Uesugi Norimasa

Who was Uesugi Norimasa?

Uesugi Norimasa was a daimyō of feudal Japan, and held the post of Kantō Kanrei, the Shogun's deputy in the Kantō. He is perhaps best known as the adoptive father of Uesugi Kenshin, one of the most famous warlords in Japanese history.

At the battle of Kawagoe in 1545, both major branches of the Uesugi family were defeated by the Hōjō clan; Norimasa's campaigns only continued to be less and less successful. In 1551, he was defeated once again by Hōjō Ujiyasu, and fled to Echigo Province, where he sought asylum with his vassal Nagao Kagetora. Nagao agreed to grant his lord shelter and protection, but only under certain conditions. Norimasa was forced to name Nagao his heir, and to grant him the titles of 'Lord of Echigo' and 'Kantō Kanrei'. Nagao then changed his name to Uesugi, to reflect his inheritance of Norimasa's lineage; he took the given name Terutora for a short time before choosing to be called Kenshin.