Sengoku Basara Socks
Description: The Takeda clan (武田) was a famous Japanese clan active from the late Heian period until the late 16th century. The clan was historically based in Kai Province in present-day Yamanashi Prefecture. The clan was known for their honorable actions under the rule of Takeda Shingen, one of the most famous rulers of sengoku jidai, the warring period of feudal Japan. This is the kamon (family crest/emblem) of the Takeda clan, this crest is known as the “Takeda Diamond” and is shared by all Takeda families across the country who claim the Kai Genji as their ancestors. There is also a version known as the “Flower Diamond” in which the diamond is made up of four petals. Below the crest is “Takeda” in kanji.
Description: Hattori Hanzo (服部半蔵), also known as Hattori Masanari, was a famous samurai of the Sengoku era, credited with saving the life of Tokugawa Ieyasu and then helping him to become the ruler of united Japan. Today, he is often a subject of varied portrayal in modern popular culture especially in ninja.
Description: The Uesugi clan (上杉) was a Japanese samurai clan, descended from the Fujiwara clan and particularly notable for their power in the Muromachi and Sengoku periods. The clan was known for the daimyo Uesugi Kenshin who fought against legendary daimyo Takeda Shingen druing the sengoku jidai. This is the kamon (family crest/emblem) of the Uesugi clan, featuring two flying swallows in bamboo. Below the crest is “Uesugi” in kanji.
Description: The Sanada clan (真田) was a Japanese samurai clan. The Sanada were key vassals in the Takeda army, with three famous generals being Sanada Yukitaka and his sons Sanada Nobutsuna, Sanada Masateru, and Sanada Masayuki. In the Sengoku period, Sanada Masayuki led the clan, his second son Sanada Yukimura was sent as a hostage to the Toyotomi clan in 1587. Sanada Yukimura later became a famous samurai warrior who was especially known as the leading general on the defending side of the Siege of Osaka. This is the kamon (family crest) of the Sanada clan, Rokumonsen (六文銭) or “Six coins”. Below the crest is “Sanada” in kanji.
Description: The Oda clan (織田) was a family of Japanese daimyos who were to become an important political force in the unification of Japan in the sengoku jidai. Though they had the climax of their fame under Oda Nobunaga and fell from the spotlight soon after, several branches of the family continued as daimyo houses until the Meiji Restoration. This is the kamon (family crest/emblem) of the Oda clan, Oda mokko, the artsy stylized of quince flowers. Below the crest is “Oda” in kanji.
Description: Oda Nobunaga was a legendary daimyo of Japan in the sengoku jidai who attempted to unify Japan and successfully gained control over most of Honshu. Nobunaga is regarded as one of three unifiers of Japan along with his retainers Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu. During his later life, Nobunaga was widely known for most brutal suppression of determined opponents, eliminating those who by principle refused to cooperate or yield to his demands. His reign was noted for innovative military tactics, fostering free trade, and encouraging the start of the Momoyama historical art period. He was killed when his retainer Akechi Mitsuhide rebelled against him at Honno-ji.
Description: The Mori clan (森) was a family of Japanese people descended from the Seiwa Genji. During the Sengoku period, the Mori served under Oda Nobunaga. Mori Yoshinari fought with Nobunaga for Kiyosu Castle, and with his son Mori Yoshitaka joined the campaigns against the Saito, Azai, and Asakura. Yoshinari’s son Nagasada, known as Mori Ranmaru, died with Nobunaga in the Incident at Honno-ji. This is the kamon (family crest) of the Mori clan, Tsuru-no-maru (鶴の丸) or “Crane in circle”. Below the crest is “Mori” in kanji.
Description: The Shimazu clan were the lords of Satsuma province in south Kyusu for nearly 700 years, from the 1180s through the 1870s, commanding considerable power and semi-independence within their domain. This is the kamon (family crest) of the Shimazu clan, the Jyuji (cross), there are many meanings for this mark; one says that they are a set of chopsticks that was used to celebrate to take the field, the other says that the mark represents two dragons, or it is simply a symbol of Christianity. Below the crest is “Shimazu” in kanji.
Description: The Tachibana clan (立花) was a Japanese clan of daimyo during Japan’s Sengoku and Edo periods. Originally based in Tachibana castle in Kyūshū, the family’s holdings were moved to the Yanagawa Domain in the far north-east of Honshū in the Edo period. The clan, which bore no direct relation to the Tachibana clan of the Heian period, originated with Otomo Sadatoshi, who took on the name and assigned it to the family of Otomo vassals who held Tachibana castle. For a time, the Tachibana served as loyal retainers under the Otomo clan, regularly battling the Shimazu, rivals to the Otomo. This is the kamon (family crest) of the Tachibana clan, Gion Mamori (祇園守) or “Gion amulet”. Below the crest is “Tachibana” in kanji.
Description: The Asakura clan (朝倉) was a Japanese samurai clan. The clan claims descent from Prince Kusakabe, who was the son of Emperor Tenmu.The family was a line of daimyo which, along with the Azai clan, opposed Oda Nobunaga in the late 16th century. The Asakura were defeated by Nobunaga at the Battle of Anegawa in 1570, the family’s home castle of Ichijodani was taken in 1573. This is the kamon (family crest) of the Asakura clan, Mitsumori mokkou (三つ盛木瓜) or “three Japanese quince” Below the crest is “Asakura” in kanji.
Description: Mori Motonari (毛利元就) was a prominent daimyo in the western Chugoku region of Japan during the Sengoku period of the 16th century. Motonari is known as a great strategist who began as a small local warlord of Aki Province who extended his clan's power to nearly all of the Chugoku region through war, marriage, adoption and assassination. The kamon of Mori clan is Ichimonji Mitsuboshi (一文字三星) or "One character and three star"
Description: Date Masamune (伊達政宗) was a regional ruler of Japan’s Azuchi – Momoyama period through early Edo period. Heir to a long line of powerful daimyos in the Tohoku region, he went on to found the modern-day city of Sendai. In spite of facing an infamously traumatizing childhood, he rose to prominence as the most dominate ruling power in Oshu. He is reputed as one of the wisest figures of the time era, biting back his ambitions to stay as one of the wealthiest independent rulers of his time. The One Eyed Dragon of Oshu (奥州独眼竜), is the nickname of Masamume due to his missing right eye.
Description: Uesugi Kenshin (上杉謙信) was a daimyo who was born as Nagao Kagetora, and after the adoption into the Uesugi clan, ruled Echigo Province in the Sengoku period of Japan. Kenshin is famed for his honourable conduct, his military expertise, a long-standing rivalry with Takeda Shingen, and his belief in the Buddhist god of war - Bishamonten. In fact, many of his followers and others believed him to be the Avatar of Bishamonten, and called Kenshin "God of War".
Description: The Honda clan (本田) is a Japanese family that claims descent from the medieval court noble Fujiwara no Kanemichi. The family settled in Mikawa and served the Matsudaira clan as retainers. Later, when the main Matsudaira family became the Tokugawa clan, the Honda rose in prestige. This is the kamon (family crest) of the Honda clan, Honda tachi aoi (本多立ち葵) or “Honda standing wild ginger”. Below the crest is “Honda” in kanji.
Description: The Kobayakawa clan (小早川) was a Japanese samurai clan that claimed descent from the Taira clan. Their holdings were in the Chūgoku region. They were a powerful clan during the Sengoku period but were disbanded during the Edo period after the Battle of Sekigahara. This is the kamon (family crest) of the Kobayakawa clan, Hidari-mitsudomoe (左三つ巴) or “left threefold tomoe”, which also are widely used in Shinto shrines. Below the crest is “Kobayakawa” in kanji.
Description: Uesugi Kenshin (上杉謙信) was a daimyo who was born as Nagao Kagetora, and after the adoption into the Uesugi clan, ruled Echigo Province in the Sengoku period of Japan. Kenshin is famed for his honourable conduct, his military expertise, a long-standing rivalry with Takeda Shingen, and his belief in the Buddhist god of war - Bishamonten. The Dragon of Echigo (越後の龍) is the nickname given to Uesugin Kenshin because of his fearsome skills in the martial arts displayed on the battlefield.
Description: The Mori clan (毛利) was a Japanese samurai clan descended from Oe no Hiromoto, the family’s most illustrious member, Mōri Motonari, greatly expanded the clan’s power in Aki Province. They survived the Warring States period and are still active to this day. This is the kamon (family crest) of the Mori clan, “One” character and three stars, the three stars references three stars within Orion’s constellation. Below the crest is “Mori” in kanji.
Description: Honda Heihachiro Tadakatsu, or Honda Tadakatsu, was a Japanese samurai, general (and later a daimyo) of the late Sengoku through early Edo periods, who served Tokugawa Ieyasu. Honda Tadakatsu was one of the Tokugawa Four Heavenly Kings along with Ii Naomasa, Sakakibara Yasumasa and Sakai Tadatsugu, and has been regarded as one of the finest warrior at the time.
Description: The Otani clan was a feudal Japanese samurai clan from Mutsu Province, the most famous head of the clan was Otani Yoshitsugu.Yoshitsugu was a loyal retainer of Hideyoshi Hashiba and Mitsunari Ishida, and was aligned with the Toyotomi clan during the Sekigahara Campaign. Yoshitsugu was killed and the clan destroyed in the 1600 Battle of Sekigahara. This is the kamon (family crest) of the Otani clan, Mukai Cho (向い蝶) or “Facing Butterflies”. Below the crest is “Otani” in kanji.
Description: 片倉景綱: Katakura Kagetsuna, or more commonly, as Katakura Kojuro (小十朗) was a Japanese samurai of the Katakura clan during the late Sengoku period, together with Oniniwa Tsunamoto and Date Shigezane, Kagetsuna was known as one of the "Three Great Men of the Date Clan". 天下の陪臣: Vassal of the World, meaning the top retainer under the ruler, was the praise given to both Kagetsuna who served the Date clan; and Naoe Kanetsugu who served the Uesugi clan, for their wisdom and bravery in both administrative duty and military campaign. In the background is the header board of Kagetsuna's Crab, and Kamon of Katakura clan, Kuyo (九曜) or "Nine Sun".
Description: Takeda Shingen (武田信玄) was a pre-eminent daimyo in feudal Japan with exceptional military prestige in the late stage of the Sengoku period. During his conquests in the eastern regions of Japan, he clashed with several prominent historical figures. After his death, Shingen has been romanticized as a masterful strategist and a thorough study of Sun Tzu, even going as far to adopt the Furinkazan as his banner. The Tiger of Kai (甲斐の虎) is the nickname given to Takeda Shingen for his martial prowess on the battlefield.
Description: Azai Nagamasa (浅井長政) was the last daimyo of Azai clan during the Sengoku period of Japan, his clan were located in northern Omi Province, east of Lake Biwa. He was the brother-in-law of Oda Nobunaga, but later became one of Nobunaga's enemies when Nobunaga decided to attack the allies of Azai, the Asakura clan. Nagamasa and his clan were destroyed by Oda Nobunaga in 1573. The kamon of Azai clan is Mitsumori Kikkou ni Hanabishi (三盛龜甲に花菱) or "Flower diamond in three turtle shell"
Description: Shimazu Yoshihiro (島津義弘) traditionally believed to be the seventeenth head of the Shimazu clan, he was a skilled general during the Sengoku period who greatly contributed to the unification of Kyushu. His skill in battle earned him the nickname of "Devil Shimazu" (鬼島津) during Hideyoshi's attempt to invade Korea. The kamon of Shimazu clan is Juji (十字) or "cross"
Description: Katakura Kojuro (片倉小十郎), or real name Katakura Kagetsuna (片倉景綱), was a Japanese samurai of sengoku jidai, retainer of Date Clan, together with Oniniwa Tsunamoto and Date Shigezane, Kagetsuna was known as one of the "Three Great Men of the Date Clan", he was famed for his role as a senior retainer under Date Masamune. Kagetsuna fought in most of Masamune's major battles, and also assisted in the Date clan's administrative duties, he played a key role in the survival of the Date clan in 1590, by recommending that Masamune submit to Toyotomi Hideyoshi during the Odawara Campaign.
Description: Yagyu Munenori (柳生宗矩) was a Japanese swordsman, founder of the Edo branch of Yagyu Shinkage-ryu, which he learned from his father Yagyu Muneyoshi, and father of Yagyu Jubei. This was one of two official sword styles patronized by the Tokugawa shogunate. Munenori entered the service of Tokugawa Ieyasu at a young age, and later was an instructor of swordsmanship to Ieyasu's son Hidetada. Still later, he became one of the primary advisors of the third shogun Iemitsu. The kamon of Yagyu family is Waremokou ni Suzume (地楡に雀) mon, meaning "Sparrow in Burnet".
Description: Ii Naomasa (井伊直政) was a general under the Sengoku period daimyo, and later shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu. He is regarded as one of the Four Guardians of the Tokugawa along with Honda Tadakatsu, Sakakibara Yasumasa, and Sakai Tadatsugu. The kamon of Ii clan is Maru ni tachibana (丸に橘) or "citrus Tachibana in a circle".
