Tsutsui Junkei

Tsutsui Junkei (筒井 順慶, March 31, 1549 – September 15, 1584) son of Tsutsui Junshō, and a daimyō of the province of Yamato.

Tsutsui Junkei

Early in his career, Matsunaga Hisahide, one of the most powerful warriors of the region, defeated Junkei and took Tsutsui Castle. By joining the forces of Oda Nobunaga, Junkei defeated Hisahide in Siege of Shigisan at Mount Shigi in 1577.[1]

Junkei's original castle was reclaimed after the battle, but shortly afterward he had to abandon it, following an order by Nobunaga. He was then appointed to the position of daimyō over Yamato, and was allowed to build a new castle, which was called Kōriyama Castle, now in Yamatokōriyama, Nara.

He participated on Tenshō Iga War, in the Siege of Hijiyama in 1581 against forces of Iga Sōkoku Ikki.[1]^:232–233

During the Battle of Yamazaki in 1582, Junkei refused to take either side and remained neutral awaiting the results of the battle at Hora ga toge. This is the origin of the expression, "To sit on Hora ga toge", when referring to indecision.[1]^:278 His governance over Yamato was guaranteed by the victorious Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

After Junkei's death, the Tsutsui clan was succeeded by Tsutsui Sadatsugu, a cousin and adopted son of Junkei. The Tsutsui Clan subsequently lost governance of Yamato to Toyotomi Hidenaga, Hideyoshi's half-brother. Sadatsugu themselves were moved to the Iga Province by orders of Hideyoshi. [2] [3]