Hosokawa Tama

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Hosokawa Tama (died 1600), also known as either Hosokawa Gracia or under the pseudoymn, The Silver Queen, was a Japanese member of the Akechi clan and a member of the Japanese Rite of the Templar Order during the 16th century. Forced to work for the Templars, Tama took charge of the silver trade in Tamba under the order of the leader of the rite, Portuguese Templar Nuno Caro. To ensure compliance, Nuno took her younger brother Akechi Mitsuyoshi as his prisoner.

When the Kakushiba ikki member Yasuke confronted her, Tama ultimately agreed to help in his mission to kill Caro in exchange for Mitsuyoshi's freedom. After Yaskue rescued Mitsuyoshi, Tama informed Yasuke of Caro's location before leaving with her brother and deserting the Order.

Biography

Forced into the Templar Order

By 1582, Hosokawa Tama witnessed the Templars influence her father Akechi Mitsuhide to commit treason against Lord Oda Nobunaga. As a precaution and a gesture of good faith, Tama and Mitsuyoshi were sent to Tada in Tamba under Caro's discretion before his attack at Honnō-ji Temple. Although promised to be retrieved, Tama soon heard about her father's downfall to the Kakushiba ikki members Fujibayashi Naoe and Yasuke. This left Tama and Mitsuyoshi the only ones left in their family.

However, Tama was forced into the Templar Order after Nuno Caro took her brother hostage. Her responsiblity was to oversee and to produce silver from Tada Silver Mines for the Templar Order. However, the mines began to dry up while Caro became more insistent on the demand for the silver. Afraid, she pushed the workers harder despite knowing her time was limited.

Meeting Yasuke and defection

One evening in Tada, Tama was watching over the mines, but soon approached by two of Caro's men. They relayed Caro's disappointment of the late shipment of silver but left upon Yasuke's arrival. Meeting Yasuke, Tama told him to talk privately as "their" eyes were everywhere. Leading him to her private estate, she quickly stirred him tea while Yasuke soon asked for information on Caro.

Tama asked what he wanted with him, to which he responded that he intended to kill him. However, Yasuke soon fell ill and realized he was poisoned by Tama. Becoming immobile, Yasuke saw Caro and tried to act but failed. When Caro revealed that Yasuke and Naoe were her father's killers, Tama asked to kill the samurai for justice for her father. When Caro handed her one of his pistols to finish the job, Yasuke soon fell unconscious.

Waking up in another building, Yasuke confronted Tama but was held at her gunpoint. However, Tama asked if Yasuke was true to his word to go against Caro. When Yasuke reaffirmed his word, Tama let him go in exchange for his assistance to free Mitsuyoshi from Kameyama Castle. Tama promised to help him enter the castle, but Yasuke insisted to go by himself as to stop any thoughts of their affliation. Agreeing, Tama told him to meet her with Mitsuyoshi at Atago Shrine once he rescued her brother before leaving.

After Yasuke safeguarded Mitsuyoshi on his escape and retrieved the Akechi clan katana from Caro's soldier, Baltazar, Tama embraced Mitsuyoshi while telling him that they were leaving this cursed place. While Mitsuyoshi took his family's katana to the shrine, Tama thanked Yasuke for his help. Discussing about how much death and war had surrounded her family, Tama admitted that the thought of killing Yasuke crossed her mind but saw that he sought only justice not power. Before leaving, she instructed him to go to Takeda Castle to find Caro.

Personality and traits

Hosokawa Tama showed a reasonable and forgiving nature, despite her personal grievances. Tama showed no loyalty to the Templars, especially to Caro, as she never truly believed in the cause. However, she showed devotion and compassion for her family, especially for her younger brother Mitsuyoshi and his safety. She also wears a Christian cross necklace.

Behind the scenes

Hosokawa Tama is a character introduced as an antagonist in the 2025 video game Assassin's Creed: Shadows.

Historically, after Akechi Mitsuhide's downfall and subsequent death, Tama was the last survivor of the Akechi clan. Married to Hosowaka Tadaoki, she later converted to Christianity after her father's treason led to her seclusion. She later died as a result in the conflict between Ishida Mitsunari and Tokugawa Ieyasu, with the former attempting to abduct her. Although, accounts differ on the manner of death. One account stated she was killed by her family's retainer Ogasawara Shōsai, who later committed seppuku after lighting the home mansion on fire, while others stated that Tadaoki ordered their servants to kill her if her honor was threatened.

Gallery

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  Hosokawa Tama

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Shadows