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Hanbei Takenaka painting
Takenaka Shigeharu
Personal Information
Born: September 27, 1544
Place of Birth: Mino province (?)
Died: July 6, 1579
Cause of Death: Illness
Place of Death: Unknown
Style name: (Shigeharu) 竹中 重治
(Hanbei) 半兵衛
Served: Saitō
Oda
Participation(s): Siege of Inabayama Castle
Battle of Anegawa

Takenaka Shigeharu was a very talented strategist who served the Saitō and Oda clans.

Biography[]

Life[]

Shigeharu, also known as Hanbei, was the son of Takenaka Shigetomo. He began his career as a retainer of Saitō Yoshitatsu and was the son-in-law of Ando Morinari. He was present for the Siege of Inabayama Castle,[1] and when the castle fell, Shigeharu became a retainer of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and was present in the Oda campaigns against the Azai and Asakura in 1570. He led troops against the Azai clan of Omi at the request of the Rokkaku.

Serving the Oda[]

Shigeharu served Hideyoshi as an adviser, though he was forced to retire from active service due to illness. At this time he was given the temporary custody of the young son of Kuroda Kanbei, Kuroda Nagamasa. Kanbei was captured and imprisoned by the Araki family in 1578, an event that prompted Nobunaga to suspect that Yoshitaka was in fact colluding with his captors. He therefore ordered that Kanbei's son be put to death. Shigeharu is said to have put off carrying out this command until Nobunaga at length dropped the matter, and his ward, the future Kuroda Nagamasa, was spared.[2]

Death[]

In July 6, 1579 Shigeharu's illness grew worse and he passed away.[3]

Family[]

Father

  • Takenaka Shigetomo

Brother

  • Takenaka Kyusaku

Items[]

Armor[]

Double Scale: Armor used by Takenaka Shigeharu. The armor was covered with little made to look like fish scale and then attached with black lacquer. The Takenaka crest was engraved on the gloves and sleeves.

Gallery[]

Sources[]

  1. Samurai Archives, Takenaka Hanbei
  2. Samurai Archives, Takenaka Hanbei
  3. Samurai Archives, Takenaka Hanbei
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