Seen a few comments saying that Benkei was in fact a Sohei and not a Samurai. While that is true and a labeling mistake on my part, he was still one of the greatest Japanese warriors to ever live. Besides that, if I were to have put Tomoe Gozen or Tachibana Ginchiyo on this list like other people are suggesting, I would still run into the same problem of "they weren't really Samurai." Either way, if a Japanese warrior fought alongside samurai in wars between samurai clans, I consider that warrior a contender for this list.

In Japan, it is said that when a human dies, he crosses the "Sanzu River" and goes to the afterlife. Six coins are required as a ferry to cross the Sanzu River. The six coins, which are the family crest of Yukimura Sanada, are proof that they are not afraid of death.

Man Honda Tadakatsu is literally a legend among legends. To never sustain serious injuries throughout all the wars he’s been through is almost mathematically impossible. His presence alone can no doubt change the morale on the battlefield.

Japanese history always fascinated me, but since I've played Ghost of Tsushima I can't stop watching videos about Samurai.

At this point I’m wondering if I’ll ever make it out of this Ghost of Tsushima algorithm

I don't even have to watch the video to know that Honda Tadakatsu and Sanada Yukimura would be top 1 and 2 on this list.

Benkei died standing on his feet. Story goes that he held off the warriors for hours and when they finally killed him with arrows he remained standing and they were afraid to approach him.

Remember to fear an old man in a profession where the young dies.

My boy Yukimura better be number 1, I will return to you in 18 minutes!!

Yukimura's spirit burns with the flame of justice.

Miyamoto Musashi was a Japanese swordsman, philosopher, strategist, writer and rōnin. Renowned through stories of his unique double-bladed swordsmanship and undefeated record in his 61 duels.He is considered a Kensei, a sword-saint of Japan

My reactions 10. Alright! Good start! He's been with Oda at the very beginning and was a veteran samurai. The legendary, Devil Shibata. 9. Ooooo! A Heian Samurai! And also one of my favorite characters from Tales of Genji! 8. Yes! One of Hideyoshi's biggest retainers alongside Kiyomasa and Mitsunari. 7. The red cladded samurai who led one of the biggest clans that served under Tokugawa, as well as a member of a clan that has deep longevity during the Sengoku Jidai. 6. I actually never knew this guy because I haven't looked much up before the Sengoku Era (aside from a bit of Heian) 5. There's the bloodthirsty bastard! Another, veteran warrior of Hideyoshi's retainers alongside Masanori and Mitsunari. 4. Second eldest of the Shimazu brothers and definitely the most deserving of his fame for his raid and ambush tactics. 3. One of (if not the greatest) samurai of the Heian period and the main protagonist of the Tales of Genji. 2. The Strongest of the East and the best Samurai of the early, Sengoku Jidai, matched only by Muneshige Tachibana. (Who I'm surprised wasn't on here, being the strongest of the West) 1. Really, who else? Almost all daimyos and samurais during the end of the Sengoku Jidai agreed that Yukimura was the greatest samurai in the land and of the Sengoku Jidai.

The bromance of Tokugawa Ieyasu and Date Masamune is my favorite story in Japanese history. Just the stories of those 2 constantly bailing eachother out of bad situations is entertaining. Ieyasu litterally saving Masamune from Hideyoshi's wrath TWICE at great personal risk is what friendship is all about.

Pour one out for Yukimura, he stood by my boy Toyotomi's legacy to the bitter end :(

thank you for bringing me here Nioh and thank you for creating this video Shogunate.

Only recently i found this channel and I regretted not finding this sooner. Every episode of the Sengoku Jidai was here and it pumps my adrenaline to its core. One of my og favorites was Dosetsu Tachibana who was the father of Ginchiyo Tachibana. The man in his childhood cut a lightning in half and still lived and while half paralyzed he led and fought battles in Kyushu, never losing once in his life. Shingen had a list that if he were to fight someone, it would be Dosetsu Tachibana himself.

Seeing these names on your list makes me excited to hear your opinion on Nioh 1 and 2. Great list!

wonderful video, I've been learning so much about Japanese history ever since I've been playing Samurai warrior 5 (which helps me to know who a few o the samurai are). I'm addicted to your channel!

How could you forget about Jin Sakai:((

Great content! Very much enjoyed

Great list, great episode!

I tempered my expectations but let’s say I was VERY pleasantly surprised. Ya boi Yukimura is one of my all time heroes.

This is the best new channel I have discovered.

These videos are so well made

A great video, thanks for doing it.

Great video. I credit the game Nioh for my current interest in learning as much as I can about sengoku jedai and samurai's in general. I am thankful to that great game and thankful I found your channel. I knew some of the names that have appeard on your list thanks to Nioh, but the others I did not know, so unfortunately I cannot make a personal top 10 list, but I will definitely do research and much reading on the samurai's on your list.

The modern paintings you use in these are fantastic, i never knew they existed.

Oh, this is really an awesome video, your ranking exactly comprised all "three greatest tragic heroes" (labelled by the Japanese themselves) in the Japanese history, they were : Sanada Yukimura (真田幸村), Minamoto no Yoshitsune (源義經) and Kusunoki Masashige (楠木正成). They all became the greatest legend in the Japanese mind. And your other choices in some extent displayed many Sengoku fans' favorite - such like Shimazu Yoshihiro (島津義弘) who conducted a brilliant "forward retreat" in the Battle of Sekigahara that forged his immortal heroism, Honda Tadakatsu (本多忠勝) who was renowned for fierce loyalty to Tokugawa Ieyasu, Il Naomasa (井伊直政) who succeeded the Takeda clan's "Scarlet Army" (赤備え) that with his valiance and incredible leadership this military force made a great name across Japan. Mention few more figures worthy to be named of among the greatest samurai warriors : Tachibana Dosetsu (立花道雪) - a highly skilled, prestigious and charismatic warrior and commander who devoted to the Otomi Clan ; his abundance of military prowess and leadership would bequeath to his equally talented adopted-son Muneshige. Tachibana Muneshige (立花宗茂) - ever served the Otomi Clan, the Toyotomi Clan and the Tokugawa Clan, with numerous deeds of valiance, loyalty and conquest. Toyotomi Hideyoshi valued him equal with Honda Tadakatsu for the ranking of the greatest samurai in contemporary era. His military career spanned from the late Sengoku Era to the Edo Period, in which he even participated the pacification of the AD 1637 Shimabara Rebellion at the age of 70 ! He's my No.1 favorite. Magara Naotaka (真柄直隆) - who served the Asakura Clan in the Sengoku Era, very skilled in using pike. Hijikata Toshizo (土方歳三) - a great warrior leader in the Boshin War which signalized the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Satake Yoshishige (佐竹義重) - One of the greatest enemies of Data Masamune. According to the legend, he slew 7 enemy warriors in just a moment of time, thus earned him the frightening nickname of "Oni Yoshishige" (鬼義重) ; Oni = Devil

It was pretty cool to watch this video while playing Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada, since I got to know a bit more of some of these characters in the game.

No one mentioning Taira Masakado? Scary enough in life already, and then went on to haunt all authority in Japan as a ghost even till today.

Excelente canal!!!GRACIAS!.

Hot damn that was awesome!

Amazing list n I love the way you grade these samurai!!

I love Samurai History... this channels is perfect. Keep up the great work !

Finally I get to hear some real facts about yukimura as to what made this guy a legend. I have to say one castle holding off against a United japan and nearly killing Tokugawa, number 1 is deserving.

Nice video!!

One Samurai I would like to bring up is Yamada Nagamasa, though not as well known in Japan, he is very well known in Thailand for fighting alongside the King of Ayutthaya (present day Thailand) against the Burmese. He along with many Christian converts and Ronin setteled in Ayutthaya and he even became appointed a Govenor because of his heroism in the war.

Musashi is a ronin also, so its pretty fair.

my personal favourite is Honda Tadakatsu. great video !

Nice video as always and totally agree with your list although you should probably add honorable mention like shinmo sakon and magara notoka and fuma ..... keep up the good work 👍

This is just making me appreciate Nioh 1 and 2 more and more. It is so underrated for its weaving history and fiction into a fun, and surprisingly educational story

Wow.. this is awesome.. Now I wanna play more Samurai Warriors than ever.. Same with Genji Dawn of the Samurai and Days of the Blade..

I never knew anything about this is interesting and I plan on learning a lot more

Even in Nioh 1, Sanada Yukimura remains as the great warrior he is ❤️

So glad that Musashi wasn't in on the list. One minor correction, you said half a century(50 years) instead of 5 centuries or half a millennium (500 years) later in Masashige's case...

I have 3 pages from what I think it's a collection of ancient and modern warriors, printed in Japan in 1878. There are 12 warriors (4 on each page), some are clearly samurai, some are warriors of ancient China. After watching your video I decided to make some research on the content of the text (in old Japanese) and I was happy to find that one of the samurai figures is Honda Tadakatsu! I didn't know his story at all and now the number 2 greatest samurai is there, printed on one of the few pages I managed to have! Thank you for letting me know about him!

Amazing video

Every time I watch these videos I want to play samurai warriors

These are great! Learning quite a bit about the Samurai. I was wondering where you find some of the portrait artwork you have shown it's really well done, Thanks!

If only these legends still existed T__T I knew every Warrior you listed.. PROUD

Brought here because of Nioh. Damn, that game is near perfect when it comes to historical figures.

Do one on miyamoto please! I was actually expectante on hearing more of him

1:50 "WE'RE BLASTING OFF AGAIN!" Musashi and Kojiro said calmly.

I LOVE ITTT!!!

I just appreciated the fact, that at least three of these names were not featured in Samurai Warriors. Although I'd be lying if I said I didn't only know of Benkai and Minimoto from the Genji series.

I often with Mori Katsunaga is incredibly underrated specifically with his actions at Osaka castle

"Never stray from the way." - Miyamoto Musashi

What do yo think about Hattori Hanzo? P/D: This channel is awesome!! I'll subscribe

All warriors in The World who faught for their land and proud are Legendary ❤️❤️ Biggest Respect for them ❤️❤️

I was kinda shocked when Tadakatsu showed up second only to be astonished that I forgot the "Hinamoto ichi no tsuwamono nari". Great video man

One sad common thing I see in the samurai is the lord they fight for eventually betray them.

being a fan of samurai warriors, I guess number 1 right . Great video

This is so interesting, I see sekiro got inspiration from some elements presented in this video

It's interesting that who many would consider the greatest Knight; William Marshall and your choice of Greatest Samurai both spent their youths as hostages.

I was actually waiting for you to do a video on this, great video. Can you do one on foreign Samurai like William Adam's and Yasuke ( I know William's story is way more concrete then Yasuke's, but it's still a good story though).

damn ! even their names scream badass when you pronounce them

Hey it was a good clip to introduce most of master fighters in the Sengoku period. Do you know Hojo Soun? He should have been joined into your rank.

I was surprised that you was so enthusiastic about introducing Japanese warlords👍👍👍 I am very grateful and grateful as a Japanese😃😃 Thank you

I'm so glad Yoshitsune made here and so high up. It often feels like he gets overlooked.

As much as I like Yukimura, there is something wrong with what you mentioned. He literally didn't join the campaign against Korea. He is in the Japanese isle at that time. There are only three noticeable battles for Yukimura: The siege of Odawara at 1590, the siege of Ueda at 1600, and the two sieges of Osaka at 1614 and 1615. That is why to this day, there are still people call him "overrated". He is still a true warrior with a phenomenal story, and it has been largely recognized, so it is probably fair to put him at the top of your list. But considering the lack of battles he participated in, he is no way near the best samurai in Japan history for me. Keep up the good work!

Wow Shimazu Yoshihiro lived a long life considering how battle ridden he was, to live into your 80s now is a good life let alone in a time of constant bloody war. The man was in his 60s during when he was fighting in the Imjin War? Damn my respect for Shimazu clan has just increased because of this.

Im surprised that Uesugi Kenshin, Masakage Yamagata, Hojo Tsunashige, Tachibana Dosetsu, Tachibana Muneshige, Kosaka Masanobu, or even Sakon Shima made the list. Just as a side note, Ii Naomasa’s Red Cavalry was a direct copy of its predecessor, the Takeda Red Cavalry, led by Masakage Yamagata, who was known to be one of Takeda Shingen’s most able generals. Either way, cool list hope to see more content!

Came here after watching Sanada maru and Dokuganryu Masamune. Really good list. It's missing Hijikata though.

Can you please do a video on Honda Tadakatsu?

Date masamume One of his famous words is as follows. "If you are too benevolent, you become weak. If you are too righteous, you will be hard. If you are too polite, you will flatter. If you are too wise, you will tell lies. If you are too trusting, you will suffer loss." Although he had some ambitions, he had always been a realist. It is said that if Date Masamune had been born a few decades earlier, he would have taken the throne.

And plus you pronounce the words perfectly

Could you do a video on the swords used by these men?

it's crazy that most were around during the late Sengoku Jidai.

When Miyamoto showed up at the battle he probably got bored and fell asleep in the shade somewhere, grumbling to himself about all the noise.

It's a pity that Minamoto no Yoshitsune, who was instrumental in overthrowing the Taira clan, was forced to commit suicide because his brother Yoritomo considered him dangerous.

Muneshige Tachibana and Motoharu Kikkawa? And do a list for strategists as well so many get their recognition

You should do a video on their swords or weapons these warriors used

Some names of Samurai I won't forget ever : 1) Oda Nobunaga 2) Akechi Mitsuhide 3) Date Masamune 4) Date Shigezane 5) Katakura Kojuro 6) Sanada Yukimura 7) Sanada Nobuyuki 8) Sanada Masayuki 9) Takeda Shingen 10) Uesugi Kenshin 11) Toyotomi Hideyoshi 12) Tokugawa Iyeasu 13) Ishida Mitsunari 14) Otani Yoshitsugu 15) Kato Kiyomasa 16) Maeda Toshiee 17) Toramatsu 18) Kakizaki Kageie 19) Date Teramune 20) Shima Sakon 21) Honda Tadakatsu 22) Tadatsugu 23) Kagetsugu 24) Kanestsugu I've heard all these names in an otome game "Samurai love ballad party" best samurai romance game. We can learn a lot of Japanese history in that. Slbp fans hit the like button.....

Nice

Actually I knew it all of this great samurai by playing the game "Samurai warriors 2" and it was very accurate and amazing game. And have part when you always face with "Tadakatsu Honda" play an special soundtrack for him.

"Musashi is the greatest samurai duelist of all time.." Hmm.. I reckon Kamiizumi Hidetsuna, Bokuden, Itto Ittosai and others would probably take exception to that. Most famous outside Japan for sure though.

Another great video again like the Leaders video I agree with all your choices, maybe have Naomas in Yoshihiro's place other than that great choices. Only one mistake I noticed one of the Naomasa Ii pics is actually his son Naotaka. Yukimura as number 1 I expected would have been shocked if he wasn't and Tadakatsu number 2 is justified. some worthy adds could have been Nobuharu (Nobufusa) Baba another reported to have not been injured in battle until his untimely death at Nagashino. I guess Kojiro Sasaki may have been in the same boat as Musashi I don't know.

What about Ashikaga Yoshiteru, he wasn't much of a battlefighter like Honda, but he was a respected swordsman among even the most high ranked Samurai and the last pillar of power of the Ashikaga shogunate. Maybe a top 10 Samurai fighter video is next? Sakon, Musashi and Yoshiteru would make a fine addition :D And don't forget about his signature death when Hisahides troops tried to take him down, as Yoshiteru took up all the swords her collected and fought them valiently and in his final moments realized he just invented a new sword style using 2 Swords (even before musashi).

Based on how Extra Credits series on the Segoku Jidai made him sound I as expecting Hattori Hanzō to be somewhere on the list. I enjoyed learning about the samurai on this list and their exploits. Thanks.

Last March 2020, it was shown on TV program hosted by the Mazai due of Ohta and Tanaka of Bakusho Mondai that a survey covering 100,000 people in Japan to rank top samurai during Sengoku period. Below was the ranking. In the said program, there was small commentary of the positive attributes of each lord and why they were positively viewed: Oda- forward looking and his tolerance ti the europeans; Uesugi and Sadada - I think their pure samurai spirit or something on that direction, Date - military skills and the way he built his town. Of the ranking where Uesugi was above Takeda, Ohta san made a comment saying he thought and probably most people thought Takeda was above. 1. Oda Nobunaga 2. Uesugi Kenshin 3. Date Masamune 4. Sanada Yukimura 5. Tokugawa Ieyasu 6. Toyotomi Hideyoshi 7. Takeda Shingen 8. Kuroda Kanbei 9. Akemichi Mitsuhide 10. Ishida Mistunari

Fascinating material I grew up learning about them because my grandfather killed a alot if them in ww2. He also said they were the meanest warriors because of thier Samurai doctrines, no fear of death. I always loved watching Samurai flix as a kid. Thier purpose is to serve thier master as warriors and die if need b

I would like to see more on the 2 other members of the heavenly kings of the Tokugawa - Sakakibara Yasumasa and Sakai Tadatsugu. It seems these two often are overshadowed by the other 2 : Ii Naomasa and Honda Tadakatsu for obvious reasons I'm sure. But I think the other 2 must have some interesting backgrounds and stories as well

could anyone please tell me where I can find the artwork at minute 8:35 of this video?🙏

Something about Benkei, I heard from one source that he wandered Kyoto killing samurai not because he thought them unworthy, but because he simply wanted one hundred blades, as it seemed like everyone of note had a hundred of something.

My man , thank a lot , i really want to see about Honda Takadatsu and Sanada Yukimura , now i have it , Japan's 2 famous god of war 😍😍😍😍

Legend says, whenever Tadakatsu Honda enter the battle.. Astronomia start playing as BGM

It would be nice to hear about Yasuke. Good list tho

If there is a perfect list, then this is it.

10. Yasuke: His life is so fascinating, I just wanna mention him. His bravery and loyalty deserve to recognize. Is he a samurai? I definetely count him as. 9.Hojo Tsunashige: Yellow warrior of Hojo. How he hold Kawagoe castle is so heroic. 8.Kaihime: I wanna add one female warrior. Her bravery on Oshi castle is worth to mention. She basically tarnished Ishida Mitsunari's reputation forever. 7.Murakami Yoshikiyo: Kenshin's fierce warrior. He is basically a Takeda slayer. 6.Ii Naomasa: Red devil of Tokugawa. Another fierce warrior. 5.Torii Mototada: Basically Tokugawa owe everything to him. His last stand in Fushimi Castle is a legend. 4.Yamagata Masakage, Naito Masatoyo, Baba Nobufusa: I can't seperate these Takeda trio. My favorite is Nobufusa, how he hold his ground and saved Katsuyori despite his quarrel with him during Nagashino is a brave act. Yamagata and Naito are another Takeda legends. 3.Sanada Yukimura: Most popular choice, I can't add anything but a little overrated I think. 2.Honda Tadakatsu: Tokugawa's strongest weapon, the battles he fought, noone could reach him. 1.Maeda Keiji and Hattori Hanzo: My all time favorite Samurai Warriors. Keiji's bravery and Hanzo loyalty are what made them my favorites.

Musashi also fought in the Shimabara rebellion and possibly fought on the side Toyotomi Hideyori in both the summer and winter campaigns. So that would mean he would have participated in 3 battles. There is only confirmation of his participation in the Shimabara rebellion, but enough sources suggest that he participated in the other 2 battles that it would not be unreasonable to assume that he participated in those as well.