Sadamitsu Usami

Sadamitsu Usami is a samurai who served as Kenshin Uesugi's chief strategist. He helped his lord take control of Echigo, but ended up dying due to a boating accident.

Role in Games
The Samurai Warriors series has Sadamitsu appear as a generic officer for the Uesugi army. He usually accompanies Kenshin in many of his battles against the Takeda.

In Nobunaga's Ambition, he is given high intelligence to reflect his status as Kenshin's adviser. Iron Triangle features an event depicting Sadamitsu's historical death; this can be prevented by not putting him and Masakage in the same boat.

Historical Information
Born to Usami Takatada in Izu Province, Sadayuki spent most of his life serving the Nagao clan even after his father's death. He later changed his name to Sadamitsu and was active in Nagao Tamekage's battles. Because of his contribution to the siege of Kasugayama Castle, he was given the title of "Suruga no Kami".

When his lord died in 1543, he initially served under the eldest heir Harukage. However, the young man was considered an inadequate choice for leadership, forcing Sadamitsu to switch allegiance to Kagetora who would later be known as Uesugi Kenshin. He participated in the Battle of Kawanakajima and was made one of the Four Guardian Kings of the Uesugi.

In 1564, he accidentally drowned to death alongside his lord's cousin Masakage, though sources claim he did this on purpose to ensure that Kenshin would lead the clan without any potential revolts. After Sadamitsu's demise, his son Katsuyuki was exiled from Echigo due to Uesugi Kagekatsu's grudge against the Usami for indirectly causing Masakage's death.