Maeda Keiji
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Maeda Keiji (前田 慶次 ???? - 1605 or 1612) A feudal Japanese warrior who lived during the Sengoku period to the Azuchi-Momoyama period of the 16th century. He was born to the Takigawa Clan of Owari, originally the son of Kazumasu Takigawa. He was the adopted son of Maeda Toshihisa. Served under Oda Nobunaga along with his uncle Maeda Toshiie. Keiji was actually named by Toshihisa as successor to himself; however Toshiie approached Oda Nobunaga to name him as successor instead. When the house of Maeda was passed along to his uncle, Maeda Toshiie, Keiji broke away from his clan and Oda, and was forced to live the life of a kabukimono.
Keiji is well known for not getting along with his uncle. The relationship became much more deteriorated after Toshiie's succession of Maeda clan. Keiji was known for having caused many mischiefs that jeopardized Maeda Toshiie's position in Toyotomi government while he still lived in his home province, Kaga. While Toshiie was known to have many attempts of assasination failed on Keiji, as he felt that Keiji was the threat to his position as the head of his clan. Keiji later chose to end this conflict by leaving his home province in favour of Kyoto.
Keiji rode a legendary horse named Matsukaze. The horse was said to be monstrous in size and have immense strength. Because of that, the horse was able to carry Keiji's large frame. The horse and the master were very close to each other as two were never seen apart.
While in Kyoto, Keiji met Kanetsugu Naoe, Kagekatsu Uesugi's trusted assistant. The two became close friends. He then agreed to join Kanetsugu in his invasion of Aizu. During the retreat from the failed invasion, Keiji was given the task of leading the rear guard. Riding his horse Matsukaze into battle and brandishing a two-pronged spear, he made a splendid show of force. Due to Keiji's prowess, the Uesugi Army returned their base unscathed.
Afterwards, he returned to the capital and devoted himself into arts and literature. Keiji was barred from Toyotomi’s Kyushu campaign for his wild way. When the Tokugawa challenged the Uesugi, he once again fought with Uesugi’s army. In the battle against the Mogami, he broke through the enemy base with only eight riders, and shattered their formation.
Keiji's armour can still be seen today at the Miyasaka Museum.
[edit] Keiji Maeda in Japanese Popculture
He is also a playable character in the Playstation 2 video game Samurai Warriors and is considered one of the stronger characters along with Honda Tadakatsu. Keiji/Keijiro Maeda appears in Onimusha Blade Warriors as well as the first Onimusha game, under the name: Yumemaru (a little boy that Princess Yuki takes care of). Maeda Keiji is also a secret playable character in Kessen III through loading a Samurai Warriors data from the memory card.
There is a manga comic about Keiji Maeda by Tetsuo Hara (who is famous for his Hokuto No Ken manga and anime) it was produced in around 1993 and go by the name Hana No Keiji.
Maeda Keiji is a new character in Sengoku Basara 2, which is the sequel of Capcom's Sengoku based hack and slash game, Sengoku Basara. He is voiced by Masakazu Morita. He wields a giant nodachi.
