Background
Sukemasa Asai was born in Omi (Shiga Prefecture) in 1495. Asai was the son of Takamasa, a retainer of the Kyogoku Family. Sukemasa was a son of Asai Naotane and succeeded Asai Naomasa.
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Sukemasa Asai
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Career
He began his career as a retainer of the Kyôgoku and gradually increased his position to the point where he was essentially an independent lord. After about 1516, Sukemasa spent much of his time competing with the Rokkaku of southern Ômi. In 1508, he left the Kyogokus and served Kageshige Uesugi. Was favored by his new master for his many military exploits. After Kageshige's dath, he built Otani Castle. Sukemasa was a former samurai under the Kyōgoku clan, but he gradually increased his power under an internal struggle within the clan. He managed to become daimyō, a powerful feudal ruler, but became engaged in a perpetual struggle against Rokkaku Sadayori. Sukemasa was completely overrun and forced to retreat into Echizen, but he managed to maintain his independence with the help of the Asakura clan. While this alliance would prove to be a curse to the Azai clan, it was essential to the clan's survival.
He made Odani castle in northern Ômi (built in 1522) his capital and allied with the Asakura of Echizen.
