Hosokawa Fujitaka Yusai

Respected Daimyo, Poet, Scholar and Warrior

Hosokawa Fujitaka, also known as Yusai, (June 3, 1534 – October 6, 1610) was a highly respected daimyo, poet and scholar whose great intelligence was noted at an early age. Born June 3, 1534, the second son of Mitsubichi Harukazu, a highly ranked retainer of the Hosokawa clan in Higashiyama, Kyoto, Fujitaka, or Yusai, was adopted aged seven by his uncle, Hosokawa Mototsune.  He was an expert swordsman and master of both the martial and of the literary arts, in particular the tea ceremony and poetry. Yusai is said to have had a profound understanding of Go (a chess like strategy game), a great knowledge of cuisine and the performing arts. He was also a most proficient swimmer and a skilled teacher of the martial and cultural arts.

His understanding of cultural and military matters brought him into the service of the 13th Ashikaga Shogun, Yoshiteru, and the 15th Shogun, Yoshiaki, and this in turn led to his serving Oda Nobunaga.