Description

Shimazu Yoshihiro was the son of Shimazu Takahisa, the first Daymio to introduce Western firearms to samurai armies. His help was invaluable to the unification of Kyushu, completed under his father.
For the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Shimazu Yoshihiro was supposed to fight for
Tokugawa Ieyasu. However, due to a humiliation by Torri Mototada, a vassal of Ieyasu, he sided with Ishida Mitsunari instead. He arrived with 1500 men carrying a bow, thought to be quaint by the rest of the loyalist army. During the battle his men held their ground and did not take an active part in the fighting until the loyalist army had been destroyed. Finding his force surrounded, Yoshihiro decided to charge Ieyasu’s lines to affect an escape. His charge was successful, mortally wounding Ii Naomasa on the way.
After the battle, despite his disloyatly, Ieyasu permitted him to retain his domain and confirmed that his son, Shimazu Tadatsune, would succeed him.