Ashikaga Yoshiakira, Second Ashikaga Shogun (July 4, 1330 – December 28, 1367) Ashikaga Yoshiakira, the second Ashikaga Shogun The second Ashikaga Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiakira was born the son of the founding first Shogun, Ashikaga Takauji, and Akahashi (Hojo) Toshi. The politically powerful Hojo clan had been hereditary regents since [...]

Ashikaga Yoshihisa, The 9th Ashikaga Shogun (December 11, 1465 - April 26, 1489) Ashikaga Yoshihisa was the 9th Shogun of the Ashikaga Shogunate. The birth of Ashikaga Yoshihisa in late 1465 would lead to the Onin War, and the Sengoku period. Ashikaga Yoshihisa, The 9th Ashikaga Shogun [...]

Ashikaga Yoshinori, the 6th Ashikaga Shogun (July 12, 1394 – Assassinated July 12, 1441) Ashikaga Yoshinori was the son of the Third Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. Yoshinori was invested with the title of the sixth Shogun on the day of his predecessor, Yoshimochi’s death through a lottery-like system where the [...]

Date Masamune (September 5, 1567 - June 27, 1636)   Date Masamune Date Masamune was known as Dokuganryu, the “One Eyed Dragon of the North”. Masamune was an outstanding tactician, a brilliant leader, a fearless warrior and the lord of Sendai. He was respected amongst the samurai as being [...]

Akiyama Nobutomo (1531- December 23, 1575) Akiyama Nobutomo There are ways for a brave samurai to die. To be killed in battle, lying face down is the ideal way, or to cut oneself open in the practice known as seppuku is also deemed acceptable. To die in bed, lying [...]

Ashikaga Yoshiaki, 15th Ashikaga Shogun (December 5, 1537 – October 19, 1597) Ashikaga Yoshiaki Ashikaga Yoshiaki, the 15th and final Shogun of the Ashikaga clan was born to the 12th Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiharu in 1537. His father was forced to retire due to a power struggle between his Regent, [...]

Ashikaga Takauji　(August 18, 1305 - June 7, 1358) Ashikaga Tadauji, the first of the Ashikaga Shogun, and one of history’s leading samurai commanders, was said to have been exceedingly brave and in total control of himself in battle, completely unafraid of death, merciful and tolerant towards his enemies and opponents, kind and generous [...]

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the Third Ashikaga Shogun (September 25, 1358 - May 31, 1408)   Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the Third Ashikaga Shogun, architect of the Golden Pavilion, and whose villa location became the namesake of the Muromachi Period, was born September 25, 1358. Ashikaga Yoshimitsu Ashikaga Yoshimitsu’s father, [...]

Ashikaga Yoshimasa, the 8th Ashikaga Shogun. (January 20, 1463 – January 27, 1490) Ashikaga Yoshimasa was the son of the 6th Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshinori. His elder brother, the 7th Shogun, Yoshikatsu, had died following a horsing accident aged 10 in August of 1443, and so Yoshimasa was invested as Shogun at the age of [...]

Ankokuji Ekei (1539-November 6, 1600) Ankokuji Ekei was a Rinzai sect Buddhist monk, the abbot of the Tofuku-ji Temple, one of Kyoto’s Five Great Zen temples, and a diplomat serving the powerful Mori clan of southwestern Japan. Ankokuji Ekei meddled in the affairs of the samurai. Politically astute, he was also seen as both [...]