KATO KIYOMASA (1574)

Great warrior who helped both Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu in their attempts to unify Japa; as an ardent Buddhist he also led the struggle to ban Christianity from Japan.

A relative of Hideyoshi he entered his service upon reaching manhood and soon distinguished himself in battle. When Hideyoshi invaded Korea in 1592 he spearheaded the campaign and fought so ferociously that the Koreans nicknamed him "Devil Kiyomasa".

Upon Hideyoshi´s death in 1598 he returned to Japan and aided Tokugawa Ieyasu who as chief regent to Hideyoshi´s young son was attempting to maintain his position against a coalition of feudal lords.

For his services Kato was made the hereditary lord of the large Kumamoto fief in southeastern Japan. He remained loyal to Hideyoshi´s rightful heir, Toyotomi Hideyori, and helped prevent Tokugawa Ieyasu from eliminating the boy and completing the consolidation of his own authority.

When Kato died after a visit to the Tokugawa home, many suspected that he had been poisoned.