for the future of Japan than Ishida. In 1599, Ishida attempted to plot against Tokugawa by sowing dissension among other lords, but his plan was exposed and he was spared by Tokugawa's mercy. The following year, he persuaded Uesugi Kagekatsu, one of the five regents, to rebel against Tokugawa. While Tokugawa's troops were diverted fighting Uesugi in the north, Ishida rallied many of the other lords to his side and attacked Tokugawa's position from the rear. He became the commander of the Western army, which faced the Eastern army led by Tokugawa in the decisive Battle of Sekigahara on October 21, 1600. The battle was a close contest, but Ishida's fate was sealed when several of his crucial allies, such as Kobayakawa Hideaki, betrayed him and joined Tokugawa's side. Ishida's army was crushed and he fled the battlefield, only to be captured by a local lord and delivered to Tokugawa. He was executed by beheading on November 6, 1600, in Kyoto. His death marked the end of the Sengoku period and the beginning of the Tokugawa shogunate, which would rule Japan for over 250 years. Ishida Mitsunari is remembered as a loyal and devoted follower of Hideyoshi, a brilliant and capable administrator, and a courageous and honorable warrior. He is also regarded as a tragic hero who fought for his ideals and beliefs until the end.