Honda Tadakatsu

本多忠勝

["Samurai General", "One of Tokugawa's Four Heavenly Kings", "The Warrior Who Surpassed Death"]

Born Mar 17, 1548

Mikukawa (Mikawa Province), Sengoku Japan

Passed Away Dec 03, 1610 Kuwana Castle (Ise Province), Edo Japan

Lifespan 62 years old

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Notice / Correction

"A warrior who hesitates to die is already cut down; enter the spear-points as if walking through morning dew."

Archival Overview

Fabled Japanese samurai warrior and general of Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of the 'Four Heavenly Kings of the Tokugawa', who fought in over fifty-seven battles without ever receiving a significant wound.

Biographical Record

Honda Tadakatsu (1548–1610) wielded the famous 'Tonbokiri' (Dragonfly Cutter)—one of the Three Great Spears of Japan, so sharp that a dragonfly landing on its blade was said to be sliced in two. He wore a distinctive horned kabuto helmet adorned with deer antlers into battle.

Oda Nobunaga praised Tadakatsu as 'a samurai among samurai', while Toyotomi Hideyoshi called him 'the greatest warrior in the East'. At the Battle of Mikatagahara (1573), he guarded Ieyasu's retreat against Takeda Shingen, and at Sekigahara in 1600, his tactical flank charges helped secure the Tokugawa shogunate.

Key Life Milestones

1570

Battle of Anegawa

Single-handedly charged the Asakura vanguard, enabling the Tokugawa forces to flank and break the enemy line.

1600

Battle of Sekigahara

Commanded the vanguard flanking maneuvers that secured Tokugawa Ieyasu's undisputed mastery of Japan.

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial

Jodo-ji Temple
Kuwana (Mie), Japan

                         GPS: 35.0667, 136.6833                    

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