O-Ie Sōdō
Shigenobu was born in Kanazawa as the fifth son of Maeda Yoshinori. His mother was a concubine, Onui no Kata later Zenryo’in. His childhood name was Kisaburō (嘉三郎) and his youth name was Maeda Toshichika (利見). In 1748, during the height of the "O-Ie Sōdō" known as the “Kaga Sōdō” he was brought to Edo together with his elder brother Maeda Toshikazu, and was adopted as provisional heir to the young Maeda Shigehiro. He was presented in formal audience to "Shōgun" Tokugawa Ieshige in 1751. Less than two years later, with the unexpected death of his elder brother, Maeda Shigehiro in 1753, he became "daimyō" and was renamed Maeda Shigenobu, upon being received in formal audience once again by "Shōgun" Tokugawa Ieshige. Three months after becoming "daimyō" he departed Edo for Kanazawa; however, en route he contacted measles and died shortly after reaching Kanazawa at the age of 17. At that time, he was betrothed with Tokugawa Yoshihime, Tokugawa Munenao's daughter.