Ishida Mitsunari

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Ishida Mitsunari (石田三成 1560 - November 6, 1600) was a samurai who led the West side in the Battle of Sekigahara following the Azuchi-Momoyama period of the 17th century. His childhood name was Sakichi (佐吉).

He was born in the south of Omi province (which is now Shiga prefecture) second son of Ishida Masatsugu, who was a retainer for the Asai family and, in 1573 at the Asai's defeat, retreated from service. According to legend, he was a monk in a Buddhist temple before he served Toyotomi Hideyoshi, but the accuracy of this legend is today doubted, since it appeared first in the Edo period.

From when he was very young, he served Toyotomi Hideyoshi. When they first met, Hideyoshi was the daimyo of Nagahama. When Hideyoshi engaged in a campaign in the Chūgoku region, Mitsunari assisted his lord in attacks against castles like the Tottori castle and Takamatsu castle (in present-day Okayama).

After Hideyoshi seized power, Mitsunari was known as a talented financial manager. He was known for his knowledge and skill at calculation. From 1585 on, he was made administrator of Sakai province, role he took together with his elder brother Ishida Masazumi. He was appointed one of the five bugyo, top administrators of Hideyoshi's government. Hideyoshi made him a daimyo of Sawayama (now a part of Hikone), Omi province, a five hundred thousand koku fief (now a part of Hikone). Sawayama Castle was known as one of the best-fortified castles in those days.

Mitsunari was known for his rigid character. He was a leader of bureaucrats in Hideyoshi's government and though had many friends he was on bad terms with some daimyo known as good warriors, including Hideyoshi's relative Fukushima Masanori. After Hideyoshi died, their conflict grew. The central point of their conflict was the question whether Tokugawa Ieyasu could be relied on as a supporter of the Toyotomi government, whose nominal lord was the child Toyotomi Hideyori.

In 1600 the Battle of Sekigahara was fought as a result of this political conflict. Mitsunari succeeded in organizing the army led by Mori Terumoto. But the coalition following Tokugawa Ieyasu was greater, and the battle resulted in the defeat of Mitsunari.

After his defeat, he sought to escape, but was caught by villagers. He was executed by decapitation in Kyoto, along with other daimyos of the West army, like Konishi Yukinaga and Ankokuji Ekei. After execution, his head, severed from his body, was placed on a stand for all the people in Kyoto to see. However, a rumor has it that, after a few days, his head mysteriously dissapeared.

Mitsunari had three sons (Shigeie, Shigenari and Sakichi) and three daughters (only the younger girl's name is known, Tatsuko) from his wife and another child from a mistress.

[edit] In fiction

The story of James Clavell's novel Shogun is based on the strife between Ishida (Ishido, in the novel) and Tokugawa (Toranaga) (although in the end the wooden saw is not as effective) over the Taiko's son.

In Capcom latest saga Onimusha: Dawn Of Dreams, Mitsunari was depicted wielding a tessen. Just like the history facts stated, he, in the public, acted as the head loyalist & confidant of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, but secretly made Hideyoshi his puppet, and absolutely obeyed his demonic master, Fortinbras, doing everything in his bidding. Mitsunari/Claudius was the one who is responsible of all the insidious plots and chaos that took place recently. He was actually signing a pact with Claudius the Genma/Demon Chancellor, who was a member of the Genma Triumvirate, allowing his soul and flesh been taken over completely by Claudius as a guise (unlike Rosencrantz, who forcefully possessed Luis Frois or Ophelia, who took the form of Yodo-Dono), whose ultimate goal was to resurrect his evil master, the Genma God-Fortinbras by using Hideyoshi as his vessel. Towards the end of the epic, Mitsunari almost annihilated the protagonists, before his trusted vassal Shima Sakon, who was previously possessed, jumped into the scene and stabbed him, forcing Claudius to get out of Mitsunari's body in his true form, a demonic centipede Genma. However, he was eventually vanquished by a Tendai warrior buddhist monk of Mount Hiei named Nankobo Tenkai.

Mitsunari is one of the main characters of Koei's Kessen. He is the first of three commanders under the Toyotomi forces depicted opposing Tokugawa Ieyasu. Whether or not he survives the Battle of Sekigahara and defeats Ieyasu depends on the Player's actions.

Mitsunari is also a playable character in Koei's Samurai Warriors 2. He wields a folded fan, similar to his depiction in Shin Onimusha : Dawn of Dreams, although he is slightly good instead of totally evil when compared with his Capcom counterpart (He is still a rather arrogant strategist). He is also seen to be forming a friendship bond with Sanada Yukimura and Naoe Kanetsugu. Towards the end of his story, he admitted that he managed to changed his arrogant ways thanks to the influence of his friends.