Portrait of Hōjō Ujiyasu

HōjōLater Hōjō

Hōjō Ujiyasu

北条氏康

“The Lion of Sagami”

1515–1571 (aged 57)

Rank / office
Governor of Sagami
Domain / base
Sagami (Odawara Castle)
Banner / crest
Three scales
Battles in 3D
1 battle

Portrait · Source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Born the son of Hōjō Ujitsuna, he rode into battle beside his father from boyhood. Every wound he took in his life is said to have been on the front of his body, and his valour earned him the name "the Lion of Sagami." Soon after his succession, when the Ōgigayatsu and Yamanouchi Uesugi and the Koga kubō joined forces and descended on Kawagoe Castle, Ujiyasu lulled them with humble peace overtures and feigned retreats, then in Tenbun 15 launched a night attack with 8,000 men against 80,000 and destroyed them (the night battle of Kawagoe). He went on to extend Hōjō power across the Kantō, weathered repeated invasions by Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen, and secured his rear with the three-way alliance with the Takeda and Imagawa. Attentive to government as well, with land surveys, tax reform and a post-horse system, he built the Later Hōjō to their height.

Life and battlesGold dots mark battles you can watch in 3D

  1. 1541Tenbun 10

    Succession

    Became head of the Later Hōjō on the death of his father Ujitsuna.

  2. 1546Tenbun 15
  3. 1554Tenbun 23

    The Three-Way Alliance

    Allied with the Takeda and Imagawa to remove any threat from behind.

  4. 1561Eiroku 4

    Holding Odawara

    Repelled the siege of Odawara by Uesugi Kenshin's great army from behind his strong walls.

  5. 1571Genki 2

    Death at Odawara

    Built the Later Hōjō to their zenith and died at Odawara Castle.

Related sites

FAQ

Who was Hōjō Ujiyasu?

Known as “The Lion of Sagami”. Third head of the Later Hōjō. He beat an allied army of 80,000 with only 8,000 in the night battle of Kawagoe and became master of the Kantō. Strong in battle and gifted in government too, with reforms of taxation and more: one of the finest lords of the Sengoku age.

What rank or office did Hōjō Ujiyasu hold?

Governor of Sagami.

When did Hōjō Ujiyasu live?

Hōjō Ujiyasu was born in 1515 and died in 1571.

Can I watch Hōjō Ujiyasu's battles in 3D?

Yes. On Sengoku 3D you can watch the Night Battle of Kawagoe (1546) in 3D, following the deployments and troop movements.