Tahara Masatsugu

Tahara Masatsugu was born on 8 December 1852 in Kyoto, Tokugawa Shogunate. His father was Tahara Hideyoshi.

He had 3 children: Tahara Ujisato, Tahara Kazuhiro and Tahara Jun.

Tahara Takatora was a descendant of Ishida Mitsunari, a great Samurai in the 1500s. His family lost their honor after the Battle of Sekigahara.

In 1875, he moved to Tokyo where he got a job.

In 1878, Tokugawa loyalists attacked Yamagata Aritomo in Tokyo. His bodyguards were killed and Tahara jumped into action, defeating the 2 assassins with his bare hands. He then stayed by Yamagata until his guards showed up. He was then invited to the General Staff Office where he was given a hero's welcome and given a lot of money.

In 1879, he joined the Imperial Japanese Army due to mandatory conscription. Due to his service to Yamagata, he was given the rank of Corporal. In 1886, he retired from the military.