Maeda Toshiie
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Image:KoyaKagaMaedaKeNoHaka.jpg Maeda Toshiie (前田 利家 Maeda Toshiie; January 15, 1539 - April 27, 1599) was one of the leading generals of Oda Nobunaga. His father was Maeda Toshimasa. He was the fourth of seven brothers. His childhood name was "Template:Nihongo". His preferred weapon was a yari and he was known as "Template:Nihongo", Mataza being his common name.
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Early years
Born in Owari province, he served Oda Nobunaga from childhood and his loyalty was awarded by being allowed to be the head of the Maeda clan, very unusual for a fourth son with no apparent failures among his elder brothers. Just like Nobunaga, Toshiie was also a delinquent, usually dressed in the outlandish style of a kabukimono. It is believed he also became a friend to Kinoshita Tokichiro (later Toyotomi Hideyoshi) in their youth. Just as Hideyoshi was known as Saru or "monkey," it is believed that Toshiie was called Inu or "dog" by Nobunaga. Due to a long-standing belief that dogs and monkeys are never friendly to each other, Toshiie is often depicted as stern and honest, in contrast to Hideyoshi's talkative and easy-going nature.
Later life
After defeating Asakura, Maeda fought under Shibata Katsuie in the Hokuriku area. He eventually gained a han in Noto Province. After Nobunaga's assassination and Akechi Mitsuhide's defeat by Hideyoshi, he battled Hideyoshi under Shibata's command in the Battle of Shizugatake. After Shibata's defeat, Toshiie worked for Hideyoshi and became one of his leading generals. Before dying in 1598, Hideyoshi named Toshiie to the council of five regents to support Toyotomi Hideyori until he was old enough to take control on his own. However, Toshiie himself was ailing, and could only manage to support Hideyori for only a year before he passed away as well.
Family
Toshiie's wife, Maeda Matsu, was famous in her own right. Strong-willed from childhood, she was well-versed in the martial arts and was instrumental in Toshiie's rise to success. After her husband died, Matsu, then known by her Buddhist nun name of Hoshun-in, assured the safety of the Maeda clan after the year 1600 by voluntarily going as a hostage to Edo, capital of the new shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Portrayal in popular culture
The 2002 NHK TV drama "Toshiie to Matsu" (利家とまつ) was based on the story of their lives together. Maeda Toshiie was played by Karasawa Toshiaki, and Matsu by Matsushima Nanako.
Maeda Toshiie and Matsu is also a playable character in Capcom's Sengoku Basara, and they are still potrayed as a loyal couple. In Devil Kings, he is renamed as Lark, while Matsu is renamed as Bramble. Unfortunately, they become unplayable in the said game.ja:前田利家 zh:前田利家