Torii Suneemon

Torii Suneemon (鳥居 強右衛門, c. 1540 – May 16, 1575) was an ashigaru (low class footman) who served the Okudaira family, retainer of Tokugawa Ieyasu.

He was a retainer of Okudaira Sadamasa and member of the Nagashino garrison when the fortress came under siege by the forces of Takeda Katsuyori.

Torii, already renowned for his bravery and knowledge of the surroundings, volunteered for the extremely dangerous mission of sneaking through the siege lines to request aid from Tokugawa Ieyasu in Okazaki.

However, after successfully warning Tokugawa, he was captured by the Takeda on his return to Nagashino.

One Takeda retainer, Ochiai Michihisa, even used an image of a crucified Torii Suneemon on his flag from then on.

Banner made by Ochiai Michihisa , 16th century