Narimatsu Nobukatsu

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone or spelling.
You can assist by editing it now. A how-to guide is available. (December 2007)

Narimatsu Nobukatsu (成松信勝, Narimatsu Nobukatsu^? 1540-1584) a retainer under the powerful Ryūzōji clan throughout the latter half of the Sengoku period of Feudal Japan. Being regarded by his lord and fellow retainers as a warrior of incredible valiance, Nobukatsu was awarded the title of 'Tōtōmi no kami' after consecutive displays of skill under the rulership of Ryūzōji Takanobu, the final ruling head of Ryūzōji and justifiably considered as a man of great capability and ambition. At the crucial Battle of Iyama in 1570--a conflict at which Takanobu was outnumbered 1 to 12 against the powerful Ōtomo clan of Bungo Province--Nobukatsu, under the command of Nabeshima Naoshige, pierced into the enemy encampment under the cover of night and personally slew the enemy commander, Ōtomo Chikasada, bringing his head back to Takanobu, effectively shattering the morale of the enemy, who did not expect any form of counterattack as they assaulted the Ryūzōji's Saga Castle. Following with such a display of ability during the Battle of Okinawate in 1584, Takanobu would be unexpectedly assassinated by a legion of Shimazu soldiers, and Nobukatsu, hearing of such a report, ragefully charged upon the successful attackers within Ryuzoji's command post, cutting down the majority of them single-handedly; but, as he was already wounded from the course of the battle prior to this incident, he was shortly cut down by the Shimazu soldiers, thus honorably passing in death under the service of his lord, who he was resolved to die with as he gave such a final stand of conviction.