Background
Masatoyo was the second son of Takeda Nobutora"s senior retainer, Kudō Toratoyo.
内藤 昌豊内藤 政秀
Masatoyo was the second son of Takeda Nobutora"s senior retainer, Kudō Toratoyo.
He was known as one of the "Twenty-Four Generals of Takeda Shingen". He was first called Kudō Sukenaga. The family"s fortunes fell when Toratoyo lost favor with Nobutora and was killed by him.
Shingen also formally excused Toratoyo of any wrongdoing and sent a letter of apology and money to the family.
Furthermore, the Kudō were given command of 50 cavalry and granted the rank of samurai-taishō (侍大将). In 1566 he was given Minowa Castle in Kōzuke Province after it fell to the Takeda.
At Mikatagahara he led a charge into the Tokugawa ranks and was at the forefront of the fighting at Nagashino (1575). He had opposed the attack at Nagashino and, in the course of the battle, was shot many times by arrows before being beheaded by Asahina Yasukatsu.
He had been noted for his warm disposition and his equally impressive talents in warfare and administration.
He had even been a mentor to the young Katsuyori, Takeda Shingen"s fourth son. At Nagashino, after disagreeing with Katsuyori, he rushed into battle, dying an honorable death.