Nobunao Kumagai

Nobunao Kumagai (熊谷 信直) is vassal of Mōri Clan. He began his career a rival of the Mōri, but eventually submitted and became one of Motoharu Kikkawa's most decorated officers, alongside his father-in-law.

The Nobunaga no Yabou 201X poll for 3-star officers puts him in ninety-third place.

Roles in Games
In Samurai Warriors 4, Nobunao waits in ambush at Itsukushima Shrine, waiting for Motonari and Takakage to clear the shrine for their secret landing. He continues fighting alongside the Mōri forces as the Oda become a looming threat.

In Chikai no Sanshi, he was originally a vassal of Takeda Motoshige. After his father and his master died in a battle with Motonari in 1517, he led the soldiers hoping to fight against Motonari for his revenge but Motonari didn't want to fight, therefore convince Kumagai himself. When Kumagai was convince by Motonari, therefore saw that the situation in the Aki province began to change for the worse. Kumagai decided to surrender Motonari. He later became a father-in-law of Motoharu Kikkawa and helping Terumoto defending the territory after Motonari died.

Quotes

 * "Now it's time to fight ! You can't give reward to others !"
 * "Can you go, this blow !"

Historical Information
Kumagai Nobunao was a descendant of Kumagai Naozane and the son of Kumagai Motonao. He served with his family under the Aki-Takeda clan. However, at the Battle of Arita-Nakaide, his father fell fighting Mōri. In 1523, the Ōuchi launched attack on Aki Province, with Nobunao fighting them off alongside help from the Amago. When Nobunao witnessed the skill at which Motonari recsued the failed Ōuchi assault, he gained respect for his father's killer. As a result, he asked the leaders of the Aki-Takeda to seek reconciliation with the Mōri.

In 1527, Yamanaka Shigesuke, a Aki-Takeda vassal, attempted to kill Nobunao, but failed. Nobunao sought revenge three years later by killing Yamanaka Tadatsugu, along with his own vassals Kise Naokiyo and Sueda Naomichi. Relations with his lord continued to sour, despite a marriage between him and Nobunao's sister. Feeling marginalized, Nobunao eventually rebelled, leading to a fight against the Aki-Takeda at Yokokawomote, where Nobunao came out victorious.

Now allied to the Mōri, Nobunao faced off against the Amago in 1540. His own castle was besieged early into the invasion, keeping him pinned until Motonari forced the Amago to retreat. Nobunao attempted to sally out and pursue the fleeing forces, but he was too late to the battle. The following year, Motonari sent Nobunao to finish off his former lord at Kamayama castle, which he fulfilled within the year.

Nobunao also took place in the disastrous first battle of Gassantoda and barely escaped with his life. Despite such a setback, Nobunao wanted to further strengthen his ties to the Mōri, leading him to give his daughter, Shinjō, to be Motoharu's wife. Now more fully in the Mōri camp, Nobunao supported Motonari's efforts over the next decade to secure freedom from the fallen Ōuchi clan. During this time, Nobunao supported Motoharu's forces, destroying the remnants of Ōuchi Yoshitaka's forces and besieging Miyajima during the battle of Itsukushima.

With the Ōuchi clan effectively defeated, Nobunao served Motonari as the Mōri sought to consolidate power in the vacuum they created. Much of Nobunao's efforts were centered around Izumo Province, but he also participated in the last siege of Gassantoda castle as well. In 1568, Nobunao accompanied Kikkawa Motoharu into northern Kyushu, where they attempted to destroy the Ōtomo clan for their years of rivalry. Although successful in their assault, their forces had to retreat shortly afterwards when the Ōtomo led successful rebellions back in Suo Province.

For all of his labors, Nobunao was awarded a kuko of 16,000, the highest of all of Motoharu's vassals.

Etymology

 * The name Nobunao means "trust, believe" (信) (nobu) and "straight, direct" (直) (nao).
 * Nobunao's surname Kumagai means "bear" (熊) (kuma) and "valley" (谷) (gai).