Yamazaki Nikyū

Yamazaki Nikyū (山崎 二休, 1554 – 1631) was a Japanese physician who was active in Ryukyu Kingdom. In Ryukyuan history records, his full name was Yō-shi Yamazaki Nikyū Morizō (葉氏 山崎 二休 守三).

Yamazaki was born in Echizen Province, Japan. He heard that many Ryukyuan physician studied high skills from Ming China, so he came to Ryukyu just wanted to study medicine. But actually, Ryukyu was lag in physician. Yamazaki was regarded as a skilled physician received rewards from the king, Shō Nei, latter appointed him gotenyaku (御典薬, "physician of imperial bureau of medicine"), and gave him the Chinese style surname, Yō (葉).

In the spring of 1609, Satsuma invaded Ryukyu and sieged the Shuri Castle. Unlike many Ryukyuan officers, Yamazaki fought bravely in the west gate and repelled the attack.

After King Shō Nei's surrender, Yamazaki was captured by Japanese samurai Hōmoto Niemon (法元 弐右衛門). Hōmoto asked him: "You are a Japanese, why you fight for Ryukyu?" He replied: "Fight for gratitude of the Ryukyuan king." Before his execution, King Shō Nei used a lot of gold, silver and jewelry to save his life. King Shō Nei was taken to Kagoshima together with a number of high officials by Satsuma troops. Yamazaki wanted to followed, but King Shō Nei refused and left him in Ryukyu.