My wife's family has many men who Japan considers heros, but one stands out above the rest, Maeda, Toshiie.
Maeda (means in front of the rice field), Toshiie (前田利家?, January 15, 1539 - April 27, 1599) was one of the leading generals of Oda Nobunaga. The highest rank from the court that he received is the Great Counselor Dainagon (大納言).
Toshiie served Oda Nobunaga from childhood and his loyalty was rewarded by being allowed to be the head of the Maeda clan. He was a friend to Toyotomi Hideyoshi in their childhood.
He was a member of the akahoro-shū (赤母衣衆), the unit under Oda Nobunaga's personal command. He also was a lifelong rival of Tokugawa Ieyasu. He was eventually granted a han (land grant) in Noto and Kaga Provinces. It was a highly productive province which would eventually develop into the wealthiest in Edo period Japan, with a net worth of 1 million koku (百万石).
He was in many battles. One of his most famous victory's was at the Battle of Suemori Castle.
Before dying, Hideyoshi named Toshiie to the council of Five Elders to support Toyotomi Hideyori until he was old enough to take control on his own, but he died a year later of natural causes. He is buried on Mt. Koya near Osaka.
Toshiie and his wife, Matsu had a number of children. Their sons, Toshinaga, Toshimasa, Toshitsune, Toshitaka, and Toshitoyo all became daimyo.
Maeda Toshiie - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia