A fierce warrior known as the foremost senior retainer of the Kuroda clan, nicknamed "Spear Matabei." After falling out with Kuroda Nagamasa he became a ronin, then fought for the Toyotomi side in the Sieges of Osaka (1614-1615). Active as commander of the Goto unit in the Winter Siege, in the Summer Siege at the Battle of Domyoji he engaged fiercely with Mizuno Katsushige and Date Masamune's forces of the Tokugawa side amid the fog, meeting a heroic end at fifty-five. He is celebrated as one of the "Five Heroes of Osaka Castle" and one of the last brave warriors of the Toyotomi cause.

A tough warrior who valued fierce bravery and loyalty. He preferred direct combat over scheming, and maintained his loyalty to the Toyotomi even as a ronin.

Died in battle as one of the last fierce warriors of the Toyotomi side in the Osaka Summer Siege. As one of the "Five Heroes of Osaka Castle," he is repeatedly depicted in later literature and popular culture as a warrior who embodied the beauty of noble defeat.