In the Sengoku period of Japan, there was one invincible warlord who carved his name into this tumultuous era – Honda Tadakatsu.
His name is widely known throughout Japan and among history enthusiasts.
Honda Tadakatsu was a military commander who flourished from the Sengoku period to the early Edo period, known as one of the “Four Heavenly Kings” of Tokugawa Ieyasu.
He was greatly trusted by Ieyasu and was frequently appointed due to his bravery and loyalty.
He was known for his calm intelligence and boasted a lifetime undefeated record.
This testifies to his brilliance as a strategist who controlled the battlefield not only with his combat skills but also with tactics and calculations.
His life is akin to a historical drama. Let us trace the details of this hero’s life.
Early Life and Career
Honda Tadakatsu (1548-1610) was a warlord from the Sengoku period to the early Edo period, hailing from Mikawa Province (now Aichi Prefecture).
His father, Honda Shigetsugu, was a samurai of the Tokugawa clan.
He was born with the name “Tadamasa”, served as a vassal of Tokugawa Ieyasu, and was highly regarded by him.
Ieyasu’s trust in him was strong, and he established deep ties with the Tokugawa family, such as marrying Ieyasu’s eldest daughter, Matsuhime.
Since his youth, he excelled in martial arts and participated in numerous battles with Ieyasu.
He first took to the battlefield at the tender age of 13, in a skirmish around a castle called Ootaka.
A “skirmish” refers to small-scale battles that take place before a major battle begins.
This is a tactical method to test the enemy’s strength or turn the tide of war in one’s favor.
This battle was a prelude to the famous Battle of Okehazama.
When Honda Tadakatsu fought for the first time in this battle, he also underwent an important rite of passage known as “genpuku”.
The “genpuku” ceremony signifies a boy’s transition into adulthood and recognition as a social male. By completing this ceremony, he firmly established his position as a vassal of Ieyasu.
Unbeatable Bravery: The Military Record of Honda Tadakatsu
Honda Tadakatsu, as a vassal of Tokugawa Ieyasu, participated in 57 battles in his lifetime, earning the nickname “Oni Honda” for his bravery.
Here are some of his main military exploits:
1.Battle of Mikatagahara (1573):
In this battle, the allied forces of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu fought against Takeda Shingen.
Tadakatsu threw himself into the heart of this battle, demonstrating his bravery.
Honda Tadakatsu threw himself into the midst of this battle, but the Battle of Mikatagahara ended in an overwhelming victory for Takeda Shingen, resulting in a defeat for Ieyasu.
Although Ieyasu’s side lost this battle, Tadakatsu fought valiantly and continued to serve Ieyasu thereafter.
2.Battle of Komaki and Nagakute (1584):
In this conflict between Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu, Tadakatsu held his position and served as a crucial fortress for the Tokugawa army.
3.Siege of Odawara (1590):
In this battle where Toyotomi Hideyoshi attacked the Hojo clan, Tadakatsu led his troops and performed impressively.
4.Battle of Sekigahara (1600):
In this battle between the Eastern Army (Tokugawa Ieyasu) and the Western Army (Ishida Mitsunari), Tadakatsu performed brilliantly as a member of the Eastern Army and contributed significantly to the victory of the Tokugawa clan. He fought vigorously at the forefront of the battlefield, earning praises that “The main battleground of Sekigahara was due to Honda Tadakatsu”.
Through these battles, Tadakatsu solidified the trust of Tokugawa Ieyasu and earned the title of “Strongest in Sengoku” from his unmatched military record.
His achievements in his lifetime were unsurpassable.
The story behind the birth of ‘Oni Honda’
‘Oni Honda’ is an alias for Honda Tadakatsu, symbolizing his ferocious courage and invincible record in battle.
This alias was given due to his overwhelming power when defeating enemies, and his fearsome style of combat.
He was known for commanding the front lines on the battlefield, earning his reputation through his unyielding attitude and bold tactics.
Tadakatsu preferred to fight on the front lines, demonstrating his initiations of attacks to his troops. This was a tactic he used to boost the morale of his soldiers and embodied his strength and courage.
His presence was akin to that of a demon god on the battlefield, showing strength so terrifying, it lived up to his name.
Also, the alias ‘Oni Honda’ symbolizes Tadakatsu’s indomitable spirit and his stance of fighting to the end even in harsh battlefield conditions.
Despite sacrificing his body in many battles, he always continued to fight on the front lines, building his unbeatable record.
In this way, ‘Oni Honda’ is an alias that symbolizes Honda Tadakatsu’s strength, courage, and indomitable fighting spirit.
The proof of the strongest in the Warring States, the Battle of Sekigahara
The Battle of Sekigahara took place in 1600 between the Western army (led by Ishida Mitsunari) and the Eastern army (led by Tokugawa Ieyasu), a critical battle that marked the end of the Warring States period and the beginning of the Edo period.
Honda Tadakatsu was part of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s Eastern army in this battle, and his military exploits were greatly recognized.
Tadakatsu played a vital role in this battle, commanding the front lines.
In particular, his valor was fully demonstrated in the Battle of Sekigahara, and he was hailed as “The main battlefield of Sekigahara is due to Honda Tadakatsu.”
Despite the early struggles of the Western army, the Eastern army gradually turned the situation in their favor, ultimately achieving victory.
One of the reasons for this victory was the daring attacks led by Tadakatsu, and his firm defense of the Eastern army’s position.
After this battle, Tadakatsu was promoted to a feudal lord as a reward from Ieyasu, and was granted 50,000 koku.
His accomplishments in this battle vividly demonstrate his valor and loyalty, one of his achievements throughout the Warring States period.
The Personality of Honda Tadakatsu
Honda Tadakatsu’s personality can be inferred from his deeply loyal attitude, his honest character, and his politeness.
He was respected by many warlords of his time, and it is said that he was deeply trusted by Tokugawa Ieyasu due to his dignity and sincerity.
Loyal: Tadakatsu was deeply loyal to Ieyasu, and served him throughout his life.
He was always by Ieyasu’s side in difficult situations such as the defeat at the Battle of Mikatagahara and the Battle of Komaki-Nagakute, and continued to fight for Ieyasu.
Honest character:
Tadakatsu was a serious and honest person, and was diligent in his work and battles.
He was also good at deep thinking and tended to prefer direct action rather than scheming.
Polite:
Tadakatsu valued manners and never forgot to show respect in his interactions with others.
Therefore, he was respected by warlords of his time and was deeply loved by his friends and subordinates.
He also had deep trust from Ieyasu, married Ieyasu’s eldest daughter, Matsuhime, and deepened their relationship.
In his later years, he governed Okazaki Castle, which was given to him by Ieyasu, and it is said that he was a fair and kind lord to his people.
In this way, the personality of Honda Tadakatsu is formed by his loyalty, honesty, and politeness, and this is why he survived the Warring States period and is considered one of the strongest warlords.
The End of Honda Tadakatsu
Honda Tadakatsu died at Kuwana Castle in 1610 (at the age of 63).
His later years were spent as a feudal lord of the Okazaki domain in Owari Province, which was given to him by Tokugawa Ieyasu, and he was able to lead a stable life.
Honda Tadakatsu fought in 57 battles throughout his life, but never suffered a severe injury.
The Battle of Sekigahara and the Siege of Osaka are among the many battles he participated in, and his bravery and stout-heartedness are remembered. One day, while carving wood, he accidentally cut his finger deeply.
He uttered a word, “If I’m injured like this, it might be the end of Honda Tadakatsu…”
A few days later, he quietly passed away.
The warrior, regarded as invincible to such an extent, sensed the end of his life from a small mistake during his hobby of wood carving, and that premonition became reality.
Anime and “The Proof of the Strongest in the Sengoku Period: Honda Tadakatsu”
The life of Honda Tadakatsu teaches us about the chaos and devastation of the Sengoku period and how people survived it, through his invincible strength and the humanity that lay behind it.
His existence is the proof of “the strongest of the Sengoku”, not just in terms of fighting, but in the pursuit of ideals and leadership of people.
This is why his character is featured in anime, manga, games, and dramas, depicting his exploits.
“Kaze no Yari” – This is a manga with Honda Tadakatsu as the protagonist, serialized on Shogakukan’s manga app, “Manga One”. The manga depicts the life of an unrivaled spearman.
“Sengoku BASARA” – CAPCOM’s popular game “Sengoku BASARA” features many Sengoku warlords as characters, including Honda Tadakatsu, who also appears in anime and manga based on it.
Here, he is depicted as a stalwart warrior wielding a large spear.
“Sengoku Musou” – CAPCOM’s popular game series. Participating from “Sengoku Musou: Moushouden”, he is a powerful character with a high level of performance overall, based on his anecdotes.
“Touken Ranbu” – Honda Tadakatsu also appears in the game and anime “Touken Ranbu,” which features characters personified as swords.
In the storyline, he is depicted as the original owner of the famed spear “Tonbokiri” that he is said to have cherished.
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