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Kani Saizō

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Kani Saizō
可児 才蔵
Kani Saizo (Battle of Sekigahara folding screen)
Born1554
Died24 June 1613(1613-06-24) (aged 58–59)
Resting placeSaizoji Temple in Hiroshima City , Hiroshima Prefecture
NationalityJapanese
Other namesBamboo Saizō
OccupationSamurai
Employers
Known forHead collection during the Battle of Sekigahara
ChildrenKagemune Yamaoka (山岡景宗) (adopted)
RelativesSakubei Saizō (才蔵、作兵衛) (brother)

Kani Saizō (可児才蔵, 1554–1613), also known as Kani Yoshinaga (可児吉長), was a Japanese samurai of the late Sengoku era through early Edo era, who served various lords before coming into the service of the Tokugawa clan. Saizō was originally a junior retainer under the Saitō clan, then switched to the Oda clan. Still later, he served under the Tokugawa. In the early Edo era, Saizō joined Fukushima Masanori during the latter's move to the Hiroshima Domain, and died in 1613.

Career

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In 1600, Kani Saizō participated in the Battle of Sekigahara as the forerunner of Fukushima Masanori's army.[1] In the outpost battle of Gifu Castle, he took the heads of 17 enemy soldiers, and was greatly praised by Tokugawa Ieyasu.[1] He fought with a bamboo stalk on his back and would mark the heads of his defeated enemies by putting bamboo leaves in their cut necks or mouths, since he couldn't carry every head.[1] Thus he gained the nickname Bamboo Saizo (Sasa Saizō).[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d 楠戸 義昭 (July 1, 2006). 戦国武将名言録 (PHP文庫). PHP研究所. p. 375. ISBN 4569666515.