Yamanaka Yukimori

• Born: 1545
• Died: 1578
• Titles: Shika no suke
• Other names: Jinjirô
• Distinction: Amako retainer

Yukimori was the second son of Yamanaka Mikawa no kami Mitsuyuki (1519?-1546), whose wife was from the Tachihara clan. Known as Jinjirô in his youth, he took his first head at the age of 13 and became a valued Amako warrior, distinguishing himself in the attempts to relieve Shiga castle, under siege by Môri Motonari in 1564. Following the surrender of Gassan-Toda in early 1566, Yukimori kept up the fight and clashed with Kikkawa Motoharu, the Môri's governor of the former Amako lands. He convinced Amako Katsuhisa to return to lay life and take up the Amako cause and the two joined Oda Nobunaga's campaign against the Môri in 1577. In 1578 they took Kozuki castle, which was allotted to them. Unfortunately, he Môri counter-attacked and forced the castle to surrender. Yukimori, to the surprise of many observers, entered Môri service but was murdered soon afterwards. He had been married to the eldest daughter of Amako retainer Kamei Hidetsuna.

References

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