Lord of Kakunodate Castle
Tozawa Moriyasu (1566–1590) was a warlord of northern Dewa, closely associated with Kakunodate Castle, where he was born and which he came to rule at the age of thirteen, in 1578, in place of his ailing elder brother. Nicknamed 'Yasha Kurō' or 'Oni Kurō' for his fierce fighting spirit, he extended Tozawa influence towards the Ōmagari plain in opposition to the Onodera, defeated Andō Chikasue at Karamatsuno in 1583 and retook Yodogawa Castle, then intervened in the conflicts of the Andō clan. In 1590, he went to the siege of Odawara, disguised with a small escort, met Toyotomi Hideyoshi and obtained confirmation of his domain, but died of illness at the age of 25 during the campaign. The Tozawa retained Kakunodate until their transfer in 1602, when the castle passed to the Satake.
Born and settled at Kakunodate, Moriyasu made this hilltop castle the base for rapid campaigns towards the Senboku plain. The Tozawa castle town lay in the present-day Tazawako area; it predates the Kakunodate of the Satake and Ashina, known today for its samurai residences.
Born at Kakunodate Castle, son of Tozawa Michimori.
At the age of 13, succeeds his elder brother Morishige, whose health was fragile, as head of the clan and lord of Kakunodate.
Advances into the Ōmagari plain and comes into conflict with the Onodera clan.
Battle of Karamatsuno: defeats Andō Chikasue and retakes Yodogawa Castle.
Battle of Akeno: marches on Numadate Castle and captures it.
Minato War: supports Andō Michisue against Akita Sanesue.
Joins the siege of Odawara, is received by Hideyoshi on the 10th day of the 3rd month and has his domain confirmed; dies of illness before the fall of Odawara. Interred at Kaizō-ji in Odawara.
Transfer of the Tozawa; Kakunodate Castle is handed over to the Satake.
Biographical dictionaries report that he reached Odawara disguised as a merchant with a handful of men, obtained an audience with Hideyoshi and confirmation of his lands. He died of illness shortly afterwards, at the age of 25; his son was only four years old, and the succession passed to his brother Mitsumori.
Cette synthèse croise plusieurs sources pour documenter les lieux, événements et relations historiques.
