Asahina Yoshihide (朝比奈 義秀), also known as Asahina Saburō (朝比奈 三朗), was a Japanese warrior of the early 13th century, and the son of Wada Yoshimori[1][2]. His name (also written with the characters 朝夷奈 (Asaina)) stems from the fact he used to live in Awa no Kuni's (安房) Asaina-gun (朝夷奈郡). Though very likely a historical figure, Yoshihide appears in literature and in Kabuki as a somewhat superhuman legendary character. According to these, his mother was famous amazon Tomoe Gozen, and he had superhuman strength which he used to accomplish a number of stunning feats.
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Asahina's name is associated with some incredible feats. According to the Azuma Kagami, he and future shogun Minamoto no Yoriie, who were good friends, one day were together in Kotsubo[2]. Yoriie said he had heard what a good swimmer Yoshihide was, and challenged him to give a demonstration of his prowess[2]. Immediately, Asahina jumped into the sea and soon re-emerged with two or three sharks in his fists[2]. Asahina is also mentioned in the Soga Monogatari as having competed for strength with Soga Goro Tokimune[2].
Finally and most famously, he is said to have opened the Asaina Pass by himself in one night, thus giving this extremely important pass his name[1][2].
A retainer of Minamoto no Yoriie, Yoshihide fought alongside his father and Yoriie in a revolt against the Hōjō in 1213[2]. It was he who raided and burned the Ōkura Bakufu, seat of Minamoto no Yoritomo's government. Defeated, according to the Azuma Kagami the 38-year-old Yoshihide fled to Awa no Kuni with 500 horsemen[2]. From this moment, his whereabouts are unknown but, according to the Wada family records (Wada Keizu (和田系図)), he fled first to Awa no Kuni, and then to Korea[2].