was a prominent ''

daimyō were powerful Japanese magnates, feudal lords who, from the 10th century to the early Meiji period in the middle 19th century, ruled most of Japan from their vast, hereditary land holdings. They were subordinate to the shogun and nominal ...

'' in Japanese Sengoku-period. He was the 21st chief of the

Chōsokabe clan , also known as , was a Japanese samurai kin group. Over time, they were known for serving the Hosokawa clan, then the Miyoshi clan and then the Ichijo clan. Papinot, Jacques Edmond Joseph. (1906). ''Dictionnaire d’histoire et de géograph ...

Tosa Province was a province of Japan in the area of southern Shikoku. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "''Tosa''" in . Tosa bordered on Awa to the northeast, and Iyo to the northwest. Its abbreviated form name was . In terms of the Gokishichidō sys ...

(present-day

Kōchi Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Shikoku. Kōchi Prefecture has a population of 757,914 (1 December 2011) and has a geographic area of 7,103 km2 (2,742 sq mi). Kōchi Prefecture borders Ehime Prefecture to the northwest and ...

), the ruler of

Shikoku region is the smallest of the four main islands of Japan. It is long and between wide. It has a population of 3.8 million (, 3.1%). It is south of Honshu and northeast of Kyushu. Shikoku's ancient names include ''Iyo-no-futana-shima'' (), '' ...

Early life and rise

He was the son and heir of

Chōsokabe Kunichika was a powerful warlord in Tosa Province, Japan. He was the son of Chōsokabe Kanetsugu. His childhood name was Senyumaru (千熊丸).　 After his father Chōsokabe Kanetsugu was attacked by local lords and he killed himself in the Okō Castle ...

and his mother was a daughter of the

Saitō clan The was a Japanese samurai clan that ruled Mino province in the Sengoku period. The clan appropriated the name of a defunct samurai clan named "Saitō" that had previously hailed from Echizen province and claimed descent from Fujiwara Toshih ...

Mino Province was a province of Japan in the area of Japan that is today southern Gifu Prefecture. Mino was bordered by Ōmi to the west, Echizen and Hida to the north, and Shinano to the east, and Ise, Mikawa, and Owari to the south. Its abbreviat ...

. His childhood name was Yasaburō (弥三郎). He is said to have been born in

Okō Castle was a Japanese castle structure located in what is now part of the city of Nankoku Kōchi Prefecture, Japan. It was the original base of power for the Chōsokabe clan who were feudal lords of Tosa Province during the late Muromachi and Sengok ...

in the Nagaoka district of Tosa. Motochika was a quiet youth and his father was said to have fretted about the boy's gentle nature (he seems to have been nicknamed Himewako, or 'Little Princess'); Kunichika's worries evaporated when Motochika later proved himself a skilled and brave warrior. When Motochika came of age, his father had already begun to draw away from the Ichijō, and Motochika would carry on his work. In 1560, at the

Battle of Tonomoto A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...

, Chōsokabe Kunichika captured Nagahama castle from the Motoyama clan. In response to this, Motoyama Shigetoki departed Asakura castle with 2,500 men to take the castle back. Kunichika intercepted him with 1,000 troops near Nagahama castle. This battle is noted for being Chōsokabe Motochika's first battle, in which he fought bravely, greatly impressing his father and his retainers. In the 1562, Chōsokabe Motochika attacked Asakura castle defeated Motoyama Shigetoki and by forming alliances with local families, Motochika was able to build his power base on the Kōchi plain. In 1569, while being careful to remain ostensibly loyal to the Ichijō over the next few years, Motochika's power grew to the extent that he was strong enough to march on the rival

Aki clan Aki or AKI may refer to: Places in Japan *Aki District, Hiroshima, a district in Hiroshima Prefecture *Aki, Kōchi, a city in Kochi Prefecture * Aki District, Kōchi, a district in Kochi Prefecture * Aki, Ōita, a town in Ōita Prefecture *Aki Pro ...

of east Tosa with 7,000 men, He defeated Aki Kunitora at Battle of Yanagare, then went on to take

Aki Castle was a Japanese castle, castle of the Aki clan in what is now the city of Aki, Kōchi, Aki, Kōchi Prefecture, Japan. Ruins still remain and the site was designated an Aki City Historic Site. It is believed the castle was built by Aki Chikauji in 1 ...

. In the course of the decade he was awarded the court rank ''Ministry of Imperial Household'' ( Kunai shō) and was sufficiently confident after the reduction of the Aki to finally turn on the Ichijō.

Unification of Shikoku

In 1573, While still lord of the Hata district of Tosa, Ichijō Kanesada was unpopular and had already suffered the defection of a number of important retainers. Seizing the opportunity, Motochika wasted no time in marching on the Ichijō's headquarters at Nakamura, and Kanesada fled to Bungo, defeated. In 1575, at the Battle of Shimantogawa (Battle of Watarigawa), he defeated the Ichijo family. Thus he ended up gaining control of

. Following his conquest of Tosa, Motochika turned north and prepared for an invasion of

Iyo province was a province of Japan in the area of northwestern Shikoku. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "''Tosa''" in . Iyo bordered on Sanuki Province to the northeast, Awa to the east, and Tosa to the south. Its abbreviated form name was . In te ...

. The lord of that province was

Kōno Michinao Kōno, Kono or Kouno (written: 河野, 幸野, 高野 or 甲野) is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Kōno Bairei (1844–1895), Japanese painter, book illustrator and art teacher * Kōno Hironaka (1849–1923), Japane ...

, a daimyo who had once been driven from his domain by the Utsunomiya clan, returning only with the assistance of the powerful

Mōri clan The Mōri clan (毛利氏 ''Mōri-shi'') was a Japanese samurai clan descended from Ōe no Hiromoto. Ōe no Hiromoto was descended from the Fujiwara clan. The family's most illustrious member, Mōri Motonari, greatly expanded the clan's pow ...

. However, it was unlikely that Kōno could count on that sort of help again as the Mōri were embroiled in a war with Oda Nobunaga. Nonetheless, Chōsokabe's campaign in Iyo did not go off without a hitch. In 1579, 7,000-man Chōsokabe army, commanded by Kumu Yorinobu, met the forces of Doi Kiyonaga at the

Battle of Mimaomote The was a battle during the Azuchi–Momoyama period (16th century) of Japan. The Battle of Mimaomote was initiated by Chōsokabe commander Kumu Yorinobu with 7,000 men as he advanced into Iyo Province was a province of Japan in the area o ...

. In the ensuing battle, Kumu was killed and his army defeated, though the loss proved little more than an unfortunate delay. The next year, Motochika led some 30,000 men into

Iyo Province was a province of Japan in the area of northwestern Shikoku. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "''Tosa''" in . Iyo bordered on Sanuki Province to the northeast, Awa to the east, and Tosa to the south. Its abbreviated form name was . In te ...

, and forced Kōno to flee to Bungo province. With little interference from either the Mōri or the Ōtomo, Chōsokabe was free to press onwards, and in 1582, he stepped up ongoing raids into Awa province and defeated

Sogō Masayasu was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period. He was second son of Miyoshi Yoshikata who was adopted by Sogō Kazumasa from the Sogō clan. In 1582, Masayasu was defeated by Chōsokabe Motochika`s large army during the battle of Nakatomig ...

and the

Miyoshi clan is a Japanese family descended from Emperor Seiwa (850–880) and the Minamoto clan (Seiwa-Genji). They were a cadet branch of the Ogasawara clan and the Takeda clan. At the beginning of the 14th century AD, Ogasawara Nagafusa settled in Shiko ...

at the Battle of Nakatomigawa. Later, Motochika advanced to

Sanuki province was a province of Japan in the area of northeastern Shikoku. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "''Sanuki''" in . Sanuki bordered on Awa to the south, and Iyo to the west. Its abbreviated form name was . In terms of the Gokishichidō system ...

defeated

Sengoku Hidehisa , childhood name Gonbei (権兵衛) was a samurai warrior of the Sengoku period and the Edo period. He was the head of the Komoro Domain in Shinano Province. Papinot, Jacques Edmond Joseph. (1906). ''Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie du J ...

at Battle of Hiketa. By 1583, Chōsokabe forces had subdued both

Awa Awa (or variants) may refer to: People * Awa (given name), notable people named Awa or Hawa * Awá (Brazil), an indigenous people of Brazil * Awa-Kwaiker, an indigenous people of Colombia and Ecuador Languages * Awa language (China) or Wa (Va) ...

and Sanuki. Over the ensuing decade, he extended his power to all of

Shikoku island is the smallest of the four main islands of Japan. It is long and between wide. It has a population of 3.8 million (, 3.1%). It is south of Honshu and northeast of Kyushu. Shikoku's ancient names include ''Iyo-no-futana-shima'' (), '' ...

, making Motochika's dream of ruling all of Shikoku a reality.

Conflict with Hideyoshi

In 1584,

Toyotomi Hideyoshi , otherwise known as and , was a Japanese samurai and ''daimyō'' (feudal lord) of the late Sengoku period regarded as the second "Great Unifier" of Japan.Richard Holmes, The World Atlas of Warfare: Military Innovations that Changed the Cour ...

won a political victory against

Tokugawa Ieyasu was the founder and first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan, which ruled Japan from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was one of the three "Great Unifiers" of Japan, along with his former lord Oda Nobunaga and fello ...

, securing his position as paramount warlord. Hideyoshi began expanding his rule from outside his base in central Honshu and decided to invade Shikoku. In 1585,

launched an attack against Chōsokabe Motochika, and seized

, the smallest of Japan's four main islands.

Shikoku campaign

In 1585, Toyotomi forces invaded Shikoku island with a force of 113,000 men, led by

Ukita Hideie was the ''daimyō'' of Bizen and Mimasaka Provinces (modern Okayama Prefecture), and one of the council of Five Elders appointed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Son of Ukita Naoie, he married Gōhime, a daughter of Maeda Toshiie. Having fought ag ...

Kobayakawa Takakage was a samurai and daimyō (feudal lord) during the Sengoku period and Azuchi–Momoyama period. He was the third son of Mōri Motonari who was adopted by the Kobayakawa clan and became its 14th clan head. He merged the two branches of the Kob ...

Kikkawa Motoharu was the second son of Mōri Motonari, and featured prominently in all the wars of the Mōri clan. He became an active commander of the Mōri army and he with his brother Kobayakawa Takakage became known as the “Mōri Ryōkawa", or “Mōri's ...

Hashiba Hidenaga , formerly known as . He was a half-brother of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the most powerful and significant warlords of Japan's Sengoku period and regarded as 'Hideyoshi's brain and right-arm'. He was also known by his court title, . He promot ...

, and

Hashiba Hidetsugu was a daimyō during the Sengoku period of Japan. He was the nephew and retainer of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the unifier and ruler of Japan from 1590 to 1598. Despite being Hideyoshi's closest adult, male relative, Hidetsugu was accused of atrocities ...

against 40,000 soldiers of the

. Despite the overwhelming size of Hideyoshi's army, Chōsokabe chose to fight to defend his territories. The battles culminated in the siege of

Ichinomiya Castle Ichinomiya Castle is a mountaintop castle in Tokushima, Japan. History Built in 1338, the castle was built on a strategically important site, with a river in front and on a mountain, both features giving it some protection as natural defenses. I ...

, which lasted for 26 days. Motochika surrendered, and forfeited

, Sanuki, and

s; Hideyoshi permitted him to retain Tosa.

Service under Hideyoshi

Under Hideyoshi, in 1587 Motochika and his son Nobuchika participated in the invasion of neighboring Kyūshū in which Nobuchika died at

Battle of Hetsugigawa The was the last battle before the Toyotomi main army's arrival on Kyūshū Campaign, Kyūshū during Japan's Sengoku period. In 1586 at Hetsugigawa (present Ōnogawa) in Bungo province Toyotomi's vanguard divisions under Chōsokabe Motochika a ...

. In 1590, Motochika led a fleet in the Siege of Shimoda and Siege of Odawara, and also fought in the

Japanese invasions of Korea Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

in 1592. In 1596 the Spanish ship '' San Felipe'' was wrecked in Chōsokabe territory while en route from

Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...

to Acapulco. Motochika seized the cargo of the ship, and the incident escalated all the way up to Hideyoshi, leading to the crucifixion of 26 Christians in

Nagasaki is the capital and the largest Cities of Japan, city of Nagasaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu in Japan. It became the sole Nanban trade, port used for trade with the Portuguese and Dutch during the 16th through 19th centuries. The Hi ...

, the first lethal

persecution of Christians The persecution of Christians can be historically traced from the first century of the Christian era to the present day. Christian missionaries and converts to Christianity have both been targeted for persecution, sometimes to the point of ...

by the state in Japan.

Death

Motochika died in 1599 at age 60 at his mansion in Fushimi. His successor was Chōsokabe Morichika. In addition to his leadership, Motochika is remembered for his '100-Article Code of the Chōsokabe' and his struggle to found an economically strong castle town, moving in the course of his career from Oko to Otazaka and on to Urado.

Family

*Father:

(1504–1560) *Mother: Daughter of the

*Younger Brother ** Kira Chikasada (1541–1576), Kunichika's second son. Shared his first battle with his eldest brother, Motochika, at Nagahama. Adopted into Kira clan on brother's orders and became a family retainer. Helped his brother's fight against the Ichijo clan until he died of illness in 1576. **

Kōsokabe Chikayasu , third son of Chōsokabe Kunichika who was adopted by the Kōsokabe Clan in 1558 was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period, who served the Chōsokabe clan. He was the castle lord in command of Aki Castle.川口素生編『戦国名物家� ...

(1543–1593), Kunichika's third son. He was adopted by Kōsokabe Chikahide from Kōsokabe clan ** Shima Chikamasu (d. 1571), Kunichika's fourth son. Became a part of the Shima clan to appease demands for an heir. Known as a brave warrior who fought in Motochika's campaign to quell the Motoyama clan. *Wife: Lady Motochika (died 1583) ** Concubine: Koshōshō, or Lady Ōgata *Sons: **

Chōsokabe Nobuchika was the eldest son of samurai lord Chōsokabe Motochika, and lived during the late Sengoku period of Japanese history. After the subjugation of Shikoku by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Nobuchika and his father followed the Toyotomi into Kyushu Campaig ...

(1565–1587) by Lady Motochika **

Kagawa Chikakazu also known as Chōsokabe Chikakazu was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period.　He was the second son of Chōsokabe Motochika who was adopted by the Kagawa clan in Amagiri Castle. After Chōsokabe clan's successor Chōsokabe Nobuchika`s ...

(1567–1587) by Lady Motochika **

Tsuno Chikatada Tsuno may refer to: People * Yūko Tsuno (born 1966), Japanese manga artist and doujin writer Places * Tsuno, Kōchi, a town in Kōchi Prefecture * Tsuno, Miyazaki, a town in Miyazaki Prefecture *Tsuno District, Yamaguchi was a district locate ...

(1572–1600) by Lady Motochika ** Chōsokabe Morichika (1575–1615) by Lady Motochika ** Chōsokabe Ukondaifu (1583-1615) by Lady Ogata ** Chōsokabe Yasutoyo (born 1599) *Daughters: ** Unknown daughter (wife of Ichijō Tadamasa) by Lady Motochika ** Akohime (wife of Satake Chikanao) by Lady Motochika ** Unknown daughter (wife of

Kira Chikazane was a senior retainer under the Chōsokabe clan, during the late Sengoku period of Feudal Japan The first human inhabitants of the Japanese archipelago have been traced to prehistoric times around 30,000 BC. The Jōmon period, named after ...

) by Lady Motochika ** Unknown daughter (wife of Yoshimatsu Jūzaemon) by Lady Motochika

In popular culture

In the 1949 Mexican film ''

Philip of Jesus Philip of Jesus, OFM (Spanish: Felipe de Jesús) was a Novohispanic Franciscan Catholic missionary who became one of the Twenty-six Martyrs of Japan, the first Mexican saint and patron saint of Mexico City.Ronald J. Morgan, ''Spanish American S ...

'', the character Prince Chokozabe (sic) is played by

Rodolfo Acosta Rodolfo Pérez Acosta (July 29, 1920 – November 7, 1974) was a Mexican-American character actor who became known for his roles as Mexican outlaws or American Indians in Hollywood western films. He was sometimes credited as Rudolfo Acosta ...

. He is a playable character in '' Pokémon Conquest'' (Pokémon + Nobunaga's Ambition in Japan), with his partner Pokémon being Dewott and Samurott. Motochika is a playable character from '' Samurai Warriors 2 Xtreme Legends'' onwards, where he wields a shamisen, he continuously calls himself as "The Bat King", due to Nobunaga historically referring to him as a "the bat who refuses to fly away from its home". Motochika is also a playable character in the Sony PlayStation game,

Sengoku Basara is a series of video games developed and published by Capcom, and a bigger media franchise based on it, including four anime shows, an anime movie, a live action show, a magazine series, a trading card game, and numerous drama CDs, light nov ...

where he wields an anchor and appears as a pirate. He also appears in the anime adaptation of the game Sengoku Basara: Samurai Kings. He is also a playable character in several Koei strategy games, as a selectable warlord in Nobunaga's Ambition series, and as a unlockable character in Taikou Risshiden IV and V. He is a playable warlord in Total War:Shogun 2.

References

* 新井政義（編集者）『日本史事典』。東京：旺文社 1987 (p. 263) {{DEFAULTSORT:Chosokabe, Motochika 1539 births 1599 deaths Daimyo Chōsokabe clan People from Kōchi Prefecture