朝翕敏彔
Toshikage Asakura was born in 1433. Son of Iekage. Retainer of the Shiba Family, the Lord of Echizen (Fukui Prefecture). His family descended from the Kusakabe Family but was called Asakawa after the name of a district in Tajima Province (Hyogo Prefecture) where they lived.
In the Onin-no-ran civil war (1467-1477), he was favored by Warlord Sozen Yamana and, with his backing, became Guardian of Echizen, replacing his master, the Shiba Family, in 1470. Favored by Shogun Ashi- kaga, he became one of the most powerful daimyo in Japan. People in the capital of Kyoto laughed at him as being “dull but lucky”. The 17-article law he issued was widely read as a model legislation in that period when warlords fought one another. The heyday of the Asakuras was brought about by Toshikage.When old, became a Buddhist priest and took the name of Eirin Soyu. A man of great talent and perspicacity, he was a master strategist, scholar and walca poet.
