Hiraiwa Chikayoshi

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Hiraiwa Chikayoshi

Hiraiwa Chikayoshi (平岩親吉, Hiraiwa Chikayoshi^?) (1542-1611) was a senior retainer to Tokugawa Ieyasu throughout the latter Sengoku Period of Feudal Japan. As the time at which Chikayoshi began his service beneath the Tokugawa remains relatively unknown, it can be easily surmised that he supported his master, Ieyasu, within many variable campaigns before initially being regarded as senior to his respective vassal class; and for such reasoning, Chikayoshi became the head tutor to Tokugawa Nobuyasu, the designated heir of Tokugawa. After Chikayoshi had followed with support during the Battle of Nagashino in 1575--where it can be assumed that he showed exceeded ability in the field of commandership--by 1576, a certain Mizuno Nobumoto had been reportedly accused by Oda Nobunaga for distributing rice to a rivaling Takeda officer known as Akiyama Nobutomo. As Chikayoshi had been delegated authority to dispatch this conspirator with great efficiency, such a task was carried out, at which Nobutomo's younger brother, Tadashige, succeeded as vassal beneath the Oda, while Chikayoshi was, needless to say, well rewarded for this show of reliability. With many years having passed without any notable feats following such an incident, Chikayoshi additionally took part within Ieyasu's failed attempt at destroying the Sanada in 1585, and was rewarded five years later with a 30,000-koku fief at the Umabayashi District of Kozuke Province. As it can be suspected that Chikayoshi supported his respective lord throughout the Sekigahara Campaign of 1600, Chikayoshi had regardlessly proved his ability after many consecutive performances, and was thus chosen to become a leading administrator by the Edo Period, where he held the authoritative position as head guardian to Ieyasu's most favored son, Tokugawa Yoshinao. With the arrival of 1611, it can be surmised that Chikayoshi died of natural means, and was thus missed by both his master and the many retainers that he had foughten by throughout the former years beneath the Tokugawa flag.