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Kuma (熊) was a Japanese warrior who served bodyguard of Lady Oichi during the late 16th century.
Biography
Early life
Kuma was born in Hachiman and grew up with his family in a rice farm. Some time prior to 1573, the daimyō of northern Ōmi Azai Nagamasa held a sumo match in the village, with Kuma being one of the participants. Kuma's size and strength impressed the daimyo who promptly took him into his household and gave Kuma's father a koku of rice. Since then, Kuma has served Lord Nagamasa and later Lady Oichi, becoming her personal bodyguard.[1]
Oichi's bodyguard
After Nagamasa's death in 1573, Kuma accompanied Oichi when she returned to live in Azuchi Castle for a period of time. In spring of 1581, Kuma was present with Oichi when she went to meet with Diogo, an African retainer of Oichi's brother Oda Nobunaga. Oichi had wished to express her gratitude to him after he helped an elderly servant from being bullied by a group of Sanada-ryu students.[2]
A year later at the csatle residence of Kamiizumi Nobutsuna, Kuma met Diogo, now a samurai known by the name Yasuke, and informed him of Oichi's request to meet her at Odani in northern Omi.[3] When Yasuke arrived, Kuma later brought Yasuke into the residence's gardens to meet Oichi.[4]
After Oichi asked Yasuke for help in dealing with the Shinbakufu region in the area,[4] Kuma was sought out by Yasuke in his lookout in Hachiman. There, Kuma told the samurai of the corrupted Daikan forcefully taxing the residents in the region. Yasuke helped Kuma to investigate and eliminated the corrupt daikan, which he expressed his gratitude for. After telling the samurai some stories of his past, Kuma handed Yasuke a list of more corrupted daikans in the country and requested his help to eliminate them.[1]
Appearances
References
