Ōtani Yoshitsugu

* Sen7
* Sen6
* Sen5
* Sen4
* Ten1

**Ōtani Yoshitsugu**  (大谷 (おおたに)吉継 (よしつぐ), *****Ōtani Yoshitsugu*****? Ōtani Yoshitsugu) is a retainer of the Hashiba Clan, serving under Hashiba Hideyoshi. She serves as a recruitable general since Sengoku Hime 4, and has appeared in Sengoku Hime 5, Sengoku Hime 6, Sengoku Hime 7, Tengokuhime 1.

## Introduction

**Sengoku Hime 4:**
A person who was found by Hideyoshi and began to work on that side as a military commander.
He is a very talented civilian, but he also has military talent and is loyal.
He has almost white hair, but he doesn't seem to care about it. He uses the issue "White Head", and his clothes are based on white, maintaining a mysterious presence.
He covers his face with a thin cloth, perhaps because his skin color is light and he is embarrassed to hide his face turning red soon.

非常に優秀な文官でありながら、軍才もあり、忠義に篤いという……一家にひとり欲しくなる人材。
ほぼ白い髪をしているが当人は気にする様子はなく、『白頭』という号を使用し、身にまとうものも白を基調として、不思議な存在感を保っている。
薄い布で顔を覆っているのは、肌の色が薄いためかすぐに顔が赤くなってしまうことが恥ずかしくて隠しているため。
【デザイナー：雪月竹馬】　【演者：桃井いちご】

**Sengoku Hime 5:**
A very talented civilian, but also a military talent, and loyal. He has almost white hair, but he doesn't seem to care about it. He uses the issue "White Head", and his clothes are based on white, maintaining a mysterious presence. He covers his face with a thin cloth, perhaps because his skin color is light and he is embarrassed to hide his face turning red soon. He is on good terms with Sansei and seems to show his true face without hesitation.

デザイナー：雪月竹馬ＣＶ：桃井いちご

**Sengoku Hime 7:**
A general who serves Hideyoshi.
He is a very good civilian. However, because it hides its true face, it may seem suspicious to some humans. He is embarrassed to blush immediately and hides his true face, so he has no two hearts ... but he is on good terms with Mitsunari Ishida and can expose his true face without worrying in front of her.

演者:春日アン
秀吉に仕える将。
非常に優秀な文官。しかしその素顔を隠しているが故に一部の人間から不審に思われることも。すぐに赤面してしまうのが恥ずかしく素顔を隠しているため二心はないのだが…石田三成と仲がよく、彼女の前では気にせず素顔を晒すことができる。

**Tengoku Hime 1:**
He is a very talented civilian, but he also has military talent and is loyal. He has almost white hair, but he doesn't seem to care about it. He uses the issue "White Head", and his clothes are based on white, maintaining a mysterious presence. He covers his face with a thin cloth, probably because his skin is light and he is embarrassed to hide his face turning red soon.

非常に優秀な文官でありながら、軍才もあり、忠義に篤いという...…一家にひとり欲しくなる人材。ほぼ白い髪をしているが当人は気にする様子はなく、『白頭』という号を使用し、身にまとうものも白を基調として、不思議な存在感を保っている。薄い布で顔を覆っているのは、肌の色が薄いためかすぐに顔が赤くなってしまうことが恥ずかしくて隠しているため。
デザイチー: 雪月竹馬

## Historical Information

Ōtani Yoshitsugu (大谷 吉継, 1558 – October 21, 1600) was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period through the Azuchi-Momoyama Period. He was also known by his court title, Gyōbu-shōyū (刑部少輔). He was born in 1558 to a father who was said to be a retainer of either Ōtomo Sōrin or Rokkaku Yoshikata. He became one of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's followers. He participated in the Toyotomi's Odawara campaign and Korean campaign.

In the event that Yoshitsugu was born under Yoshifusa, there is a popular story regarding the origin of his childhood name, Keimatsu (桂松 or 慶松). Before his son was born, Yoshifusa lamented his luck with children and wished for a male heir. One day, his wife decided to pray before a shrine dedicated to Hachiman Daibosetsu in their land. As she uttered her desires for a boy, a pine tree was cut before the shrine and fell before her. She plucked a portion of the fallen branches and ate it for good luck. When she gave birth, Yoshifusa was happy to see his first son. Grateful for the god's answer, he named his child after the plant.
His first legal alias was Heima (平馬), which was given to him during his early services with Hideyoshi. He was either given this name for his leadership of the cavalry at Harima or in recognition of his service at Miki Castle. A few years later, temple printings associate him with having the alias Kinosuke or Norinosuke (紀之介). He has also been argued to have had his name changed to Ōtani Gyōbu (大谷刑部). Gyōbu reportedly was given as a respectful link to the Genji family or in honor of Yoshitsugu's higher rank at the time. <Deletion of the alternative name, Yoshitaka, is based on the photo evidence at his grave.>
When Yoshitsugu fell ill with leprosy, he was popularly described to have looked dreadfully pale, which led to his nickname "White Face" (白頭). Legends state the name may have been also caused since he covered his face with a white mask, a typical attire when stricken with the disease.
Before the Battle of Sekigahara, Yoshitsugu was said to have repeatedly tried to persuade Mitsunari of the futility of his actions. However, at seeing the staunchness of his friend's convictions, Yoshitsugu joined his cause after mulling it over for several days. At the time, Yoshitsugu's health was deteriorating, making him nearly blind. He could not stand up, let alone fight. He was led to the battleground in a palanquin.
Yoshitsugu was at the head of about 600 men, with another 4000 or so under Toda Shigemasa, Hiratsuka Tamehiro, Ōtani Yoshikatsu (his son), and Kinoshita Yoritsugu. As the battle raged on, Kobayakawa Hideaki, who was situated above Yoshitsugu on Mount Matsuo, didn't move, despite repeated calls from Ishida Mitsunari. Yoshitsugu suspected something, and thus called for his troops to position themselves so as to prepare for a possible attack from their flanks. His hunch was right, as following a stimulatory gun volley from Ieyasu's position, Kobayakawa Hideaki and his troops rushed down the mountain towards Yoshitsugu's position. This movement was immediately followed by Akaza Naoyasu, Ogawa Suketada, Kutsuki Mototsuna, and Wakizaka Yasuharu, a total of over 20,000 troops.
Yoshitsugu's troops fought back, at one point even driving back Kobayakawa's troops partway up the mountain, but in the end, sheer numbers took their toll. While this was happening, Yoshitsugu, unable to see, repeatedly asked one of his retainers, Yuasa Gosuke, "Is it lost?" When the latter finally answered in the affirmative, Yoshitsugu asked him to cut his head off. He was then beheaded by his retainer, who also committed seppuku.

**Lord(s):**豊臣秀吉→秀頼

**Father:** 大谷吉房または大谷盛治

**Mother:**東殿

**Sibling(s):** 妹：こや（小屋）（北政所侍女、御倉番）、下間頼亮室、石川貞清室

**Children:**吉治（吉勝）、木下頼継、竹林院（真田信繁正室）