Yoshiaki Mogami(1546-1614)

02/08/2023

Nobunaga’s Ambition:© KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
Nobunaga's Ambition:Innovation. General BGM in the beginning.

Yoshiaki Mogami is a warlord of Dewa.

Dewais now Yamagata and Akita Prefectures.

The position of the Mogami family in Nobunaga's Ambition His position in "Nobunaga's Ambition" (strategy game)

Starting Nobunaga's Ambition with the Mogami family is always a tough battle.
This is because in every era, there are few talented people and strong enemies in the neighborhood.
Yoshiaki is a first-rate talent, but the other members of the Mogami family are less capable (in-game evaluation).
Before Yoshiaki comes of age, the Uesugi and Takeda families in their prime are often nearby.
After Yoshiaki's coming of age, the Oda, Hashiba, Tokugawa, and Date families are often even more powerful.
The player's skill will be put to the test. (However, there are many more desperate forces to contend with.)

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Nobunaga's Ambition:Innovation. General BGM at the end of the game.

Another name

Tiger general.

Mr. Salmon.

Family Crest

Representative Episodes.

He united Dewa by making full use of battle and wits.

He was a master general of both intellect and courage, and realized the largest block of the Mogami family.

Yoshiaki Mogami is not well known outside of Yamagata and Akita prefectures.
However, he is known to Japanese who are familiar with the Warring States period as one of the top warlords.
Not only was he an outstanding general and politician, he was also a renowned poet.

Episodes of battles

He excelled at negotiated settlements, deception, hype, and ways to avoid internal divisions and armed conflict between enemies.

He also had the foresight to focus on firearms and collective tactics.

However, he also had strong arm strength, and a 1.8-kilogram command pole and a 200-kilogram stone that he lifted in a contest of strength with his vassals remain. (Lord Yoshiaki's force stone)

He was an intelligent general, but he also had a brave and daring side, and there is an episode in which his subordinates stopped Yoshiaki when he was about to rush to the front line.

When he was attacked by dozens of bandits when he was 16 years old, he stood in the front line himself and stabbed one of them to death and seriously injured two others, despite being wounded.

Lord Yoshiaki's force stone.

Political Episodes

During Yoshiaki's reign, many internal political reforms were carried out and the territory developed.

  • Development of flood control and agriculture.
  • Development of commerce and trade through the construction of shipping routes.
  • Revitalization of commerce through tax exemption.
  • Discovery of silver mines and copper mines.

Among the warlords in the midst of a time of devastation, there is a record of a particular emphasis on ethics.

  • Do not harm women, children, or the sick.
  • No looting or rough treatment, even in enemy territory.
  • Spend money on work things and be modest in clothing.
  • Do not drink too much alcohol.
  • Do not cheat your fellow citizens or civilians (although the enemy is cheating all the time…).

Perhaps this is why there were few rebellions among the territory's people and the loyalty of his men was high.

Other Episodes

Salmon

He is also known as "Salmon-sama" in modern times because of his love of salmon.
When he acquired a territory where he could catch salmon, he wrote a letter to his retainer expressing his joy at being able to eat salmon.
Later, the territory was taken away from him, but he recovered it after more than 20 years of negotiations.
Furthermore, the reason why he has been able to recruit a man whose name contains the kanji for salmon is said to be because "he likes salmon.

Posthumously, he receives a bad reputation.

The Mogami family fell during the Edo period (1603-1867), and documents were scattered and fabricated by later rulers.

Furthermore, Yoshiaki was regarded as a villain in the 1987 historical drama "Dokuganryu Masamune," in which Date Masamune was the main character.
Because of this, some Japanese have a bad image of Yoshiaki.
(Actually, Date Masamune is a yankee and Yoshiaki is a good man. )

However, among the general public in Akita and Yamagata prefectures, Yoshiaki is talked about as a feudal lord, and there have been protest movements against NHK.

On December 1, 1989, two years after the broadcast, Yamagata City opened a facility to honor Yoshiaki and the Mogami family.

Family Episodes

Yoshihime(Younger sister)

Date Masamune's mother Yoshihime was Yoshiaki's younger sister.
When the Date and Mogami families fought a war, Yoshihime personally rode her horse to the battlefield to bring peace.
For this reason, she has been praised as a woman of character in later generations.
In the subsequent obstacles, Yoshihime did her best to solve the diplomatic problems between the Date and Mogami families.
(Originally, the Date and Mogami families were in frequent disputes.)

The Tragedy of the Komahime(Daughter)

He had a daughter named Komahime whom he adored.
She was called "the most beautiful girl in the East" and was doted upon by her parents.
However, Toyotomi Hidetsugu hears of her beauty and orders her to become his concubine.

Yoshiaki continued to refuse Toyotomi Hidetsugu's request.
But then Toyotomi Hidetsugu assumed the position of Kanpaku(The chief adviser to the Emperor.) and
could not resist his power.

When Komahime arrived at the residence of Toyotomi Hidetsugu, he was suspected of treason and executed.
Komahime was beheaded like the other concubines by order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
She did not know Toyotomi Hidetsugu's face, had never married, and was not his official concubine.

Yoshiaki pleaded for his life with the help of many influential people, including Tokugawa Ieyasu, the future ruler of Japan.
However, he was unable to do so in time and Komahime was executed.
(Because of this, Yoshiaki was the first to side with the Tokugawa family in the later war between the Tokugawa and Toyotomi families.)

Komahime" was 15 years old when she was executed.
Her death was a dignified one, befitting the daughter of a feudal lord.

Komahime's body, along with those of the other victims, was thrown into a hole in the ground in a messy manner, and a stone monument inscribed with the word "Rubbish" was left behind.
(The execution of his concubine and other atrocities were unparalleled at the time, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi fell out of favor.)

Komahime's mother died two weeks later.
The cause of her death has been suggested as suicide or death by starvation.

Yoshiaki lost his daughter and wife at the same time for an unreasonable reason.

He later wrote a poem.
"I can only reflect on this tragedy as retribution for my previous life."
He did not have the military strength or power to resent the Toyotomi family, an absolute powerhouse.
Perhaps he resented such a self most of all.

The Tragedy of the Yoshiyasu(Son)

Yoshiaki was also struck by tragedy in his later years.

Yoshiaki banished his eldest son, Yoshiyasu.
The reason is not clear, but is said to be as follows.

  • Tokugawa Ieyasu wanted his second son to succeed to the Mogami family.
  • Power struggle within the Mogami family
  • Parent-child discord

Shortly thereafter, Yoshiyasu was assassinated.
In the diary left behind by Yoshiyasu, there were writings praying for his father's military fortune and his desire to reconcile with his father, which made Yoshiaki weep deeply when he saw them.
This was eight years after the tragedy of Princess Komahime.

Last days and after death

After the tragedy of Yoshiyasu, he became ill and weak but focused on the development of his territory, dying about 10 years later in 1614 at the age of 69.

Yoshiaki left this poem on his deathbed. (Free translation)

All my life I have cared for those around me.
And today, my soul will return to heaven.
When I look back on my 69 years of life, I feel both empty and content.
Perhaps empty if I feel empty. If I feel satisfied, I am satisfied.
It depends on my mind.

Ah, the sky and the moon are beautiful today.  And the snow is pure.
Now, let's applaud the beautiful blooming flowers and go to sleep.

The Mogami family became a powerful Tokugawa Shogunate feudal lord in Yoshiaki's reign, but fell during the reign of Yoshiaki's grandson.

Although Yoshiaki is not well known throughout Japan
He is spoken of as a great lord by the people of Yamagata Prefecture.
And although he was a "tragic general" to those familiar with the Warring States period, he is a warlord whose familiar episodes, such as salmon, remain in the hearts of the people.

Think of him when you have salmon in your meal.

If he were to appear in the Fate series, "innocent monster" would be granted to him.

Stone statue of Mogami Yoshiaki, created in 1977.

Mogami