Hatsume no Tsubone

Hatsume no Tsubone (初芽局) was a legendary Japanese woman from the Sengoku period. She was famous as the main character of the historical novel Sekigahara by Ryōtarō Shiba. In the novel, she was Kunoichi (female ninja) sent by Tokugawa Ieyasu to spy on his political enemy Ishida Mitsunari before the Battle of Sekigahara.

Legends

Many writers say that Hatsume fell in love with the character of Ishida Mitsunari and began working for him in the Western army, for having served the Tokugawa, she walked freely in Edo to later inform Ieyasu's plans. After Hatsume betrayed Tokugawa Ieyasu and tried to kill him, Ieyasu had her condemned to death. She is said to have lodged at Sawayama castle in Omi province and has become a mistress of Mitsunari.

After Ishida Mitsunari death at the Battle of Sekigahara she disappeared from the historical records and her existence is debated.

Popular culture

Game

She appeared in various games such as Puzzle and Dragons and Sengoku Taisen.

Movie

• Hatsume (performed by Kasumi Arimura) was a protagonist character in ''Sekigahara'' film (2017).

Drama

• Hatsume was starred by Keiko Matsuzaka in the TV series Sekigahara (1981).