Toshie Maeda

Toshie Maeda was a pivotable samurai figure in Japanese history, who
knew all three of the unifers, Oda Nobunaga, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, and
Tokugawa Ieyasu. There is a Japanese samurai television series
called Toshie and Matsu. I would like to know if what is depicted of
the relationship between Oda Nobunaga and Toshie Maeda is
historically accurate, or rather, what is the story between the two
samurai. The television drama depicts a sense of true friendship,
though stormy relationship in that Maeda is a kind, pure,
sincere "bullet" for Oda, the reason the latter saw in the young
Maeda capability beyond bullet concept--that hear is a man he could
depend and necessarily be a yes man. I like to hear from a member
who could direct to read something on Toshie Maeda. I hope someone
can be kind to me and help me to understand better.

Most sincerely,

Hi all,
On Maeda Toshiie I have the following basic information regarding his
relations with Oda Nobunaga and his rise in that system.
Toshiie lived from 1538 to 1599 and was born in the province of Owari. This
was a bonus to him because the Oda families strength was in using a select
core of men from Owari (Nobunaga's home province) as captains of Oda's armies
and Horse guards.
He was given the fief of Fuchu in Echizen (33,000 Koku) and was one third of
the group called the 'Fuchu Sanninshu' or Fuchu triumvate, a group of strong
vassals serving under the Oda house.
As one of Nobunaga's retainers from the years around his (Oda's) fathers
death Maeda was a trusted and reliable part of the Oda clan and was one of a
group of samurai entrusted with the running of the armies for Nobunaga...As
such you could presume that their relationship was based on a high degree of
both trust and reliability.
Toshiie was moved from Fuchu to Noto province in 1581 but the evidence on
the move seems not to show that he was moved because of distrust but rather
moved to support the group of Maeda's vassals as one unit and allow the group
to expand. This again supports the strong picture of a deep trust between the
two.
The picture that emerges is of a relationship of both trust and dependance
on Maeda from Nobunaga...How far this went is unclear although it is probable
that the TV series has invented much of the relationship to promote
storyline. They were close, trusting and friendly and as a Captain of the Oda
forces Maeda would need to have been!
Good books to read on the two of them are "The Samurai sorcebook" by Stephen
Turnbull which provides a very basic overview and a little information on
them both. Another one to read is "Japonius Tyrranus" by Jerome Lamers...Both
available through Amazon I think...
HTH.
Abayo.
Ben Sharples