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During the Sengoku period, Fukushima Prefecture was divided into three regions, just as it is today: Kaido (Hamadori), Sendai (Nakadori), and Aizu, where feudal lords and local lords were fighting to expand their influence
Most of these local lords were descendants of vassals who were given territories after the Kamakura shogunate conquered the Oshu Fujiwara clan (Oshu War)
Then, in the second half of the 16th century, the Ashina clan of Aizu and the Date clan of the north fought over the Senju region, and local lords repeatedly gathered and dispersed
"Highly esteemed by Takeda Shingen" Ashina Moriuji (1521-1580)
The Ashina clan was a branch of the Miura clan, descended from the Kanmu Heishi clan. They were given Aizu by the Kamakura shogunate and moved from Ashina in Sagami, where they founded the Ashina family
Portrait of Ashina Mori (owned by the Historiographical Institute, University of Tokyo)
The 16th head of the family, Moriuji, claimed to be the guardian of Aizu, but was influenced by the powerful Date Tanemune. However, he solidified his position as a daimyo by siding with his son, Harumune, and winning the Tenbun Rebellion, a conflict between father and son in the Date clan
In fact, Moriuji had intended to side with his father, Tanemune, but after clashing with the Tamura clan, who were on Tanemune's side, he ended up sideing with Harumune, which led to Harumune's victory
Advance from Aizu to Sendai
Kurokawa Castle (Aizu-Wakamatsu Castle), now known as Tsuruga Castle
Moriuji, who had Kurokawa Castle (Aizu-Wakamatsu Castle) as his base, plotted to advance into the world of Senju, and formed alliances with distant feudal lords such as Hojo Ujiyasu of Sagami and Takeda Shingen of Kai, to check the Satake clan of Hitachi, who were blocking the advance of Senju in the Ashina region. It is said that Takeda Shingen, among others, named Moriuji as an outstanding military commander, along with "Akai Naomasa of Tamba, Azai Nagamasa of Omi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu of Mikawa."
Mori was also exceptional in domestic affairs, securing income through gold mine development and the development of logistics systems. He also gathered all the children in his household, calling them the "Fudanshu," and listened to their stories. He promoted those who showed promise as military commanders, working to develop talented people
Mori's retirement and the issue of succession
Having firmly established his control over Aizu, Moriuji retired in 1561 and handed over the family headship to his eldest son, Morioki, but he effectively retained real power as head of the family
However, in the same year that the Nikaido and Tamura clans of Sendo were defeated, Morioki suddenly died. Moriuji had no other sons, so he chose Nikaido Moritaka, who was held hostage, as his successor, but this caused opposition within the family
In 1580, Moriuji passed away at the age of 60, and the Ashina clan declined in the ensuing succession dispute, eventually falling into ruin after a major defeat against the Date clan in the Battle of Suriagehara
Aizuwakamatsu Castle＜Information＞
Name: Aizu-Wakamatsu Castle (Tsuruga Castle)
Address: 1-1 Otemachi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture 965-0873
Yoshitane Soma (1548-1635): "Repeated deadly battles with Masamune Date"
During the Sengoku period, the Kaido was divided into two parts, with the Iwaki clan in the south and the Soma clan in the north, who controlled Mutsu Nakamura
Portrait of Soma Yoshitane, the 16th head of the Soma clan (from "Portraits of the Sōma clan's successive feudal lords")
The Soma clan is said to be descendants of Taira no Masakado of the Kanmu Heishi clan, and the Soma Nomaoi ritual, which has been held since before the Kamakura period and continues to this day, originates from when Masakado let wild horses loose in his territory for military training. Mounted warriors wearing armor and carrying fluttering flags bravely compete to grab the sacred flag
Soma Nomaoi Equestrian Statue (in front of JR Haranomachi Station)
The 16th head of the family, Yoshitane, followed his father, Moritane, and fought in battles all over the country from a young age, always being involved in battles. He clashed swords with Date Masamune, whose territory bordered his own, on many occasions, and although he sometimes faced the threat of annihilation, he fought through the Sengoku period and built the foundations of the Soma Nakamura Domain
An episode from the Keicho Dewa War involving Masamune Date, who was his arch enemy
Before the Battle of Sekigahara, Date Masamune, accompanied by a small entourage, requested passage through the Soma domain and lodging. Masamune had been ordered by Ieyasu to invade the Uesugi domain from his home province, but because Sendai was Uesugi territory, he needed to pass through the Soma domain on the Kaido
Within the Soma clan, there were voices calling for Masamune to be killed and long-standing grudges to be avenged, but Yoshitane allowed Masamune to pass through and stay overnight after his senior retainer, Mizutani Taneshige, advised against ambush-fighting the enemy in a desperate situation
After Sekigahara, the clan was in danger of being demoted!
Yoshitane indicated he would join the Eastern Army but did not make any notable contributions, and because the Soma clan at the time was a vassal of the Satake clan of the Western Army, he was on the verge of being stripped of his title, but he appealed for the revocation. With the intercession of Honda Masanobu, a senior Tokugawa vassal, the revocation was somehow revoked, and he was assured of his 60,000 koku fief. Yoshitane died at the age of 88, and according to his will, he was buried facing north, with his armor and weapons on him
Soma Nakamura Castle Ruins <Information>
Name: Soma Nakamura Castle Ruins
Address: Nakamurakitamachi, Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture, 976-0042
The Tamura clan is said to be descendants of Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, Japan's first Shogun, and among the Seven Highway Families, many of whom were local lords who were vassals of the Kamakura Shogunate, the Tamura clan was unique
Miharu Castle Ruins
Kiyoaki was the 25th head of the family and made Miharu Castle his residence. He was highly regarded as a military commander with great intelligence and martial arts skills, and it is said that he had the foresight to marry his only daughter, Princess Mego, to Masamune in order to ensure the survival of the Tamura clan in the warring states of Sendai
The Tamura family after Kiyoaki's death
Other than Princess Aiko, they had no children, and when Kiyoaki died suddenly in 1586, the Tamura clan was divided over the succession of the family headship. This led to the Battle of Koriyama, which was fought between the combined forces of Soma, Satake, Ashina, and Nikaido and the combined forces of Date and Tamura, and the combined forces of Date and Tamura were victorious, further strengthening the ties between the Tamura and Date clans
There were other famous Sengoku warlords in Fukushima Prefecture, where many small powers were located. In particular, the Nakadori region, known as Sendo, was under the influence of the surrounding feudal lords, such as the Date, Ashina, and Satake, and small powers fought each other. However, the only one that continued to exist until the end of the Edo period was the Soma clan of the Nakamura Domain in the Hamadori region
I am a former Edo guy who loves Morioka, loves the six prefectures of Tohoku, and loves history, gourmet food, travel, sports, alcohol, and singing. We'll introduce you to some interesting, delicious, and good things about Tohoku!
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