Honda Tadakatsu

Lore & Background

Honda Tadakatsu was born in 1548 in Kuramae, Nukata, Mikawa Province, the eldest son of Honda Tadataka. The Honda clan was one of the oldest Anjō fudai families serving Tokugawa Ieyasu since he was in Anjō. Tadakatsu participated in his first battle in 1560 at the Battle of Washizu Fort, accompanying his father. At age 14 in 1561, he recorded his first kill in battle — when his uncle killed an enemy samurai and asked Tadakatsu to take the head as a trophy, Tadakatsu refused, charging into enemy ranks to make his own kill. He became head of the core branch of the Honda clan. During the Ikkō-ikki rebellion, he abandoned his Jōdo Shinshū faith for Jōdo-shū to stay loyal to Ieyasu, joining Ina Tadatsugu, Sakai Tadatsugu, Mizuno Sanzaemon, Torii Mototada, Ōkubo Tadakatsu, and Ishikawa Tadanari to suppress the rebels. In June 1564, he was chosen over Hachiya Sadatsugu to lead the attack on Yoshida Castle, forcing its surrender. In 1566, at age 19, he was promoted to Hatamoto and given command of 54 cavalry soldiers.

In Their Own Story

At the Battle of Anegawa in 1570, Tadakatsu was placed on the left flank with Ōkubo Tadayo. As the Tokugawa army was pushed back by the 10,000-strong Asakura army, Tadakatsu suddenly charged alone on horseback against them. Panicked, Ieyasu led his forces to counter the advance and save Tadakatsu, and they defeated the Asakura army. There is a report of single combat between Tadakatsu and a giant Asakura warrior named Magara Naotaka, but the duel was cut short as the Asakura army began to retreat. After dealing with the Asakura, Tadakatsu and Yasumasa struck the right flank of Azai Nagamasa's formation, helping overcome the Azai army. In 1572, at the Battle of Hitokotosaka, Tadakatsu gained recognition from enemy forces for his antler helmet and Tonbo-giri spear, staving off charges by Baba Nobuharu's units and breaking through Takeda encirclement attempts. At the Battle of Mikatagahara in 1573, he commanded the left wing, warding off the first wave before the Tokugawa forces were overrun. He fought alongside Sakakibara Yasumasa against Oyamada Masayuki while Ishikawa Kazumasa covered Ieyasu's retreat, and the Tokugawa forces withdrew safely due to Tadakatsu's dexterous performance organizing the cover. Later that year, he and Yasumasa captured Nagashino Castle and many other castles in Tōtōmi Province from the Takeda clan. At the Battle of Nagashino in 1575, Honda commanded a rank of musketeers; units under him faced Yamagata Masakage, who was killed by a shot from Tadakatsu's musketeers. When Naitō Masatoyo's 1,500 soldiers broke through to the third fence, Tadakatsu, Yasumasa, and Osuga Yasutaka blocked his way. Tadakatsu took his spear and personally engaged Masatoyo's soldiers on the frontline until the corps was annihilated and Masatoyo captured. After the battle, Tadakatsu and Yasumasa attacked and captured Suwahara Castle. In 1581, Tadakatsu participated in the attack on Tanaka Castle, climbing the wall with Matsudaira Ietada, Sakakibara Yasumasa, and Ii Naomasa. Later at the Siege of Takatenjin, he helped storm the castle and kill Takeda general Okabe Motonobu. After Takeda Katsuyori's death in 1582, Ieyasu assigned Tadakatsu command over 60 members of the Asari clan led by Asari Masatane. After the Honnō-ji Incident in 1582, Tadakatsu accompanied Ieyasu on an arduous journey from Sakai back to Mikawa, fighting off Ochimusha-gari outlaws alongside Sakai Tadatsugu and Ii Naomasa, sometimes paying bribes of gold and silver. Arthur Lindsay Sadler said Tadakatsu was 'repelling the bandits' often during this journey. The attacks ended when they reached Kada, where Kōka ikki samurai helped them kill the outlaws and escorted them to Iga Province.

Reader's Guide

Honda Tadakatsu's allegiance is absolute to Tokugawa Ieyasu, whom he served from his youth. His motivation stems from the samurai code of bushido, prioritizing honor and service over personal gain or safety. Throughout his life, he participated in 57 military campaigns and never suffered a single wound. Key relationships include his bond with Ieyasu, built on decades of shared campaigns from the Battle of Washizu Fort in 1560 through the aftermath of the Honnō-ji Incident in 1582. He fought alongside Sakakibara Yasumasa, Ii Naomasa, and Sakai Tadatsugu as one of the Tokugawa Four Heavenly Kings. His evolution represents the consolidation of military power that allowed Ieyasu to eventually dominate Japan.

Did You Know?

• Honda Tadakatsu never suffered a single wound despite participating in 57 military campaigns throughout his life.
• At age 14 in 1561, he refused to take a trophy head from his uncle's kill, instead charging into enemy ranks to make his own kill.
• At the Battle of Anegawa in 1570, he charged alone against a 10,000-strong Asakura army, panicking Ieyasu into leading a counterattack to save him.
• At the Battle of Nagashino in 1575, his musketeers killed Yamagata Masakage, and Tadakatsu personally engaged Naitō Masatoyo's soldiers on the frontline with his spear.
• After the Honnō-ji Incident in 1582, he fought off Ochimusha-gari outlaws during Ieyasu's dangerous journey from Sakai back to Mikawa.