Houjou Tokiyuki was a Samurai of the Houjou clan. Son of Houjou Takatoki. His father was the ruler of the Kamakura Shogunate. The Elusive Samurai, the popular manga by Matsui Yusei, tells the story between Tokiyuki and Ashikaga Takauji. The late one founder of the Ashikaga Shogunate and the start of the Muromachi Era (the same period in Japan history of Princess Mononoke). The original name of the manga is “The Skilled at Escaping Young Lord”. Want to know why? Here we go!
The Exiled Emperor – Go Daigo
Ashikaga Takauji was a commander of the Kamakura Shogunate during the ruling of Houjou Takatoki, the father of Tokiyuki or The Elusive Samurai in fiction. In 1331, Emperor Go Daigo started a campaign in order to overthrow the Shogunate and recover the power as ruler of Japan. Was the start of the Genko War. He marched to Kamakura helped by Clans against the Shogun. This was the start of the Genko War that confronted the Imperial House and the Kamakura Shogunate. Fujiwara Sadafusa, a trusted advisor of the Emperor, betrayed him alerting the Shogun, Houjou Takatoki.
The Shogun chose Ashikaga Takauji who marched to Kyoto in order to suppress the court of Go Daigo and put an end to the planned uprising against Kamakura. Go Daigo was exiled to the Oki Islands in today’s Shimane Prefecture, west of Kyoto. The Shogun enthroned Emperor Kogon in Kyoto.
In 1331, the exiled emperor Go Daigo in the West escaped from Oki Islands. Helped by Samurai against the Kamakura Shogunate, Go Daigo started to amass a force ready to siege Kamakura. Houjou Tokiyuki stays in Kamakura with his father and older brother.
Houjou Tokiyuki and Ashikaga Takauji
After putting an end to the uprising in Kyoto by Go Daigo, Ashikaga Takauji was appointed Chief General of Kamakura. Securing the Court to proclaim the new Emperor Kogon, the Northern Court loyal to the Houjou Clan. He traveled with the Shogun Army to put an end to Go Daigo’s second intent of uprising against Kamakura. But before he reached Kyoto he betrayed Houjou and defected to Go Daigo’s side. Takauji was the leader of the Minamoto clan. The Clan that have lost all power against the Taira Clan that gave birth to the Houjou.
Together with another samurai of the Minamoto Clan, Nitta Yoshisada, Takauji besieged Kamakura and the Houjou Clan. The Shogun, Houjou Takatoki committed suicide. The Kamakura Shogunate fell and the Houjou Clan’s power and influence came to an end. Go Daigo was enthroned Emperor in Kyoto and restored power to the House of the Chrysanthemum during the Kenmu Restoration.
Houjou Tokiyuki, or The Elusive Samurai, fled the siege to Shinano Province, today’s Nagano Prefecture. His father and ruler of Kamakura, Houjou Takatoki committed suicide and his oldest son was killed during the battle. Houjou Takayuki was the last Samurai in the Houjou Clan. He gathered an army and returned to Kamakura in 1335, forcing Ashikaga Tadayoshi, Takauji’s younger brother, to flee recapturing the city. But almost immediately, the once loyal to the Houjou Clan, Ashikaga Takauji, made Tokiyuki leave Kamakura a second time.
The Shogun: Ashikaga Takauji
After the fall of Kamakura, Ashikaga Takauji seized Kyoto and the court of Go Daigo and established the Ashikaga Shogunate. Proclaiming himself as Shogun in Kyoto. Go Daigo fled to Nara. Was the origin of the Southern and Northern Courts, Nanbokucho. Houjou Tokiyuki asked pardon to Go Daigo and sought to fight Ashikaga Takauji together with Nitta Yoshioki, the second son of Nitta Yoshisada who besieged Kamakura together with Takauji.
Houjou Tokiyuki aided in 1352 to recapture Kamakura for a short period of time. But was once again forced to flee to Sagami Province, today’s Kanagawa Prefecture. This was the third and last time Tokiyuki got to flee from Kamakura. “The Elusive Samurai” was beheaded by Ashikaga’s allies the 21 of June, 1953.