, was the grandson and only surviving descendant of Jinbō Nagakiyo

Jinbo Nagakiyo

, was the younger brother of Jinbo Nagatsuna. Reputed to be both a playboy and an alcoholic, he was known to hold raucous parties at his estate in Etchū Province after battle campaigns to celebrate victories. He conspired with Nagao Tamekage against his cousin Jinbō Yoshimune, and is reputed to...

. Unlike his grandfather, who was executed for betraying the Jinbō clan

Jinbo clan

The ' was a Japanese clan that was active in Echigo Province during the Sengoku period, as retainers of the Uesugi clan. During the Edo period, one branch of the Jinbo would enter the service of the Matsudaira clan of Aizu; another would become hatamoto in the service of the Tokugawa shogunate....

, Kiyoshige was a valuable asset to the Jinbō, and a general and advisor to Jinbō Nagamoto

Jinbo Nagamoto

was a Japanese daimyo of the Sengoku period, who was the last lord of the Jinbō clan. He is most remembered for almost constant warfare with Shiina Yasutane, and their rivalry has been compared to that of Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin. Much like Shingen and Kenshin, they met once in personal...

. Kiyoshige was fearless on the battlefield, often leading charges and covering retreats. It was while covering retreat during the battle of Imizu

Battle of Imizu

The ' was fought during Japan's Sengoku Period between two rival daimyo, Jinbo Nagamoto and Shiina Yasutane, in Etchū province during the third month of 1554. Nagamoto and Yasutane had been at odds for years, skirmishing numerous times with no clear winner...

 in 1554, that he was killed. His distinctive blue armor was returned to the Jinbo clan later that year by the enemy general, Shiina Yasutane

Shiina Yasutane

Shiina Yasutane was a Japanese daimyo of the Sengoku period, who was lord of the Shiina clan of Etchu Province. Throughout the 1550's and 60's he led numerous attacks on the Jinbo clan, and in one of the few documented cases of two generals engaging personally in combat on the field, Yasutane...

, as both a tribute to Kiyoshige's bravery during the battle, and as a peace offering to assist in smoothing over differences between the two clans.