Natsuka Masaie

Who was Natsuka Masaie?

Natsuka Masaie was a daimyō in the Azuchi-Momoyama period and one of the Go-Bugyō, or five commissioners, appointed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Born in Owari Province, Masaie served Niwa Nagahide who was a retainer of the Oda clan. Because the domain of the Niwa clan was badly reduced after Hashiba Hideyoshi ended the Sengoku period by reunifying Japan, Masaie served him and was given the rule of Minakuchi, Ōmi Province. Hideyoshi congratulated Masaie on arithmetical faculty and appointed him as one of the Go-Bugyō. After Hideyoshi died in 1600, Masaie and Ishida Mitsunari who was also one of the Go-Bugyō, put up Mōri Terumoto and raised their army to Tokugawa Ieyasu. At the battle of Sekigahara, Masaie lined their army on Nangu-san with Mōri Hidemoto and Kikkawa Hiroie. However, Masaie was prevented from fighting by Hiroie and finally routed to Minakuchi. Setting fire to Minakuchi Castle, he committed suicide.

His grave is at Anraku-ji, in Shiga Prefecture.