Sengoku UkiyoSengoku Ukiyo
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First Ōtani Yoshitsugu
Shima Sakon
A Worthy Man for Jibu-shō

Shima Sakon

Toyotomi Realm
Shima Sakon
Life 1540–1600 (aged 61)
Title A Worthy Man for Jibu-shō
Faction Toyotomi Realm
Places associated with this character Yamato (1560–1593), Ōmi (1594–1600)
Voice and speech His Yamato accent is grave and spare; each word is sharp.
Family After serving the Tsutsui house, he became a wanderer until Mitsunari won him over with three earnest invitations, saying Sakon was worth more than his own stipend.
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A veteran general said to be worth more than Mitsunari’s stipend, he values recognition over pay. Recognize his talent when he wanders, then stand beside him for Mitsunari at Sekigahara, and he will repay you with his life.

Life

Ishida’s Military Strategist

Ambition

Raise the solitary Ishida Mitsunari to power and break the eastern army at Sekigahara.

Mitsunari offered half his stipend to recruit him, and Sakon fell for the sincerity of that gesture. He will give his old life to help this awkward lord win.

If he loses at Sekigahara, Mitsunari’s ideals and loyalty will disappear beneath the traitor’s name.

Obstacles of the era
  • The fierce charge of Fukushima Masanori and other eastern vanguard generals
  • Disunity and hesitation among western commanders
  • A rain of gunfire and overwhelming numerical disadvantage

Character and convictions

Source of ambition

Pride in a lifetime of command and absolute loyalty to Mitsunari.

Turning point

The bitter years wandering after leaving his former Tsutsui lord.

How he treats others

A fatherly affection for Mitsunari, whose sincerity often makes enemies.

Principle he will not yield

Retreating for self-preservation when his lord is in danger.

Historical path

1560–1584
A trusted general leading troops for Tsutsui Junkei.
Grave in his Yamato accent, he speaks little and each word is sharp.
1585–1593
An old general who leaves Tsutsui and wanders after clashing with its heir.
Sombre and quiet, he speaks wistfully of recognition and chance.
1594–1599
Mitsunari’s retainer, invited three times and welcomed to Sawayama on half pay.
Grave and incisive as he plans for Mitsunari; warmth enters when he speaks of recognition.
1600
He breaks the enemy at Kuisegawa, then dies fighting for Mitsunari.
Resolute and iron-voiced in command, with one purpose: repay his lord with his life.

Final chapter

1600 (aged 61)

On the eve of Sekigahara, he defeated the eastern army at Kuisegawa. In the main battle the next day he fought at the front, was badly wounded by Kuroda’s guns, charged again into the enemy ranks, and fell.

With cloth wrapped around his head, he endured his gunshot wound, swung his spear like a demon, and died after terrifying the eastern troops.
Praised by friend and foe as a man worth more than Mitsunari, Sakon died for his lord’s sincerity. His body was never found, and his martial legend vanished into the dew of Sekigahara.