hosokawa gracia

Akechi Tama, usually referred to as Hosokawa Garasha (細川ガラシャ), (1563 – 25 August 1600) was a member of the aristocratic Akechi family from the Sengoku period. Gracia is best known for her role in the Battle of Sekigahara; she was considered to be a political hostage to the Western army led by Ishida Mitsunari. She reneged on committing suicide (seppuku) because of her Catholic faith, breaking the code of conduct imposed on women of the samurai class.

She was the daughter of Akechi Mitsuhide and Tsumaki Hiroko, the wife of Hosokawa Tadaoki, and a convert to Catholicism. As the last notable survivor of the Akechi clan, the clan that planned and executed the assassination of Oda Nobunaga, the first "Great Unifier" of Japan, Gracia's death impacted both armies. The incident did much damage to Ishida's reputation, which greatly reduced his chances of recruiting more allies, some of whom were also secretly Christians. Gracia's actions consequently led to Mitsunari's defeat; triggering the events that would lead to the formation of the Tokugawa Shogunate.