Shigezane Date

Shigezane Date is Masamune's cousin and second-in-command. Considered one of the three greatest pillars of the Date, he is best known for his centipede helmet.

Role in Games
In the Samurai Warriors series, Shigezane is a generic officer who participates in many of Masamune's battles. Samurai Warriors 4 has him fight at Hitotoribashi where Yoshitane Soma specifically targets him.

Nioh has Shigezane appear as a boss in the first downloadable scenario called "Dragon of the North". Serving as his cousin's eyes and ears, he used his departure from the clan to scour for information regarding the Amrita, eventually learning of its potential for calamity. He returns to warn Masamune only to succumb to the effects of the spirit stone he had previously used. Now a Yokai with his mind intact, he willingly withdraws from the Date once more, later leading his own unit called the Kurohabaki. He impedes William's progress and loses to him in battle.

His Nobunaga's Ambition counterpart excels in battle and military-related commands. He usually appears if Masamune takes over as clan head. Sphere of Influence portrays him as a stern figure who exasperates at his cousin's reckless streak. Though he and Terumune feel that Masamune's methods are too harsh, they agree to help him grow into his role as leader.

Voice Actors

 * Jōji Nakata - Nioh

Historical Information
Born in 1568, Tōgorō was the son of Date Sanemoto and the adopted daughter of Date Harumune. He received his education from mountain monks of the Jishū sect and eventually inherited Ōmori Castle after his father's retirement in 1584. Having known Masamune since childhood, he entered his cousin's service and fought against their clan's foes.

In 1589, he was a prominent player at the Battle of Hitotoribashi which saw the Date in dire straights against their sworn enemies the Ashina clan; when Masamune was forced to endure the Ashina's attacks, it was Shigezane who held them at bay so that their reserves could be deployed. Upon making a name for himself in that battle, he received an income of 38,000 koku and was transferred to Nihonmatsu Castle as its castellan.

Although both cousins were content with their respective roles, they had a dispute over Shigezane not receiving enough compensation for joining the Toyotomi's failed campaign in Korea. This led to Shigezane leaving the clan in 1595 before reconciling with Masamune five years later. During his self-imposed exile, Uesugi Kagekatsu offered to make him a vassal, but he saw no reason to accept.

After rejoining the Date, he participated in the Ōsaka Campaign for the Tokugawa forces and survived. Shigezane's feats were acknowledged and he, along with Katakura Kagetsuna and Oniniwa Tsunamoto, were referred to as the Three Heroes of the Date. Aside from being a valiant commander, he was also skilled in literature, having recorded his cousin's biography in a book called the Shigezaneki.