戦には勝ったのに……哀しきサムライの最期 赤座直保

　戦で死ぬのか、いさぎよく切腹をして死ぬのか。

　織田信長、豊臣秀吉の家臣だった、戦国サムライ・赤座直保(あかざ・なおやす）。
　父は織田信長の家臣で「本能寺の変」の時、信長の長男・信忠と共に籠城し、討死したと言われている。信長の死後は豊臣秀吉に仕えた、直保。
　1590年の小田原征伐では、豊臣軍として石田三成と共に、岩槻城と忍城を攻め落としている。関ヶ原の戦いでは、西軍・大谷吉継の軍で戦っていたが、小早川秀秋が東軍に寝返ったのを機に、直保みずからも大谷軍を攻撃し、東軍の勝利に貢献した。

　が、しかし！ 家康に、その功績は認めてもらえず領地は没収。その後は、前田利家の長男・利長のいる加賀へ行き松任城の管理などを任されていた。
　関ヶ原の戦いから6年後の1606年、（現在の富山県にある）大門川の氾濫を見回りに行き、濁流の川を渡る途中に落馬し、溺死してしまった。

　直保・・・無念。

〈以下　英訳〉

Akaza Naoyasu

It was said that for a samurai, dying a glorious death in battle or by ones own hand through Hara-kiri was deemed the ultimate way to go. To die lying down, or in a bed was seen as a most undignified way to die. Despite taking part in battles and duels, not all samurai died a death befitting a samurai. Especially one such as Akaza Naoyasu.

Akaza Naoyasu was the son of Akaza Naonori, a close retainer of Oda Nobunaga who perished along with his master in the attack on the temple of Honnoji. Naoyasu then served under Hideyoshi and fought in the capture of Iwatsuki and Oshi Castles, and at the Siege of Odawara. During the Sekigahara campaign, Naoyasu and his 600 troops were initially placed under the Otani garrison, however near the end of the battle, he was one of those who betrayed the West, turning to assist the Eastern cause at the last minute. Despite his assisting the Tokugawa to victory, following the battle, he would lose his lands and title, only to become a retainer of Maeda Toshinaga, who placed Naoyasu in charge of Mattou Castle, (modern-day Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture)

Naoyasu had fought bravely in a number of violent and bloody battles, even surviving the bloodbath that was Sekigahara, but met an inglorious death in 1606. While on patrol of his domain and inspecting the flooded Daimon River, he fell from his horse, was pulled under by the current and was drowned.

At least he met his end in the name of duty.