Oniwa Yoshinao

• Birth: 1513?
• Death: 1585
• Distinction: Date retainer
• Son: (Moniwa) Tsunamoto (1549-1640)

Yoshinao served Date Masamune, though at one time he had entered the priesthood and was known in that capacity as Satsuki. He fought at the battle of Hitadori (1585) and was given a baton of command by Masamune. Though he could wear no armor due to his advanced age, he is said to have fought furiously in the battle and taken many heads. Unfortunately, a yellow cap he was wearing attracted the attention of the enemy and he was at length cut down. His actions helped enable Masamune to retreat from the action and earned him much posthumous praise. The man who had killed him, Kobuta Juro, was later captured by the Date but was spared by Yoshinao's son, Tsunamoto.

References

• Initial text from Samurai-Archives.com FWSeal & CEWest, 2005