信玄の恩に報いるべく忠節を尽くしたサムライ　内藤昌豊

　武田信虎（武田信玄の父）の重臣であった工藤虎豊。

　父の亡き後、昌豊は浪人となり（このとき、まだ16歳とも言われる）全国を放浪していたが、武田信玄が父・信虎を強制的に隠居させると、信玄は昌豊に対し「可哀想なことをした。申し訳なかった…」と父の行為を詫びた上に、昌豊を侍大将として召し抱えた。
（この信玄の潔さも、SAMURAIとしてカッコいい！）

　1561年には「川中島の戦い」で、その5年後には「箕輪城攻め」で昌豊は大活躍！ さらに1572年の「三方ヶ原の戦い」でも活躍し、内藤昌豊は、武田四天王と呼ばれるまでになっていく。想像でしかないが、きっと、一生懸命尽くし戦うことで、信玄に恩を返したかったのだろうと思う。

　1573年に信玄が亡くなった後、昌豊は、信玄の息子・勝頼に仕え「長篠の戦い」にも出陣。苦戦し退去する勝頼に、その時間を与えるため、昌豊は敵陣に突撃し、最後まで戦い、体中に矢をあびながら討ち死にしたとも言われている。

　信虎に父を殺され、昌豊自身も大変な苦労をさせられたにも関わらず、自分を呼び戻し召し抱えてくれた信玄と、その息子・勝頼に忠義を尽くしたSAMURAI内藤昌豊。彼の生き様をちょっと知るだけでも、なんだか胸が熱くなる。
　やっぱり、ホンモノのSAMURAIの生き様は素晴らしい。

〈以下、英訳〉

Naito Masatoyo

Kudo Toratoyo was a senior retainer to the great General Takeda Shingen’s father, Nobutora.  The loyal retainer once objected to his lords’ actions, and in the process fell from favor. Because of his perceived insolence, Nobutora had the man killed. Kudo Toratoyo’s two sons escaped, and one was later to become known as Naito Masatoyo, one of the heroes of the Sengoku (Warring States) Period.

Upon his father’s death, Masatoyo, then believed to be about 16, became a Ronin, a masterless samurai, and took to wandering the country. When Shingen overthrew his own father, he recalled the brothers with a letter, apologizing for his father’s affront, excusing Toratoyo of any wrongdoing, and reinstated the brother’s positions.  Masatoyo was made Samurai Taisho, or Captain. (At least Shingen was man enough to admit his family’s wrongdoings.)

In 1561 Masatoyo distinguished himself during the Battle of Kawanakajima, and again five years after that in the Siege of Minowa Castle, Following his efforts in the Battle if Mikatagahara in 1572 he was recognized as one the Four Great Warriors of the Takeda. It could be considered that his loyal and valiant efforts were achieved in an effort to repay his obligation to Shingen.

In 1573, Takeda Shingen died, and Masatoyo continued to serve under Shingen’s son, Katsuyori. In 1575, as mentor to Katsuyori, took part in the ill-fated Battle of Nagashino. Following a disagreement with Katsuyori over tactics during the battle, Masatoyo lead a suicidal charge against the Tokugawa ranks, being shot multiple times by arrow fire before losing his head to the enemy.

Although little detail is known of this samurai, it seems in spite of having had his father killed by Takeda Nobutora, being recalled by Takeda Shingen and losing his life while serving Takeda Katsuyori, Naito Masatoyo was a samurai who served his lord well and lived for the heat of the moment.

The way a samurai should.