Yagyu Muneyoshi

• Born: 1527
• Died: 1606
• Sons: Yagyû Munenori
• Distinction: Matsunaga, Oda, Toyotomi retainer; Swordsman

Muneyoshi was a samurai of Yamato province whose family was defeated by the Tsutsui. He went on to serve the Matsunaga, and later became a retainer of the Oda and then the Toyotomi. His skill as a swordsman eventually earned him the notice of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who named the Yagyû the official sword instructors of the Tokugawa. He is particularly well-remembered for an encounter with the famed swordsman Kamiizumi Nobutsuna in 1563.

References

• Initial text from Sengoku Biographical Dictionary (Samurai-Archives.com) FWSeal & CEWest, 2005