Imagawa Yoshimoto

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Imagawa Yoshimoto (今川义元)
Alias(es)	Lord of the Tōkaidō; The World's People; “Chosen One”
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Imagawa Clan — head; later the Imagawa force in Tokoyo
Occupation/Role	Great daimyo; ruler of Suruga, Tōtōmi, and Mikawa; commander; Kisaragi Train operator
Status	Active — died after reaching Kyoto, then awakened in Tokoyo 452 years later 385 389
First Appearance	Chapter 144

Background

Rise as Imagawa Clan Head

At fourteen, Yoshimoto left the temple, renounced her monastic vows, seized control of the Imagawa Clan, and unified Suruga, Tōtōmi, and Mikawa in the same year. She also secured alliances with the Takeda and Hōjō clans. 180 385

Her rule emphasized commerce and order. Yoshimoto personally established the Suruga Scale to standardize weights and measures, prevent fraud, and facilitate trade; she also intended to lower commercial taxes further. 145 Under her administration, Sunpu Castle became notably orderly and prosperous, with planned roads, tidy shops, and residents who retained hope despite the era’s turmoil. 167

Recruitment of Uesugi Tetsu

Yoshimoto initially approached Uesugi Tetsu while presenting herself as Ii Naomasa, inviting him to Sunpu Castle under the pretext of rewarding his demon-slaying. Having identified him as a rare and highly capable Onmyoji, she resolved to recruit him—or, failing that, establish an equal partnership rather than make him an enemy. 144 145

After Tetsu exposed and exorcised the Sickly Ghost attached to her strategist Taiyuan Xuezhai, Yoshimoto offered him service under the Imagawa Clan. Tetsu accepted, becoming her retainer and ally. 147 149

Mikawa Crisis and Illness

Yoshimoto refused Tetsu’s proposal to abandon plague-stricken Mikawa, believing that a ruler could not desert her subjects when they needed hope. She entered the province despite drawing an omikuji of “Great Ill Fortune.” 181

Following Tetsu’s disappearance, Yoshimoto’s health deteriorated with alarming speed. The condition left her progressively unable to wield weapons, ride, walk, eat, or even speak without exhausting herself; later information identified the Oni Lantern Clan’s curse as the cause. 350 355 Despite this, she continued consolidating the Imagawa Clan’s authority, purging internal opposition and preparing the clan for the world’s revival. 207 208

March to Kyoto and Death

Yoshimoto’s final wishes were to march to Kyoto before her death and to ensure her people could live safely under Imagawa rule. 362 As her illness became terminal, she chose to burn through her vital energy rather than linger helplessly, ordering an immediate winter march to Kyoto. 376 377

Escorted by Uesugi Tetsu, she reached an abandoned Kyoto after the coalition opposing her advance was defeated. Having fulfilled her ambition and become The World's People, Yoshimoto died peacefully on the city walls at sunset. 385 386

Awakening in Tokoyo

Yoshimoto awakened in Tokoyo’s Sengoku Graveyard 452 years after her death, becoming the first self-aware being to awaken in the Sengoku region. She initially retained only her name and a vague connection to “Little Che,” an exclusive mark prepared for her by Tetsu. 389

Guided by Little Che, she began rebuilding her strength by summoning loyal warriors, directing them to kill Walking Corpses for Soul Ash, and recovering fragments of her past memories. 389 She later emerged as the undisputed Tokoyo-era overlord of the Warring States period, inherited the Kisaragi Train, and entered the present world to search for Tetsu. 465 466 470

Appearance

Yoshimoto is a strikingly beautiful, black-haired young woman of short stature—described as barely over 1.4 meters tall—whose refined appearance contrasts with her authority as a daimyo. 146

• Often wears formal twelve-layered robes while acting as Imagawa Clan head. 149
• Uses plain clothing and a suikan while traveling discreetly. 179
• Wears imposing black armor during military campaigns. 194
• Uses an Iron Mask when making public declarations. 367
• Her later illness leaves her pale, frail, and unable to stand unaided for long. 355 376

Personality

Yoshimoto is intensely ambitious and absolutely confident that she is destined to become The World's People. She is proud, competitive, and unafraid of being seen as arrogant, but her ambition is rooted in a concrete vision of governing the land rather than mere conquest. 147 178 361

As a ruler, she is observant and politically pragmatic. She recognized Matsudaira Takechiyo’s potential while he was still a young hostage, understood the strategic value of Tetsu’s Onmyōjutsu immediately, and consistently weighs people and choices by their value to the Imagawa Clan. 145 164 196

Yoshimoto sincerely wants to protect civilians under her rule, though she initially places Tetsu’s life above that of entire cities because of his irreplaceable value. Her differences with Tetsu over this principle become one of the defining tensions of their alliance. 181 196

Her composed public manner conceals a more personal and playful side around Tetsu. She becomes visibly angry when he disregards his health, personally nurses him through exhaustion, and ultimately entrusts him with her final ambitions. 167 195 196 376

Abilities & Skills

Governance and Political Acumen

Yoshimoto transformed the Imagawa territories through direct administrative reforms and decisive internal control.

• Established the Suruga Scale to standardize trade weights and measures. 145
• Reduced barriers to commerce and planned further tax reductions. 145
• United Suruga, Tōtōmi, and Mikawa after taking power. 180
• Purged the Imagawa Elder Council and consolidated authority before the world’s revival. 207 208
• Identified the political and military potential of both Tetsu and Matsudaira Motoyasu. 145 149

Military Leadership

Although she is more valuable as a commander and strategist than a frontline fighter, Yoshimoto is trained for war and personally leads dangerous campaigns.

• Commands the Imagawa army and chose to lead its vanguard during the Mikawa campaign. 178 179
• Uses a massive Japanese bow for ranged support. 201
• Carries two swords and can react quickly to sudden threats. 179 182
• Practiced breathing techniques to the level of Gang Qi circulation and was preparing to construct a Palace of Flesh. 209

Strategic Judgment

Yoshimoto is adept at recognizing political threats and adapting plans without abandoning her larger goal.

• Used omikuji divination while deciding how to answer the Mikawa uprising. 167 181
• Accepted Tetsu’s recommendation to remain in an observation role during operations where her judgment was more valuable than close combat. 201
• Declared her march to Kyoto publicly, turning Tetsu’s thunderstorm into a display of legitimacy and authority. 367
• Treated the Imagawa advance toward the present world as a diversion while pursuing her true objective: locating Tetsu. 466

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Sōza Samonji — a tachi only slightly longer than Kaga Kiyomitsu; assessed as at least Epic grade. 179
• Matsukura Gō — a shorter companion blade, likewise assessed as at least Epic grade. 179
• Iwa — an exceptionally large Japanese bow. 179
• Black armor — campaign armor personally crafted by a Zashiki-warashi. 194 386
• Iron Mask — worn during her public declaration to march on Kyoto. 367
• Soul Spirit Imprint / Little Che — an exclusive mark created for her by Tetsu; it provides guidance after her resurrection and remains bound to her across centuries. 377 389

Relationships

• Uesugi Tetsu — Retainer, ally, healer, and deeply trusted companion. Yoshimoto recruited him for his rare Onmyōjutsu, relied on him throughout the Mikawa crisis, and entrusted her final march to Kyoto to his protection. 147 195 376 385
• Okabe Motonobu — Absolutely loyal general and confidante. Motonobu cared for Yoshimoto during her decline and accepted responsibility for the Imagawa Clan after Yoshimoto’s death. 355 386
• Ii Naomasa — Retainer and deputy general. Yoshimoto initially used Naomasa’s identity to assess and recruit Tetsu; the real Naomasa later served among her core military personnel. 145 179 377
• Taiyuan Xuezhai — Imagawa strategist. Yoshimoto sought Tetsu’s aid after Xuezhai was afflicted by a Sickly Ghost. 147
• Matsudaira Motoyasu — Subordinate daimyo whose potential Yoshimoto recognized early; she granted him the name “Motoyasu” and the title Governor of Mikawa at his coming-of-age ceremony. 145 147
• Hattori Hanzō — Intelligence operative who gathers information for Yoshimoto’s campaigns and reports on unrest in Mikawa. 164 179
• Little Che — Her exclusive posthumous guide, forged by Tetsu. It provides her with information, novice quests, and a connection to the person she seeks. 389

Notable Quotes

“Because I am Imagawa Yoshimoto.” 147

“I, the head of the Imagawa Clan, Imagawa Yoshimoto, am the Chosen One. And I shall march to Kyoto in June!” 367

“Rather than living a dozen or decades longer, it's better to ensure that future generations, when discussing this era, will find that the name ‘Imagawa Yoshimoto’ cannot be bypassed.” 361