character/[id]

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PERSON
Hōjō Ujiyasu
Hōjō Ujiyasu
Lion of Sagami
1515-1571 · 享年 56歳
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系
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生
生涯
The third head of the Later Hōjō clan during the Sengoku period. Inheriting from his father Ujitsuna, he aggressively expanded Hōjō territory toward dominance of the Kantō region. In 1545, at the Battle of Kawagoe, he achieved one of Japan's most stunning military reversals: routing a coalition force of roughly 80,000 (under Uesugi Tomosada, Uesugi Norimasa, and Ashikaga Haruuji) with only 8,000 troops in a night attack. He simultaneously contended with Takeda Shingen, Uesugi Kenshin, and Imagawa Yoshimoto, using diplomacy and stratagem to maximize Hōjō territory. Equally skilled in governance, he reduced tax burdens on retainers, systematized land surveys, and implemented a 40/60 tax split favoring farmers, earning him the reputation of a benevolent administrator. He fortified Odawara Castle into a virtually impregnable stronghold. He died in 1571 at 57, passing leadership to his son Ujimasa.
人
Personality
A commander who combined cool strategic vision with bold decisiveness. Skilled equally in warfare, governance, and diplomacy, he was known for caring about his people's livelihoods. Deeply trusted by retainers, he was widely praised as a ruler who governed for the people.
義
Historical Significance
His victory at Kawagoe secured Hōjō dominance over Kantō. His people-first governance became a model for regional administration, and his development of Odawara's castle town anticipated early modern castle-town planning.
話
Famous Anecdotes
其 一
'The Lion of Sagami' — Hojo Ujiyasu's Control of Kanto and the Tripartite Alliance
Hojo Ujiyasu fiercely contested control of Kanto with Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen, earning the epithet 'The Lion of Sagami.' In the Night Battle of Kawagoe in 1551, he annihilated the vastly superior Ogigayatsu Uesugi army with a surprise night attack, consolidating control of Kanto. He also formed the Tripartite Alliance with the Takeda and Imagawa to secure his rear, and expanded influence across all of Kanto. Known for good governance, he also achieved outstanding results in domestic administration including land surveys and tax system reform.
其 二
Hojo Ujitsuna and the Establishment of 'Later Hojo' — From Ujitsuna to Ujiyasu
Hojo Ujitsuna, as the legitimate son of Ise Shinkuro (Hojo Soun), consolidated the foundation of the Later Hojo clan. By changing the family name from 'Ise' to 'Hojo,' he claimed connection to the prestigious Kamakura shogunate's Hojo clan, elevating his political authority. In 1524, he captured Edo Castle and accelerated expansion into Kanto, bringing Sagami and Musashi under his control. He passed a robust structure to his son Ujiyasu, laying the foundation for the Later Hojo's greatest era.
其 三
The Era of Hojo Ujimasa — The Later Hojo's Peak and Hideyoshi's Unification
Hojo Ujimasa succeeded his father Ujiyasu to lead the Later Hojo clan at its zenith. However, resisting Toyotomi Hideyoshi's push for nationwide unification, he was besieged by Hideyoshi's forces at the Siege of Odawara in 1590. After about 100 days of holding out, he surrendered and was ordered to commit suicide along with his brother Ujiteru. Known for the anecdote of 'Ujimasa the two-rice-bowl man' (mocking his indecisiveness for pouring miso soup twice over his rice), he nonetheless demonstrated considerable political skill as ruler of Kanto.
其 四
The End of the Later Hojo — Surrender of Odawara Castle and Extinction
Hojo Ujinao succeeded his father Ujimasa to become the last head of the Later Hojo clan. In Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Siege of Odawara (1590), he held out for over 100 days before ultimately surrendering the castle. While his father Ujimasa and uncle Ujiteru were ordered to commit suicide, Ujinao — as Tokugawa Ieyasu's son-in-law — was spared and exiled to Mount Koya. However, he died of illness at Koya the same year, effectively ending the Later Hojo clan.
地
Related Places — 1
史
Odawara Castle
神奈川県
Overconfident in Odawara's impregnability, he refused submission to Hideyoshi. After the one-night castle appeared and Date Masamune submitted, all hope was lost. He was ordered to commit seppuku after surrender, ending a century of Hojo rule.
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