Motonobu was said to have been a son of a Yamabushi (mountain ascetic) from Yonezawa. According to tradition, after staying at a Buddhist temple he managed to secure a position under Kano Munetoki and was at length noticed by Date Terumune. When Terumune was killed in 1585, Motonobu committed suicide so that he might follow his lord in death.
Sons: Munenobu, (Shikibu-taiyu) Harunobu
References
- Initial text from Sengoku Biographical Dictionary (Samurai-Archives.com) FWSeal & CEWest, 2005