Ii Naomasa was born in 1561. He was the son of Naochika. His early name was Manchiyo. His family lived in Itani Castle in Totomi Province (Shizuoka Prefecture) and served the Imagawas. When Naomasa was two years old, his father was killed by Tjjimasa Imagawa on a false charge.
Naomasa pledged loyalty to Ieyasu Tokugawa (1575). Ieyasu trust¬ed him and Rave him a fief of 10,000 koku and placed former followers of the Take- das in Kai (Yamanashi Prefecture) at his command. Naomasa provided all his follow¬ers with red armors and weapons. Distin¬guished himself in many battles of Ieyasu, especially in that at Odawara, and was made lord of Sawayama Castle in Omi Province (Shiga Prefecture), with a 180,000 koku fief.
