was a Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

ese samurai

Samurai

is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...

 of the Sengoku period

Sengoku period

The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...

, who served the Azai clan.

Sadakiyo, also known as Imai Kenroku, served under Kizawa Nagamasa

Kizawa Nagamasa

Kizawa Nagamasa was a daimyo of the Sengoku Period in Japan.Nagamasa built Shigisan Castle for the Hatakeyama clan in 1536, an accomplishment that earned him the title of shugo of Yamato Province. In 1561 he expanded into Shiga Prefecture when he defeated the Rokkaku clan at the Battle of Maibara...

 at the Battle of Maibara

Battle of Maibara

The Battle of Maibara was an engagement during the Sengoku Period of Japan. Kizawa Nagamasa defeated the forces of Rokkaku Yoshikata using ninja to launch fire attacks and sneaky assaults.- Battle :...

. He blundered when he marched in front of Isono Tamba-no-kami

Isono Tamba-no-kami

Isono Tamba was an officer of Kizawa Nagamasa during the Sengoku Period in Japan. Tamba was lord of Sawayama Castle in Omi Province and a retainer of the Azai clan. He fought at the Battle of Maibara in 1561 infamously distinguishing himself as the one who accidentally attacked his comrade Imai...

 at dawn, who thought he was the enemy. Swordsman Kishizawa Yoichi

Kishizawa Yoichi

Kishizawa Yoichi was a retainer of the Azai clan, as well as a talented swordsman. However, his reputation was marred at the Battle of Maibara when he killed general Imai Sadakiyo with a spear, thinking that he was the enemy commander...

jumped up and mortally wounded him with a spear thrust. He did not bother resisting the misguided "enemy", and fell dead off his horse.