Who Is Hirate Masahide (Hirate Nakatsukasa)?
Nobunaga's guardian, who took his own life in despair
Hirate Masahide was a senior retainer of the Oda clan of Owari and the guardian (tutor) of the young Oda Nobunaga. The Shinchō Kōki calls him "Hirate Nakatsukasa." Known for his wisdom, he arranged the marriage between Nobunaga and Saito Dosan's daughter.
Pained by Nobunaga's foolish behavior and despairing over what the future holds, he finally cuts open his belly, reportedly in 1553. The Shinchō Kōki also tells how Nobunaga asked his son, Goroemon, for a fine horse and was refused, opening a rift between lord and retainer. Nobunaga mourned Masahide's death and built Seishu-ji temple in his memory.
His death is often described as an act of protest meant to correct Nobunaga, but some believe the bad blood with his son played a part. The diary of the court noble Yamashina Tokitsugu records his admiration for the splendor of Masahide's residence, suggesting that he was also a man of culture.
