History UsefulNotes / UesugiKenshin

* In ''VideoGame/OnimushaSoul'', Kenshin Uesugi will be one of the playable characters, as a Daimyo sided with the [[DarkIsNotEvil Oni]]. To contrast, his rival Shingen is sided with the Genma.

Uesugi Kenshin is one of the most famous [[UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} Japanese]] daimyo in the [[UsefulNotes/SengokuPeriod Warring States]] era, reigning in prominence before UsefulNotes/OdaNobunaga rose to power. He was a devout Buddhist, praying to [[WarGod Bishamonten]] most of the time. Combined with his prowess in the battlefield, he's also often regarded as either Bishamonten's Avatar or the God of War himself. A tamer nickname for him would be the 'Dragon of Echigo.'

* In the upcoming ''VideoGame/{{Onimusha}}: Soul'', Kenshin Uesugi will be one of the playable characters, as a Daimyo sided with the [[DarkIsNotEvil Oni]]. To contrast, his rival Shingen is sided with the Genma.

* Another Gender-flipped Kenshin can be found in ''SengokuRance'', being a LadyOfWar per excellence and one of the romanceable characters in the game, and proved so popular that she's often considered one of the best H-Game heroines ever.

Perhaps one of the things that made him famous was [[TheRival his rivalry]] with fellow warlord UsefulNotes/TakedaShingen. The conflict began soon after the reunification of Echigo when refugees from North Shinano asked Kagetora to help them take back their land from Shingen. The two reputedly clashed in the very same battlefield of Kawanakajima ''five times''... With no clear winner. A very famous, oft-re-depicted scene would be an event in the fourth battle where Kenshin managed to charge alone into Shingen's camp on his horse, ready to cut down Shingen... And Shingen grabbed a [[PaperFanOfDoom war fan]] and deflected most of Kenshin's attacks until he retreated. Despite this rivalry, when outside the battlefield, they were known to [[FriendlyEnemy be friendly with each other and exchanged gifts often]], and helped one another out against other warlords [[note]]This is likely to be fiction than actual historical fact.[[/note]]. A famous anecdote is that when Shingen's other enemies cut off his salt supply [[note]]Shingen's Kai province is land-locked, and so salt had to be imported[[/note]], Kenshin provided him with salt, saying, "I do not fight with salt, but with the sword." Shingen's nickname, the 'Tiger of Kai', made their rivalry Japan's TropeCodifier for TigerVersusDragon.

Then he died midway there, and Nobunaga once again seized his opportunity to reach the capital. That lucky bastard.

* Uesugi Kenshin is playable in ''VideoGame/SamuraiWarriors'' and for once, isn't such a {{bishonen}} like most other depictions, in addition of being voiced by Creator/JojiNakata, he's never seen with his hair on display (it's always covered with turban) and his face is kind of scary. As usual, his rivalry with Shingen exists and plays part in his series. The 3rd game includes his sister Aya Gozen, and the fourth game, his adopted son and clan successor Uesugi Kagekatsu.

* Uesugi Kenshin is playable in ''VideoGame/SamuraiWarriors'' and for once, isn't such a {{bishonen}} like most other depictions (heck, he's voiced by Creator/JojiNakata). As usual, his rivalry with Shingen exists and plays part in his series. The 3rd game includes his sister Aya Gozen, and the fourth game, his adopted son and clan successor Uesugi Kagekatsu.

Uesugi Kenshin is one of the most famous [[UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} Japanese]] daimyo in the [[SengokuPeriod Warring States]] era, reigning in prominence before UsefulNotes/OdaNobunaga rose to power. He was a devout Buddhist, praying to [[WarGod Bishamonten]] most of the time. Combined with his prowess in the battlefield, he's also often regarded as either Bishamonten's Avatar or the God of War himself. A tamer nickname for him would be the 'Dragon of Echigo.'

[[caption-width-right:270:{{Badass}} WarriorMonk [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking Daimyo]]]]

Then he died midway there, and Nobunaga once again seized his opportunity to reach the capital. That LuckyBastard.

Uesugi Kenshin is one of the most famous [[UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} Japanese]] daimyo in the Warring States era, reigning in prominence before UsefulNotes/OdaNobunaga rose to power. He was a devout Buddhist, praying to [[WarGod Bishamonten]] most of the time. Combined with his prowess in the battlefield, he's also often regarded as either Bishamonten's Avatar or the God of War himself. A tamer nickname for him would be the 'Dragon of Echigo.'

!!Tropes associated with him:

* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: He kicked so much ass the family retainers pushed him into ruling position and forced his brother into retirement.
* {{Badass}}: The dude ''beat'' UsefulNotes/OdaNobunaga. Kenshin is possibly [[InvincibleHero undefeated in pitched battles]][[note]]It is possible he lost once against Hojo Ujiyasu at Mt. Yamano, but there's no record that Kenshin himself was in command of the battle[[/note]]. None of his rivals can claim the same.
** TheFightingNarcissist: Sometimes called himself the incarnation of Bishamonten. No one could prove him otherwise in battle.
* {{Bishounen}}: Some sources describe him as being very beautiful, and many of his fictional depictions follow this.
* CelibateHero: In an era when having a son is considered a duty, he has no wife, no concubine, and no biological child. All of his children are adopted.
* CruelAndUnusualDeath: Rumors has it that [[TheCanKickedHim he died while defecating on a toilet of that age...]] which unknown to him, [[CampingACrapper had a ninja/assassin hiding there]], who proceeds to [[AssShove shoot a needle to him right on the ass]], and killing him.
** TheAlcoholic: His likely cause of death was stroke. He was a big drinker, known for sitting by himself, drinking sake and eating salty snacks.
* TheDreaded: To his enemies. Arguable more than any other warlord of the warring states. His enemies' default response to him leading an army was to hole up in their castles until he leaves.
** The celebrated Battles of Kawanakajima is a good example. In all five Kenshin was outnumbered, sometimes heavily. During the first three Kenshin thrashed around, always offering and trying to entice Shingen into a battle, but Shingen just skirmished but stayed in a nearby castle until Kenshin withdrew. In the famous fourth one, Kenshin was outnumbered over 3:2. Even then Kenshin put himself in a completely disadvantageous position[[note]]Mt Saijo, while hard to take by force, is easy to surround and cut off from reinforcement and supplies, which is exactly what Shingen did[[/note]], possibly to lure Shingen out so that a decisive battle can finally be fought. And after all that, the battle was a tie. During the battle, Shingen lost his brother, two other experienced and highly competent retainers, and almost his own life before Kenshin was outflanked and withdrew. Such was Kenshin's prowess that when they met up for the fifth and final time, Shingen refused all offers of battle and stayed in his castle.
* FriendlyEnemy: His and Shingen's respect for each other was legendary.
** {{Fanon}}: It is likely much of this was made up during the Edo period and later. Kenshin is to recorded to have quite strongly hated Shingen. His depiction in ''Fuurin Kazan'' is probably the closest to reality. See {{Knight Templar}}.
* KnightTemplar: He fought to keep the old order as established by the Ashikaga Shogunate. He hated Shingen for exiling his own father and invading neighboring provinces without cause, and forming and breaking alliances whenever he saw fit[[note]] all quite normal for the time period[[/note]]. All of this went against what Kenshin fought for. The fact that Kenshin himself [[YouAreWhatYouHate took over the clan from his elder brother]] [[NotSoDifferent seem to be lost to him]].
* {{Pint Sized Powerhouse}}: By modern standards. The measurements on his armor says he would be around 5'2 (around 156 cm). Among his peers Toyotomi Hideyoshi was reportedly only 147cm while Oda Nobunaga at 170cm and consider exceptionally tall.
* RedBaron: Either 'Dragon of Echigo' or 'God of War'.
* TheRival: With Shingen, also going up to be one of the most popular rivalries in Japanese history.
** WorthyOpponent
* SamaritanSyndrome: Almost all of his conflicts outside Echigo were due to this. When samurai from Shinano asked him for help against Shingen, he went. When the Shogun asked him for help from far away Kyoto, he went. When Uesugi Norimasa asked him for help against Hojo Ujiyasu, he went. He had a very tough time holding on to his gains outside Echigo because he was a {{Wide-Eyed Idealist}} and this. He rarely took the lands he won, instead giving them back to the ineffectual rulers that came to him for help. His enemies soon learned they just had to wait till he rushed off to help someone else and they could take all of it back. He had such Samaritan tendencies that both Takeda Shingen and Hojo Ujiyasu on their deathbeds told their successors that if something happens, go ask Kenshin for help. Because he won't refuse.
* SuccessionCrisis: Due to not having a biological son. The in-fighting amongst his adopted sons undid most of his work and greatly weakened the Uesugi clan, making it unable to stand up to the unifiers any longer.
** He himself took part in one when he was young. He had to fight his older brother (reluctantly) over control of the Nagao (as they were then known) clan.
* TigerVersusDragon: He's the Dragon, Shingen is the Tiger.
* WarGod: His nickname referenced Bishamonten, the Buddhist god of war.
* WarriorMonk
* WideEyedIdealist: [[BeingGoodSucks Much to his own detriment]]. In an era when the only goal was winning, he stuck to ideals of [[BushidoIndex loyal warriors keeping to their positions, fighting on the battlefield to help the weak.]] He almost always gave back land he conquered to the incompetent rulers that lost them in the first place and came to him for help. If he had instead kept the land or gave them to competent retainers like everyone else, he could probably have unified Japan. This is also where his {{Friendly Enemy}} legends came from. He did not take part in the salt embargo against Shingen because it was unbecoming of a warrior. He was advised to attack the Takeda when Shingen died, but refused because the action amounted to {{Kick Them While They Are Down}}.
* WholesomeCrossdresser: There were rumours he may have been a woman in disguise.

Uesugi Kenshin is one of the most famous Japanese daimyo in the Warring States era, reigning in prominence before UsefulNotes/OdaNobunaga rose to power. He was a devout Buddhist, praying to [[WarGod Bishamonten]] most of the time. Combined with his prowess in the battlefield, he's also often regarded as either Bishamonten's Avatar or the God of War himself. A tamer nickname for him would be the 'Dragon of Echigo'.

Born to the Nagao family[[note]] the family was ''shugo-dai'', in other words ManBehindTheMan to the ruling Uesugi family in Echigo[[/note]] in 1530, he was disliked by his father and put in a Buddhist monastery[[note]]not an unusual thing for younger sons[[/note]]. His father died when he was 13. Next year he changed his name to Nagao Kagetora, and his sickly older brother recalled him and gave him a castle and his own domain. The very next year there was a rebellion against his brother. The rebels attacked Kagetora's castle, [[UnderestimatingBadassery thinking nothing of its young new owner]], and he [[CurbstompBattle crushed them]]. He was [[ImprobableAge 15]] and this was the first battle he ever participated in.

He was named chief general for his brother at the [[ImprobableAge age of 16]]. His brother was a weak and sickly ruler, and Echigo province fractured. Kagetora put down rebellions left and right. He kicked so much ass that Nagao subjects [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority begged him to take over the clan]]. This he did reluctantly[[note]]after his brother forced his hand by attacking him, and even then he asked the powerless Uesugi ''shugo'' to come up with a fair solution[[/note]]. He was 19, and finished the reunification of Echigo province at 22.

Perhaps one of the things that made him famous was [[TheRival his rivalry]] with fellow warlord UsefulNotes/TakedaShingen. The conflict began soon after the reunification of Echigo when refugees from North Shinano asked Kagetora to help them take back their land from Shingen. The two reputedly clashed in the very same battlefield of Kawanakajima ''five times''... with no clear winner. A very famous, oft-re-depicted scene would be an event in the fourth battle where Kenshin managed to charge alone into Shingen's camp on his horse, ready to cut down Shingen... and Shingen grabbed a [[PaperFanOfDoom war fan]] and deflected most of Kenshin's attacks until he retreated. Despite this rivalry, when outside the battlefield, they were known to [[FriendlyEnemy be friendly with each other and exchanged gifts often]], and helped one another out against other warlords[[note]]This is likely to be fiction than actual historical fact.[[/note]]. A famous anecdote is that when Shingen's other enemies cut off his salt supply[[note]]Shingen's Kai province is land-locked, and so salt had to be imported[[/note]], Kenshin provided him with salt, saying, "I do not fight with salt, but with the sword." Shingen's nickname, the 'Tiger of Kai', made their rivalry Japan's TropeCodifier for TigerVersusDragon.

Once Shingen died (reportedly Kenshin wept openly at this and went into mourning for a time), along with another big rival warlord, Hojo Ujiyasu, Kenshin was free to expand his territory and make his march to the capital... and clash with good ol' Oda Nobunaga at Tedorigawa. Kenshin was utterly victorious, wiping out Nobunaga's army. It would seem that Kenshin would be the one to claim rule over the country...

** He was also voiced by Gackt in ''Anime/TonoToIssho'', as an alcoholic with a Anime/{{Doraemon}} fetish.

* In 'the ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'' setting, Kenshin is given a HistoricalVillainUpgrade as a member of the Templar Brotherhood.

* In 'the ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'' setting, Kenshin is given a HistoricalVillainUpdate as a member of the Templar Brotherhood.

[[caption-width-right:270:{{Badass}} WarriorMonk [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking Daiymo]]]]

* Uesugi Kenshin is playable in ''VideoGame/SamuraiWarriors'' and for once, isn't such a {{bishonen}} like most other depictions (heck, he's voiced by Creator/JojiNakata). As usual, his rivalry with Shingen exists and plays part in his series. The 3rd game includes his sister Aya Gozen.

* {{Pint Sized Powerhouse}}: The measurements on his armor says he would be around 5'2 (around 156 cm), below even average height of the time. And he would have been surrounded by lots of 6' (180cm) plus badasses.
** 156cm would have been the average height for a Japanese at the time. On the other hand, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was reportedly only 147cm tall while Oda Nobunaga at 170cm, was considered truly exceptional. Considering Japanese standards of the period, it would have actually been easier to find 'badasses' than anyone over 180+cm.

* {{Badass}}: The dude ''beat'' OdaNobunaga. Kenshin is possibly [[InvincibleHero undefeated in pitched battles]][[note]]It is possible he lost once against Hojo Ujiyasu at Mt. Yamano, but there's no record that Kenshin himself was in command of the battle[[/note]]. None of his rivals can claim the same.

Uesugi Kenshin is one of the most famous Japanese daimyo in the UsefulNotes/SengokuJidai, reigning in prominence before UsefulNotes/OdaNobunaga rose to power. He was a devout Buddhist, praying to [[WarGod Bishamonten]] most of the time. Combined with his prowess in the battlefield, he's also often regarded as either Bishamonten's Avatar or the God of War himself. A tamer nickname for him would be the 'Dragon of Echigo'.

** 156cm would have been the average height for a Japanese at the time. On the other hand, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was reportedly only 147cm tall while Oda Nobunaga at 170cm, was considered truly exceptional. Considering Japanese standards of the period, it would actually have been easier to find 'badasses' than anyone over 180+cm.

** 156cm would have been the average height for a Japanese at the time. On the other hand, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was reportedly only 147cm tall while Oda Nobunaga at 170cm, was considered truly exceptional. Considering Japanese standards of the period, it would have been highly unlikely that Kenshin would be surrounded by 180cm 'badasses'.

** 156cm would have been the average height for a Japanese at the time. On the other hand, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was reportedly only 147cm tall while Oda Nobunaga at 170cm, was considered truly exceptional. Considering Japanese standards of the period, it would have been unlikely that Kenshin would be surrounded by 180cm 'badasses'.

** 156cm would have been the average height for a Japanese at the time. On the other hand, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was reportedly only 147cm tall. It would be highly unlikely that Kenshin was surrounded by 180cm 'badasses' considering Japanese standards of the period.

* Uesugi Kenshin is playable in ''VideoGame/SamuraiWarriors'' and for once, isn't such a {{bishonen}} like most other depictions (heck, he's voiced by JojiNakata). As usual, his rivalry with Shingen exists and plays part in his series. The 3rd game includes his sister Aya Gozen.

* SamaritanSyndrome: Almost all of his conflicts outside Echigo were due to this. When samurai from Shinano asked him for help against Shingen, he went. When the Shogun asked him for help from far away Kyoto, he went. When Uesugi Norimasa asked him for help against Hojo Ujiyasu, he went. He had a very tough time holding on to his gains outside Echigo because he was a {{Wide-Eyed Idealist}} and this. He rarely took the lands he won, instead giving them back to the ineffectual rulers that came to him for help. His enemies soon learned they just had to wait till he rushed off to help someone else and they could take all of it back. He had such Samaritan tendencies that both {{Takeda Shingen}} and Hojo Ujiyasu on their deathbeds told their successors that if something happens, go ask Kenshin for help. Because he won't refuse.