Ujimasa Hojo (3/3)The 4th generation that reached its peak

Angered by Ujimasa's reluctance to come to Kyoto, Hideyoshi regarded Ujimasa's refusal to go to Kyoto and serve as a refusal to submit to the Toyotomi family, and on December 23, officially ordered the various daimyo to attack him. Ujimasa and others also prepared for battle. The following spring, they faced off against the Toyotomi army, which was attacking from all directions.

At first, he had the upper hand, winning against Masayuki Sanada and others who had crossed the Usui Pass, and conducting reconnaissance efforts against the Toyotomi generals who had set up in the Sunzu border area, but when Hideyoshi arrived at Numazu, Yamanaka Castle fell in the opening battle. . Starting in April, he will be confined to Odawara Castle for about three months.
Afterwards, Shimoda Castle, Matsuida Castle, Iwatsuki Castle, Hachioji Castle, and other castles within the territory fell. Unable to defeat Toyotomi's army of approximately 220,000 men, they surrendered. Ujimasa committed seppuku and passed away at the age of 52.

Ujimasa's son Ujinao, who was Ieyasu's son-in-law, was spared his life and given a stipend. However, he later died, and the lineage of the Gohojo clan was inherited by Ujiki. In the Edo period, Ujimori Hojo, Ujinoki's son, became the lord of the Kawachisayama domain, and it continued to exist until the Meiji Restoration.

anecdote

Story about rice with soup

One of Ujimasa's famous anecdotes is that of pouring soup over the rice twice.
One day, during a meal, Ujimasa poured some soup over the rice, but since there wasn't enough soup, he poured it over again.
It is said that his father, Ujiyasu, who was watching, said with a sigh, ``I can't believe that even though I eat every day, I can't even measure the amount of soup to put on my rice.Is this the end of the Hojo family?''
This means, ``There is no way a person who can't even measure the amount of soup and rice can estimate his territory or vassals.'' It is said that his father, Ujiyasu, encouraged his son to be even more devoted to Ujimasa. It is also said that this is because he did not have that much skill.

Anecdotes related to ticket control

A certain monk stopped by Odawara for the first time in a long time since Ujimasa became the head of the family, and was looking at the signboards (signs with prohibited matters and laws written on them to inform the people).
After reading the talisman, the monk utters the ominous words, ``Hojo won't have long to go either.''
When the town magistrate was surprised and asked why, he said, ``The previous head of the clan, Ujiyasu, wrote only five articles on the sign.However, the current head of the clan, Ujimasa, wrote as many as 30 articles.This proves that he does not have a firm grip on the people of the territory. ” he is said to have replied.

Places associated with Ujimasa Hojo

Hojo Ujimasa's grave

Denshin-an in Odawara City is home to the graves of Ujimasa Hojo and his younger brother Ujiteru, who were ordered to commit seppuku by Hideyoshi for taking responsibility for the conquest of Odawara.
Later, Denshin-an was relocated and the grave was abandoned, but in the Edo period, when the Inaba family became the lords of the Odawara domain, it was restored as a memorial service. However, it was buried again in the Great Kanto Earthquake and disappeared, so it was reconstructed by local volunteers the following year.
Inside the cemetery, there is a five-ring pagoda, a tombstone shaped like a tombstone, a stone lantern, and a damaged stone on which Ujimasa and Ujiteru are said to have committed suicide.

Odawara Hojo Goda Festival

This festival is held every May at Odawara Castle Ruins Park and the city area.
It is a festival to remember the Hojo clan, the lords of Odawara Castle, with a memorial service held in front of the graves of the five generations of Hojo castle lords and a parade of warriors.
Throughout the city, there are gunfire performances by the Hojo Gunshuu and performances by the Fuma ninja, and it is loved by the citizens as Odawara City's biggest festival.

Hojo Ujimasa and Odawara Castle

The Hojo clan has been based at Odawara Castle for five generations since the first generation Hojo Soun.
It was known as an impregnable castle during the era of the third generation head of the family, Ujiyasu Hojo, and is said to have withstood attacks from Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen. When Toyotomi's army attacked in Odawara, a vast outer wall was built to fight back, and the entire town of Odawara was surrounded from Mt. Hachiman to the sea side with a total length of 9 kilometers of earthworks and a dry moat. was.

During the Edo period, the domain office of the Odawara domain was located there, and the castle ruins are now designated as a national historic site. It is a popular castle visited by history buffs who love castles, and is also loved by local residents. It has also been designated as one of Japan's 100 Famous Castles.