Imagawa Tomeji

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Imagawa Tomeji (died 1585), also known as The Vanguard, was a Japanese samurai and a member of the Imagawa clan. He later joined the Japanese Templars under Kimura Kei and served as his right hand. However, after Kei's death, his service transferred him to Kei's daughter Yukari and he later helped her to ensure her control over Awaji.

A true Templar believer, Tomeji grew to loathe Yukari but served her out of both obligation and loyalty to his former master. From his time on Awaji, he was known as her enforcer, one of her taishō (大将, lit. "general"), and instilled a team of captains to enforce her control over the people. However, their grip on Awaji was loosened by the Kakushiba ikki members Fujibayashi Naoe and Yasuke, who assassinated Tomeji to weaken Yukari's hold over the island.

Biography

Service to Kimura Kei

By 1582, Imagawa Tomeji joined the Japanese Rite of the Templar Order and came under the service of Kimura Kei. While under Kei, he promised to safeguard and watch over his daughter Kimura Yukari despite their mutual animosity. However, after Kei's death, Tomeji became Yukari's enforcer and thus followed her commands over subjugating her control over the people of Awaji.

Search for the Sword

By 1585, Tomeji held his role as Yukari's enforcer and stationed his base at Sumoto Castle, with people calling Yukari's army, the Sanzoku Ippa. At some point, he and Yukari soon captured the Master Assassin Fujibayashi Tsuyu, who held information on the location of the Sword Regalia. Despite years of torture and interrogation, Tsuyu never broke.

With this setback, Yukari sent out puppet shows to Izumi Settsu to entice Tsuyu's daughter Naoe, who established her own Kakushiba ikki, to come and to rescue her mother. With the shows having worked, Naoe broke into Sumoto Castle and found her mother Tsuyu, only for Tomeji to knock her out with his kanabō. With both Naoe and Tsuyu prisoners, Yukari left the Fujibayashis by themselves to ponder their choices while Tomeji locked the door. However, Naoe's fellow Kakushiba ikki member Yasuke infiltrated the castle and saved the Fujibayashis before making their escape.

Along the way, Tomeji met Yasuke alone and dueled him to avenge Kei and honor his commitment to him and Yukari but was defeated. On his knees, he admitted he was bested, only to call for reinforcements to surround and nearly execute Yasuke. However, Tsuyu came and killed two soldiers, allowing Yasuke a chance to flee, but Tsuyu was injured in the process. Despite Tomeji and his forces giving chase, they were unsuccessful as the Assassins made their escape.

However, the Templars managed to track Naoe and Yasuke's movements to Myōshō-ji. There, they found and fought Yasuke, whom they captured, before heading to forward to find Naoe. Outside one of the temples, Tomeji stood beside Yukari, his fellow taishō, and a collective of soldiers, while they saw Naoe exit the temple with the Sword in her hands. When Yasuke begged Naoe not to give the Sword, Tomeji immediately knocked him out. When Yukari demanded the Sword and promised their lives in exchange, Naoe reluctantly agreed.

However, upon receiving the Sword, Yukari commanded Tomeji to kill them. Just when Tomeji nearly swung his kanabō on Yasuke, he stopped once a series of arrows were loosed at them, killing their men. Ambushed, Tomeji, Yukari, and his fellow taishō Nowaki fled while their men faced off against Naoe and her allies, including Hattori Hanzō and Konatsu.

Death

With the Sword in the Templars' possession, plans were finally made and Yukari set forward with the next steps. Tomeji returned to Sumoto Castle and continued with his search, with his captains, for the Assassins' location. However, Naoe and Yasuke had begun to hunt down his captains, before breaking into the castle again, with Konatsu's help. Within the castle, the pair confronted Tomeji, who admired their progress against Yukari but admitted that their work must end. Tomeji faced off against his opponents but ultimately was killed. Before they left, the pair recovered the kanabō Boneshaker from his personal effects.

Personality and traits

"Tomeji is the face and fist of Yukari's power, brought down on any who stand in her way."

―Tsuyu to Naoe and Yasuke.

Imagawa Tomeji was a loyal and dutiful man, whose commitment and promise to his former Kimura Kei led him to stand beside Yukari despite his misgivings about her true desires. Like Kei, he truly believed in the Templars' cause, in contrast to Yukari's vision. He also possessed a merciless side as he committed acts of unjust killing to ensure Yukari's will over the people and kept them oppressed under her rule. However, he was honest and impressed, as he expressed his admiration to his enemies Naoe and Yasuke for their work against Yukari.

Skills and equipment

In combat, Tomeji used a kanabō as his main weapon.

Behind the scenes

Imagawa Tomeji is a character introduced as a secondary antagonist and an assassination target in Claws of Awaji, the downloadable expansion for the 2025 video game Assassin's Creed: Shadows.

Gallery

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  Imagawa Tomeji

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Claws of Awaji