Author Archives: Kanbe Munemori

  Samurai traditionally have several names. (learn more) They change their name to fit different situations and life stages. This was normal within the Samurai rank.   Mori Ranmaru 森 蘭丸 was one of the famous samurai page who served Oda Nobunaga 織田 信長 and died young. Ranmaru and his younger two brothers named Rikimaru 力丸 and Bōmaru 坊丸, perished defending Nobunaga against Akechi Mitsuhide 明智 光秀 during the Honnō-ji Incident.   The transition of his names are as follows. 乱、乱丸、乱法師→森乱成利→森蘭丸長定→森蘭丸長康     ⒈　乱、乱丸、乱法師     Ranmaru was born in 1565 as the third boy of Mori Yoshinari 森 可成. He had several childhood name, Ran 乱, Ranmaru 乱丸 and … Continued

  Samurai traditionally have several names. (learn more) They change their name to fit different situations and life stages. This was normal within the Samurai rank.   Takeda Shingen 武田 信玄 was one of the most powerful samurai of the Sengoku period who fought with Oda Nobunaga 織田 信長 and Tokugawa Ieyasu 徳川家康. While chiefly remembered for his prowess on the battlefield, Shingen is also regarded as an extremely skillful administrator who fostered the growth of local industries and trade; his rule saw a marked rise in the standard of living of Kai Province. Shingen is famed for his honorable conduct, his military expertise, a long-standing rivalry with Uesugi Kenshin … Continued

    Samurai traditionally have several names. (learn more) They change their name to fit different situations and life stages. This was normal within the Samurai rank.   Uesugi Kenshin 上杉 謙信 was one of the most powerful samurai of the Sengoku period who fought with Oda Nobunaga 織田信長. While chiefly remembered for his prowess on the battlefield, Kenshin is also regarded as an extremely skillful administrator who fostered the growth of local industries and trade; his rule saw a marked rise in the standard of living of Echigo. Kenshin is famed for his honourable conduct, his military expertise, a long-standing rivalry with Takeda Shingen 武田 信玄, his numerous campaigns … Continued

   Samurai traditionally have several names. (learn more) They change their name to fit different situations and life stages. This was normal within the Samurai rank.   Date Masamune 伊達 政宗 was a regional strongman of Sengoku period through early Edo period. Heir to a long line of powerful daimyo in the Tōhoku region, he went on to found the modern-day city of Sendai 仙台. An outstanding tactician, he was made all the more iconic for his missing eye, and Date was often called Dokuganryū 独眼竜, or the “one-eyed dragon”. Even Toyotomi Hideyoshi 豊臣 秀吉 was afraid of his military braveness. The transition of his famous names are as follows. … Continued

Samurai traditionally have several names. (learn more) They change their name to fit different situations and life stages.This was normal within the Samurai rank. Sanada Yukimura 真田 幸村 was called “A Hero who may appear once in a hundred years,” “Crimson Demon of War” and “The Last Sengoku Hero.” One of the powerful general, Shimazu Tadatsune 島津 忠恒, called him the “Number one warrior in Japan.” He was especially known as the leading general on the defending side of the Siege of Osaka. The transition of his names are as follows. 弁丸→真田源次郎信繁→真田左衛門佐信繁→真田幸村 ⒈　弁丸 He was born in 1567 as a son of Sanada Masayuki 真田 昌幸.  “Maru 丸” used in his childhood name was popular … Continued