Sanada

Sanada (真田) is a Japanese surname and the name of a historically prominent samurai clan active during the Sengoku and early Edo periods. The clan originated in Shinano Province (present-day Nagano Prefecture) and rose to prominence in the 16th century. Initially allied with the Takeda clan, the Sanada later pledged loyalty to Tokugawa Ieyasu after the Takeda’s downfall and established the Matsushiro Domain in Shinano as daimyo.

Notable members include Sanada Masayuki, a skilled strategist who fortified Shinano defenses, and his son Sanada Nobuyuki, who governed portions of the domain. The best-known figure is Sanada Yukimura (also known as Sanada Nobushige), famed for his leadership during the Osaka campaigns and celebrated as a legendary warrior. Yukimura’s exploits in the Winter and Summer Sieges of Osaka (1614–1615) contributed to the clan’s enduring fame in Japanese history and popular culture.

The Sanada are associated with the Sanada Ten Braves, a legendary group said to have aided Yukimura. The roster and details of this unit are largely folklore and not supported by contemporary sources.

Following the Osaka campaigns, the clan’s political power waned under the Edo shogunate, and the Sanada line gradually lost its status as a major daimyo family. In modern times, Sanada remains a common Japanese surname, and the name is tied to sites in Shinano such as Matsushiro and Ueda Castle. The Sanada name also appears in literature, film, and video games, where it is often depicted as a symbol of shrewdness and martial prowess.