お初 Ohatsu | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Ohatsu | |
| Born | 1570 |
| Died | September 30, 1633 (aged 62–63) |
| Spouse | Kyōgoku Takatsugu |
| Parents |
|
| Family |  Azai clan Toyotomi clan Kyōgoku clan |
Ohatsu (お初) or Ohatsu-no-kata (お初の方) (1570 – September 30, 1633) was a prominently placed figure in the late Sengoku period. She was daughter of Oichi and Nagamasa Azai, and the sister of Yodo-dono and Oeyo. Alongside her sisters, she was active in the political intrigues of her day. Ohatsu's close family ties to both the Toyotomi clan and the Tokugawa clan uniquely positioned her to serve as a conduit between the rivals. She acted as a liaison until 1615 in the siege of Osaka, when the Tokugawa eliminated the Toyotomi.[1]