Yoshikage was born on the 12th of October in 1533 at the Asakura clan castle in Echizen Province, Ichijōdani Castle, in the present-day Kidanouchi district of Fukui, Fukui Prefecture. His early name was Nobukage. He was a great grandson of Toshikage, and son of Takakage.
Career
He became a member of Shobanshu (Shogun's retainers who accompanied the Sho,gun to the residences of feudal lords and participated in the feasts) on recommendation of Yoshi- taka Ouchi. Yoshikage, once invitca Shogun Yoshiaki Ashikaa to his castle at Ichijodani Valley to a great feast which lasted a whole day. Because Yoshikage’s younger sister was married to the Chief Abbot of the Honganji Temple, he, together with Nagamasa Asai, assisted in the uprising of Buddhist priest-soldiers of Mt. Hiei in 1570. This invited Nobunaga Oda’s wrath. In 1573, when Nobunaga attempted to attack Yoshikage in Omi (Shiga Prefecture), Yoshikage planned to counterattack Nobunaga’s forces on both sides with the assistance of Shmgen Takeda. The plan railed because Shingen died and Nobunaga invaded Echizen (Fukui Prefecture). Yoshikage fled to Ken- shoji Temple where he committed suicide.
Connections
His father was Asakura Takakage (1493–1548) and his mother is presumed to be the daughter of Takeda Motomitsu.