1) To Nobunaga

Though you may have heard the name, Ujisato Gamo, I think there are few who know what
Ujisato actually did. Those who do not know Ujisato well might surprise when they hear that
Ujisato is the son-in-law of Nobunaga Oda.
He lived through the Sengoku period (Period of Warring States), became a Christian, and was
drawn up to heaven at the age of 40.
Let us see the way Ujisato lived and how he had an influence of faith as a Christian.

Ujisato was born in 1556 at Nakano Castle of current Hino Town in Shiga prefecture. His father
was Katahide Gamo, the lord of Nakano Castle (60,000 goku). Ujisato was born as the heir.
Ujisato began to enter the front stage of Japanese history in 1568 when he was 13.
When Nobunaga Oda tried to conquer Kyoto, the father of Ujisato served under the Rokkaku
family who got in Nobunaga's way. After the Rokkaku family was defeated, the Gamo family
went to see Nobunaga with the recommendation of Tomomori Kanbe, who is a blood relative of
the Gamo and served under Nobunaga, Nobunaga did not take up the territory of the Gamo
family, but Ujisato was taken to Gifu Castle as the hostage.
Nobunaga found Ujisato's excellence, and ordered his retainers saying, "favor especially
Tsuruchiyo (Ujisato's childhood name)." Living up to Nobunaga's expectation, Ujisato mastered
many things such as martial art, Chinese writing, and tea ceremony under good teachers.
Moreover I imagine that Ujisato was exposed to Christianity by this time at the latest because
Ujisato served as Nobunaga's valet.
For I think Ujisato might have listened to what missionaries talked about beside Nobunaga when
Nobunaga held meetings with missionaries.
When Ujisato listened to the gospel of Christ, I think that he was so excited and listened to the
story he had never heard before, and that he had kept taking it to his heart.

In 1569, Ujisato went on his first campaign at the age of 14.
Although Ujisato's competent followers lost him in the war, Ujisato killed the enemy and returned.
Then Ujisato became famous for going into battle at the vanguard of his army everytime they
made war. You can see how brave he was from this episode.
Moreover he was an intellectual person who was even listed in Sichitetsu of Sen no Rikyu who
was famous for tea ceremony. (Sichitetsu : his seven leading disciples)
He was both a good warrior and a good scholar. Trusting Ujisato, Nobunaga married off his
daughter, Fuyuhime to Ujisato. Ujisato was released from hostage, and went back to Nakano
Castle, his birthplace, with Fuyuhime. It was when he was 15.

(The Kyoto Glory Church Translation Committee is responsible for the wording of this article.)

References
戦国の大偉人「蒲生氏郷公小伝｣　瀬川欣一著