Yamanaka Yukimori



Yamanaka Yukimori (山中 幸盛), also known as Yamanaka Shikanosuke (山中 鹿の介) or Shikasuke (鹿の介), was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period. He served the Amako clan of Izumo Province.

In art, his portraits conventionally show a crescent moon on the front of his helmet, but he was in fact born under a harvest moon. The crescent moon ornament he wore on his helmet was a token of good luck.

Warrior career
Yukimori supported the cause of Amako Katsuhisa (1553-1578), including the Siege of Kōzuki Castle. He even tried to get help from the Oda clan. Unfortunately Oda Nobunaga only used him so the Oda army can march deeper into Mōri's lands. Akechi Mitsuhide and Hashiba Hideyoshi wanted to gave him reinforcements but Nobunaga refused. Those two generals then forced to concentrate in sieging Mōri and Ukita castles than helping Yukimori.

Eventually Yukimori surrendered and his master Katsuhisa committed suicide. Kikkawa Motoharu awarded him with a small castle in Suo. When on the way to the castle, Yukimori was captured and attacked by the soldiers of Mōri clan.