Amakusa Shirō

Amakusa Shirō (sometimes known as Masuda Shirō Tokisada) was a Japanese Christian who lived in the Edo period. He is famously remembered for leading the Shimabara Rebellion.

Amakusa was born in 1621 to Masuda Jinbei and his wife, two Catholics. There is a legend he was an illegitimate son of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, although this is not true. He quickly became part of the Catholic faith in Japan.

After the daimyo of the Shimabara domain named Matsukura Katsuie began raising taxes and prohibiting Christianity, Ronin and Catholic Peasants joined, and on December 17, 1637, the uprising began. Local magistrate Hayashi Hyōzaemon was assassinated, and 16 year old Amakusa Shirō became the leader of the rebellion. They tried to take a few castles such as Tomioka and Hondo (Both of which belonged to the Terasawa Clan), but failed when reinforcements arrived. They then moved to Hara Castle and set up defences and armed themselves with supplies taken from storehouses. Then, the shogun sent Itakura Shigemasa to defeat the rebels. Miyamoto Musashi participated in the Battle, although he was knocked off his horse after a stone was throne at him. The Dutch joined sides with the Tokugawa shogunate, and as the assaults began, Itakura Shigemasa was killed in battle. Matsudaira Nobutsuna replaced him, and both sides struggled. The Shogunate was not able to take the castle, while the rebels were running out of supplies and food. On February 3rd, the rebels committed an ambush, killing 2,000 shogunate troops. On April 4, 1638, 27,000 rebels tried an assault on the 125,000 shogunate troops, but were forced to retreat. After being betrayed, the castle fell.

Captured rebels were all executed, along with sympathizers. Amakusa is said to have been taken captive and executed, and his head sent to Nagasaki to be displayed. Hara Castle was burned with every single body inside, and Christianity would only survive while hidden. Matsukura was kicked out and eventually executed, and Terasawa Lord Terasawa Katataka committed seppuku, ending his lineage.