The Death of Hosokawa Sumitomo

Typical of an elite Sengoku warrior, his life reads like a drama series.

Samurai Commander Hosokawa Sumimoto died on this day, June 24 in 1520.

Typical of an elite Sengoku warrior, his life reads like a drama series. A member of the Awa Hosokawa clan (modern-day Tokushima Pref. Shikoku) Sumimoto was born to Hosokawa Yoshiharu, but adopted by the childless Hosokawa Masamoto, Deputy Shogun to the Ashikaga Shogunate.

Masamoto had adopted three sons, Hosokawa Sumiyuki (of the Kujo Hosokawa clan) Sumimoto, and Hosokawa Takakuni. Sumiyuki, being the first son was to be heir, however it was later decided that Sumimoto would become his successor, leading to animosity between the brothers. Masamoto then claimed he did not want Sumimoto to be his heir, and was in turn threatened by Miyoshi Yukinaga’s army who supported Sumimoto. The same problem arose in 1507 when Masamoto and Sumiyuki had a dispute, and yet another successor was chosen, which led to Sumiyuki attacking his adopted fathers’ house and killing him in the bath!

Sumiyuki then attacked his half-brother, Sumimoto, who fled to Koga in Omi (Shiga Pref.) Sumimoto’s protector, Miyoshi Nagateru, then lead an army against Sumiyuki, killing him, and allowing Sumimoto to become the clan leader.

Sumimoto and his other half-brother, Hosokawa Takakuni were supporters of the 11th Ashikaga Shogun, Yoshizumi, a puppet who had been raised to the position in 1493 by their step-father, by ousting the 10th Shogun, Yoshitane. Yoshitane had fled, but with the support of Ouchi Yoshioki returned to Kyoto in 1508 to reclaim his position. This time, he was further supported by Hosokawa Takakuni, who turned on his brother, Sumimoto.

Sumimoto was forced into exile yet again, but made an attempt on Kyoto in 1511, but was defeated in the Battle of Funaokayama against the joint armies of the Ouchi clan and Takakuni.

Believing that Kyoto and the Shogunate was in safe hands, Ouchi later returned to his lands in Yamaguchi. Sumimoto raised an army with Miyoshi Nagateru and took the lull in security as an opportunity to advance on Kyoto again, however they were routed by Takakuni and the Rokkaku clan, who captured Nagateru and forced him to commit seppuku. Sumimoto had fallen ill during the advance, and after Nagateru’s death, quickly returned to his home in Awa, where he died shortly after. Sumimoto was 31 years old.