Nakamura was a bandit peasant during the 16th century Azuchi-Momoyama period

Azuchi-Momoyama period

The came at the end of the Warring States Period in Japan, when the political unification that preceded the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate took place. It spans the years from approximately 1573 to 1603, during which time Oda Nobunaga and his successor, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, imposed order...

 in Japan. He was the leader of a gang of bandits that were stationed at a minor village called Ogurusu, which was near the area of battle during the Battle of Yamazaki

Battle of Yamazaki

The was fought in 1582 in Yamazaki, Japan, located in current day Kyoto Prefecture. This battle is sometimes referred to as the Battle of Mt. Tennō ....

 of 1582. He is rumored to have killed the general Akechi Mitsuhide

Akechi Mitsuhide

, nicknamed Jūbei or called from his clan name and title, was a samurai who lived during the Sengoku period of Feudal Japan.Mitsuhide was a general under daimyo Oda Nobunaga, although he became infamous for his betrayal in 1582, which led to Nobunaga's death at Honno-ji...

. According to this rumor, after Mitsuhide was defeated at Yamazaki

Yamazaki

The are descendants of a samurai clan from Kawagoe in the Kantō region. The Yamazaki line dates from the 18th century, and their land was awarded by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period.- Descendants :...

, he passed through the village of Ogurusu. While riding through, he passed by Nakamura who was hiding in a bamboo grove. Nakamura killed Mitsuhide by thrusting his spear into him. This took place a mere thirteen days after Mitsuhide had arranged for the death of the famous Oda Nobunaga

Oda Nobunaga

was the initiator of the unification of Japan under the shogunate in the late 16th century, which ruled Japan until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was also a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. His opus was continued, completed and finalized by his successors Toyotomi...

.