Yoshimoto Imagawa Daimyo figure
Imagawa Yoshimoto (1519-1560) was a daimyo in the days of civil war or the Sengoku period of Japanese rule over the area of ​​Suruga, and Mikawa Totomi. Derived from the word Daimyōshu daimyo, the head of a respectable family) that means the person who has great influence in the region. In the samurai in Japanese society, the term used for samurai daimyo who had extensive land rights (the landlord) and has many bushi as a follower. Yoshimoto was born as the son of Imagawa Ujichika-5. In his youth, he was sent to the Temple Zentoku to study Buddhism, where he became a monk by the name Baigaku Shoho. In 1526, his father died and the position as head of the Imagawa clan fell into the hands of his eldest brother, Imagawa Ujiteru.

In 1536, Ujiteru suddenly died without leaving heirs, rumor has it was poisoned. Imagawa clan of inner conflict because Ujiteru brothers fighting each other to become head of the clan, in the history of this event known as the riot Hanagura, hanagura-no-ran). In the chaotic situation that Yoshimoto out of the temple and return to secular life. He was involved in the conflict, the strongest rival is his half-brother, Ethan Genkō. Most followers of other clans over support Yoshimoto, support is also strengthened by her own mother, the legal wife of Ujichika. Genkō ultimately killed Ethan, Yoshimoto emerged as the winner also inherits the position as head of the Imagawa clan is new.


He quickly consolidated his power and forge alliances with the rulers of neighboring regions, one with a married daughter Nobutora Takeda, daimyo Kai. As a reliable administrator, Yoshimoto conducted a series of surveys and change Sumpu region, the capital of its territory, a cultural center. He followed the style of the Kyoto nobility to shave her eyes and blacken the teeth, it is also very fond of games or here (traditional Japanese football). One of his wives who was the daughter of Kyoto nobility helped organize many Sumpu area. Yoshimoto not very expert in the military so as to these matters, it depends a lot on his uncle, a sohei (warrior monks) named Sessai Choro, better known by the name Budhisnya, Taigen Sessai. Yoshimoto advantages lie in the political field, in 1545, he mengarsiteki alliance of three clans, namely Imagawa, Takeda, and Hojo. He also frequently acts as a mediator who mediates Takeda and Hojo are often conflicting.


Recognizing the importance of the Takeda clan of Kai power next door to him, he was very concerned about developments there. In 1541, he helped Takeda Shingen, Nobutora son, in an attempt to overthrow his own father. Yoshimoto stall withstand Nobutora who happened at that time was visiting her daughter in order to stay longer in the Reference Biography: Suruga pending the preparation of cooked Shingen. When Nobutora return to its territory, he was barred from entering the border by the son of Kai and his subordinates. Nobutora eventually exiled and became a monk until his death. He established good relationships with Shingen, the new clan leader Takeda, together they stormed the Hojo in 1544, but the battle has not resulted in significant progress, so he arranged a peace negotiation after facing Hojo Ujiyasu in Kitsunebashi. After defeating the Shiba clan, Yoshimoto Totomi annexed into the territory.



Followed by subjecting the clan of Mikawa Matsuidara year 1548, clan Matsuidara submit Matsuidara Motoyasu (later known as Tokugawa Ieyasu) as a hostage. In order to expand to the west, Yoshimoto have to deal with the Oda clan of Owari. In 1542, Imagawa and Oda in Battle Azukizaka face. In this battle, defeated by Oda Nobuhide Imagawa, head of the Oda clan. Year 1548, following riots in the Mikawa region, Imagawa and Oda was again involved in combat. Yoshimoto sent his uncle, Taigen Sessai to face in the Battle of Oda Nobuhide Azukizaka II. In this battle Sessai Imagawa clan managed to avenge last six years. Nobuhide lost and died the following year. 1550's was the heyday of the Imagawa clan, Yoshimoto has a strong position among the daimyo, other daimyo in eastern Japan. In 1553, he was editing the Imagawa kana mokuroku tsuika, namely the expansion of the clan rules made since the time of his father. He founded the printing company in Sumpu and set editing Imagawa clan history throughout five chapters.


In 1560, with full confidence, Yoshimoto led his army to conquer the 25 000 Kyoto, the imperial capital. At that time the daimyo who had occupied the Kyoto regarded as the strongest. To go to Kyoto, the troops have crossed the border of Owari, the Oda clan, his nemesis. His first attack on Oda quite successful, two forts belonging to the clan Oda been won. To celebrate this initial victory, Yoshimoto ordered his troops set up camp in Dengakuhazama, near Okehazama. Unexpectedly, Oda Nobunaga, Nobuhide's son who has become the new head of the clan, make a surprise attack. Imagawa troops carousing soluble Nobunaga would not expect them to attack the weather conditions it was raining a storm.


Nobunaga led a surprise attack Imagawa troops who were partying in disorder and panic-stricken. In the midst of chaos Yoshimoto escaped with his horse, but the horse was startled and dropped instead. He was surrounded by people meeting Oda. One by one the guards falling in the hands of the enemy. A follower of Oda, Shinsuke Mori, managed to cut off the head after a fight with fierce Yoshimoto him. Yoshimoto was killed with a piece of a finger in his mouth for Mori in the struggle that he was biting the finger Mori. After his death, he was succeeded by his son, Imagawa Ujizane, which is useless. Imagawa clan destroyed shortly afterwards, its territory was plundered by the Tokugawa and Takeda.