Ogasawara Nagatoki
Encyclopedia
was a daimyo
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...

(feudal lord) of Shinano Province
Shinano Province
or is an old province of Japan that is now present day Nagano Prefecture.Shinano bordered on Echigo, Etchū, Hida, Kai, Kōzuke, Mikawa, Mino, Musashi, Suruga, and Tōtōmi Provinces...

 during the Sengoku Period
Sengoku period
The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...

 in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

. In 1542, Shinano Province was invaded by Takeda Shingen
Takeda Shingen
, of Kai Province, was a preeminent daimyo in feudal Japan with exceptional military prestige in the late stage of the Sengoku period.-Name:Shingen was called "Tarō" or "Katsuchiyo" during his childhood...

, and Ogasawara allied with Murakami Yoshikiyo
Murakami Yoshikiyo
Murakami Yoshikiyo a retainer of the Japanese clan of Uesugi during the Sengoku Period of the 16th century. Yoshikiyo followed in fighting against both Takeda Nobutora and his son Takeda Shingen. Yoshikiyo was also a very close ally under Uesugi Kenshin.He fought at the Battles of Kawanakajima in...

, Suwa Yorishige
Suwa Yorishige
For the samurai by the same name who died in 1335, see Suwa Yorishige .' was a Japanese samurai....

, and Kiso Yoshiyasu in an attempt to stop him. They met Takeda Shingen
Takeda Shingen
, of Kai Province, was a preeminent daimyo in feudal Japan with exceptional military prestige in the late stage of the Sengoku period.-Name:Shingen was called "Tarō" or "Katsuchiyo" during his childhood...

's forces at the Battle of Sezawa
Battle of Sezawa
The battle of Sezawa was one of many battles fought by Takeda Shingen in his bid to take control of Shinano Province. Here he was opposed by the combined forces of Ogasawara Nagatoki, Suwa Yorishige, Murakami Yoshikiyo, Kiso Yoshiyasu, and Tozawa Yorichika. They gathered a force of 12000 Shinano...

 on March 9, 1542, and were defeated.

Following this defeat, and the conquest of his lands, Ogasawara allied himself with Uesugi Kenshin
Uesugi Kenshin
was a daimyo who ruled Echigo province in the Sengoku period of Japan.He was one of the most powerful lords of the Sengoku period. 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...

, Takeda's primary rival. He fought alongside Takatō Yoritsugu in 1545, ultimately failing in their defense against the first siege of Takatō Castle
Siege of Takato (1545)
The 1545 siege of Takatō castle marked the first time Takatō had been besieged. Takeda Shingen, continuing his sweep through the Ima Valley of Shinano Province, seeking to take control of the entire province, defeated Takatō Yoritsugu, the castellan. Takatō had relied on support from his allies,...

. Ogasawara was defeated by Shingen again several years later, in the 1548 Battle of Shiojiritoge
Battle of Shiojiritoge
The 1548 battle of Shiojiritoge was one of many battles fought by Takeda Shingen in his bid to conquer Japan's Shinano Province. It took place soon after Shingen suffered a devastating loss in the battle of Uedahara; he sought revenge, and to return to a string of victories.Shingen launched a...

, in which he was hit by a surprise attack at dawn; many of his men were killed as they reached for weapons and armor. His losing streak continued the following year, when Shingen seized a number of fortresses, including Fukashi (now Matsumoto Castle
Matsumoto Castle
, also known as the because of its black exterior, is one of Japan's premier historic castles. It is located in the city of Matsumoto, in Nagano Prefecture and is within easy reach of Tokyo by road or rail....

), in the Siege of Fukashi
Siege of Fukashi
The 1549 siege of Fukashi was executed by Takeda Shingen during his campaign to take Shinano province. Fukashi was one of several minor fortresses controlled by Ogasawara Nagatoki and lost to Shingen....

.

This final, bitter loss caused Ogasawara Nagatoki to retreat to Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...

, where he taught horsemanship and archery (Kyūdō
Kyudo
, literally meaning "way of the bow", is the Japanese art of archery. It is a modern Japanese martial art and practitioners are known as .It is estimated that there are approximately half a million practitioners of kyudo today....

) until his murder in 1583. Some of his descendants became daimyo
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...

 in the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....

, most notably as rulers of the Kokura Domain
Kokura Domain
The ' was a Japanese domain of the Edo period. It was headquartered what is now the city of Kokura, in Kyūshū. In the late Edo period, it was also called "Kawara-han" and then "Toyotsu-han" .-List of lords:...

.

Ogasawara clan genealogy

Nagatoki was part of the senior branch of the Ogasawara.

The Ogasawara clan
Ogasawara clan
The was a Japanese samurai clan descended from the Seiwa Genji. The Ogasawara acted as shugo of Shinano province in the medieval period The was a Japanese samurai clan descended from the Seiwa Genji. The Ogasawara acted as shugo (governors) of Shinano province in the medieval period The was a...

 originated in 12th century Shinano province
Shinano Province
or is an old province of Japan that is now present day Nagano Prefecture.Shinano bordered on Echigo, Etchū, Hida, Kai, Kōzuke, Mikawa, Mino, Musashi, Suruga, and Tōtōmi Provinces...

. They claim descent from Takeda Yoshikiyo and as part of the Seiwa-Genji. The great grandson of Yoshikiyo, Nagakiyo
Ogasawara Nagakiyo
a retainer of the Japanese clan of Minamoto during the Heian period of Japan. Nagakiyo became rather famous for being the founder of the well known clan of Japan, the Ogasawara. Nagakiyo was born within the prefecture of Yamanashi...

, was the first to take the name Ogasawara. The area controlled by the senior branch of his descendants grew to encompass the entire province of Shinano.

Nagakiyo's grandson, Ogawawara Hidemasa (1569–1615), served Ieyasu; and in 1590, Hidemasa received Koga Domain
Koga Domain
The ' was a Japanese domain of the Edo period, located in Shimōsa Province . The first lord of Koga was Ogasawara Hidemasa, who was granted it as a fief following Tokugawa Ieyasu's move to the Kantō region.-List of lords:...

 in Shimōsa province (20,000 koku). In 1601, Ieyasu transferred Hidemasa to Iida Domain in Shinano (50,000 koku); then, in 1613, he was able to return to the home of his forebears, Fukashi Castle
Matsumoto Castle
, also known as the because of its black exterior, is one of Japan's premier historic castles. It is located in the city of Matsumoto, in Nagano Prefecture and is within easy reach of Tokyo by road or rail....

 (80,000 koku), now known as Matsumoto Castle
Matsumoto Castle
, also known as the because of its black exterior, is one of Japan's premier historic castles. It is located in the city of Matsumoto, in Nagano Prefecture and is within easy reach of Tokyo by road or rail....

.

This senior branch of the fudai Ogasawara from the beginning were daimyō
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...

at Fukashi; then, in 1617, the daimyō was transferred to Akashi Domain
Akashi Domain
The was a feudal domain of Japan. It occupied Akashi District and surroundings in Harima Province. Fudai and Shimpan daimyo were assigned, and frequently reassigned, to Akashi. The domain had its administrative headquarters at Akashi Castle.Akashi was established in 1617 when Ikeda Mitsumasa was...

 in Harima province
Harima Province
or Banshu was a province of Japan in the part of Honshū that is the southwestern part of present-day Hyōgo Prefecture. Harima bordered on Tajima, Tamba, Settsu, Bizen, and Mimasaka Provinces. Its capital was Himeji....

 (120,000 koku). In the years spanning 1632 through 1868, the descendants of this branch of the Ogasawara were daimyō at Kokura Domain
Kokura Domain
The ' was a Japanese domain of the Edo period. It was headquartered what is now the city of Kokura, in Kyūshū. In the late Edo period, it was also called "Kawara-han" and then "Toyotsu-han" .-List of lords:...

 (150,000 koku) in Buzen province
Buzen Province
was an old province of Japan in northern Kyūshū in the area of Fukuoka Prefecture and Ōita Prefecture. It was sometimes called , with Bungo Province. Buzen bordered on Bungo and Chikuzen Provinces....

; and Nagatoki's descendants would be part of this line.

The Ogasawara would prosper during the years of Tokugawa shogunate
Tokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...

. During the Edo period, the Ogasawara were identified as one of the fudai
Fudai
was a class of daimyo who were hereditary vassals of the Tokugawa in Edo period Japan. It was primarily the fudai who filled the ranks of the Tokugawa administration.-Origins:...

or insider daimyō clans which were hereditary vassels or allies of the Tokdugawa, in contrast with the tozama
Tozama
A ' was a daimyo who was considered an outsider by the rulers of Japan. The term came into use in the Kamakura period and continued until the end of the Edo period.-Edo period:...

or outsider clans.

The heads of fudai Ogasawara clan branches would be ennobled in the Meiji period
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...

.
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