Here you will find brief information on most of the main characters� family histories. Many are based on famous historical Japanese figures. Note that Shu�s family is not included here because his family name is NOT a real name so there�s no point in looking up information on a made-up last name. I couldn�t find information on Shutendouji�s family, the Koma.

All of this information was taken from The Samurai Sourcebook written by Stephen Turnbull.

Seiji Date = Masamune Date: He was one of the greatest of the daimyou, who ruled much of northern Japan. He succeeded his father at the age of eighteen and made war against Yoshitsugu Hatakeyama, whom he defeated at the battle of Hitotoribashi in 1585. In 1589 he took over Kurokawa Castle from the Ashina. In 1590, following the defeat of the Houjou by Hideyoshi, Masamune Date reached an accommodation with the victor. In 1600 he supported the Tokugawa cause in the north by making war against Kagekatsu Uesugi, and assisted by Yoshiaki Mogami, he defeated Kanetsugu Naoe. As a reward he received the fief of the Uesugi and established himself at Iwatezawa, the name of which he changed to Sendai. He fought at Osaka. Masamune was interested in Christianity and sent an embassy to Europe headed by Tsunenaga Hasekura. He died at the age of 70, reowned as a warrior, diplomat, and patron of the arts.

Touma Hashiba = Hideyoshi Hashiba (Hideyoshi Toyotomi): Although born of humble origins, Hideyoshi Toyotomi rose to be the first of the daimyou to rule the whole of Japan. He first served Nobunaga Oda, fighting beside his master at all of Nobunaga�s battles. The opportunity for Hideyoshi came with Nobunaga�s death. He avenged the assassination by marching rapidly to Kyoto and defeating the army of Mitsuhide Akechi at the decisive battle of Yamazaki. He soon fell out with the old Oda supporters, whom he defeated one by one, culminating in the battle of Shizugatake in 1583. Only Ieyasu Tokugawa now opposed him in central Japan. A battle between the two, at Nagakute was indecisive, and a truce was called. In turn, Hideyoshi Toyotomi pacified Shikoku and Kyushu, and defeated the mighty Houjou at Odawara in 1590. He over-reached himself only with the invasion of Korea in 1592, which ended in failure. He died in 1598.

Jirougorou Kuroda (Rajura) = Joushi Yoshitaka Kuroda: In 1569 Yoshitaka defeated the troops of Akamatsu who had come to besiege Himeji Castle. Later he led Hideyoshi Toyotomi�s vanguard in the Chugoku Campaign. He also served in the Shikoku and Kyushu conquests and received the fief of six districts of Buzen Province. He attended the young Hideaki Kobayakwa in Korea. During the time of Sekigahara he fought in Kyushu, helping to capture the castles of Usuki, Yanagawa, and Kurume.

Shin Mouri = Motonari Mouri: Motonari Mouri was one of the most celebrated of all the Sengoku Period damiyou. His family dominated the Inland Sea area of Japan for half a century. He fought the Amako on behalf of his overlord Yoshitaka Ouchi. When Harukata Sue overthrew Ouchi, Mouri took up arms against him and defeated Sue at the dramatic battle of Miyajima in 1555. With his main rival out of the way, Motonari Mouri gradually acquired most of the former territories of the Ouchi and frequently collided with the Otomo of Kyushu. The Amako continued to oppose him until he overcame their castle of Toda. His grandson, Terumoto Mouri, succeeded him.

Ryo Sanada = Yukitaka Sanada: Yukitaka Sanada was a daimyou in Shinano who submitted to Takeda Shingen after a long struggle and became one of the Takeda �Twenty-Four Generals.� He died in 1574.

Kuujurou Sasaki (Anubis) = Takayori Rokkaku: The Rokkaku Family were a branch of the Sasaki and the family members which follow are often called Sasaki. Takayori fought during the Onin War. In 1487 he was besieged in Kannonji Castle by the shogun Yoshihisa Ashikaga. Yoshihisa died but Yoshitane, who defeated Rokkaku in 1492, replaced him. On the death of the emperor Go-Tsuchimikado, Takayori Rokkaku paid for the funeral and was allowed to use the imperial chrysanthemum badge as his own.

Nasty Yagyu = Jubei Mitsuyoshi Yagyu: Jubei Yagyu is a mysterious figure and his adventures have spawned many historical novels and films. Most of the legends and inventions revolve around a �lost� twelve years in his life, when he was abruptly dismissed by the shogun and later reinstated. His sacking was supposedly for drunkenness, but the lack of evidence and the complete mystery surrounding his subsequent movements has led many story writers to the conclusion that his dismissal was merely a front. The best-known story about his wanderings was a duel with dummy swords (later re-enacted in the film Seven Samurai), whereby Jubei Yagyu had to kill his opponent to convince him that he had actually won the contest.

Naotoki Yamanouchi (Naaza) = Kazutoyo Yamanouchi: Kazutoyo Yamanouchi served Nobunaga Oda and Hideyoshi Toyotomi. In 1590 he received the fief of Kakegawa. He supported Ieyasu Tokugawa and received the fief of Kochi.