Yasuie Hojo is a supporting character in “The Elusive Samurai.” He is most famous for his unusual trait: whatever he is truly thinking appears as words on his large forehead, making it impossible for him to hide his real feelings. Yasuie is blunt, values survival, and uses clever tricks rather than brute force. He played a key role in helping his nephew, Tokiyuki Hojo, escape danger and reclaim Kamakura. Despite his reluctance about battle, he repeatedly aided Tokiyuki and supported the rebels. In the end, weakened and ill, he lived out his days in peace with his mother, after years of struggle.
Yasuie Hojo has a big, shiny forehead. The most special thing about him is that any secret thought or true feeling he tries to hide appears as text right on his forehead, so everyone can see what he is really thinking.
Yasuie is not good at hiding things—his emotions are right out in the open, literally on his forehead. He cares a lot about surviving and doesn't pretend to be brave when he is scared. He is honest and down-to-earth, which makes him easy to trust. Yasuie is willing to do unheroic things if it means living through tough times, even acting silly or begging if that’s what it takes. Even though he is selfish about his own safety, he is fiercely loyal to people he cares about, like Tokiyuki Hojo.
Yasuie is the younger brother of Takatoki Hojo and uncle to Tokiyuki Hojo. He used to be an important member of the Kamakura shogunate, the government that ruled Japan. When Kamakura fell, Yasuie made sure Tokiyuki could escape with Suwa Yorishige, and he escaped the city himself by pretending to be one of the enemy’s wounded soldiers. After that, Yasuie went to different places in the north and tried to lead other Hojo survivors in rebellion, but he was defeated and ended up back with Tokiyuki in Suwa.
Yasuie is not the best at fighting, but he is very smart and tricky. He’s great at coming up with plans and convincing people to join his side. His main skills are:
- Wandering Charisma: He can easily stir up rebellion anywhere, no matter the land.
- Scheming (Rank B): His cunning makes his political skills 10% better.
- Agitation: His charm and power to negotiate increase by 15%.
- The Face of Power Struggles: His real thoughts flash across his forehead so quickly that enemies cannot read or predict him.
- Tokiyuki Hojo: His nephew, whom he cares for deeply and helps escape danger.
- Suwa Yorishige: Friend and ally, helped protect Tokiyuki together.
- Kakukaini: His mother, with whom he spent his last days in peace.
- If he tries to hide something, his real feelings will show up as words on his forehead, so he cannot lie or keep secrets.
- He values his own life a lot and admits this openly—and it often saves him.
- Even when physically weak, his will to survive stands out.
- His family crest is a pattern combining three scales with grape vines.
- “(Want to befriend the puppet kid and get some easy advantage.)”
- “(And also, I’m bored, let’s play.)”
- “To risk your life to protect someone important is not a pointless death.”
- “A lord’s duty is to be proud of having a vassal like Yorishige.”
- “I just really didn’t want to die.”
- “I was scared. I didn’t want to die. I wanted to quit. I wanted to escape. Finally, I can rest.”
Escape from Kamakura
When Kamakura was falling, while most of his family stayed behind, Yasuie made a plan. He put Tokiyuki in the care of Suwa Yorishige, then disguised himself as a wounded enemy soldier to slip out of the city.
Raising Rebellion in the North
After escaping, Yasuie traveled across northern regions, gathering remaining Hojo supporters. He tried to rebel and fight back but lost each time. Eventually, he made it to Suwa and met up with Tokiyuki again.
On his forehead, his real fear showed: "I just really didn’t want to die."
Outwitting Enemies
Yasuie joined Tokiyuki’s secret group and even pretended to be a country samurai at a checkpoint for survival. He was not afraid to act silly or humble if it meant safety.
In Kyoto, he and Saionji Kinmune plotted to assassinate Emperor Go-Daigo, but as Suwa Yorishige predicted, the plot failed and Yasuie had to run away again.
The Reclamation of Kamakura
In 1335, Suwa Yorishige and Tokitsugu Suwa led the uprising called the "Nakasendai Rebellion" with Tokiyuki. Yasuie traveled around, calling other warriors to join them. In the last battle against Tadayoshi Ashikaga, he boldly went straight into the enemy camp and convinced Tokiaki Miura to betray the enemy. This act helped Tokiyuki reclaim Kamakura.
Defeat and Loss
Takauji Ashikaga, Tadayoshi’s older brother, arrived from the capital with his army. Tokiyuki’s side lost hope and their army scattered. As Suwa Yorishige and his son bravely stayed behind to let Tokiyuki escape, Yasuie told Tokiyuki that protecting important people is never a waste. Then Yasuie slipped away again.
Captivity and Rescue
After this, historical records of Yasuie go silent, but in the story, it’s shown he joined the Southern Court with Tokiyuki and Akiie Kitabatake. During a big fight against Magojiro Shiba, Tokiyuki found Yasuie, now tortured and worn out, being kept as a hostage to break Tokiyuki’s spirit.
Thanks to Kazama Genba, Natsu no Yon, and Akiie Kitabatake, he was rescued. Even as a shell of his former self, his determination did not fade—his forehead showed, “Let’s do it.”
Final Days
Yasuie was seriously ill after being rescued, and everyone could see he could not fight anymore. After Tokiyuki and his grandmother Kakukaini begged him to rest, Yasuie’s true feelings flashed: "I was scared. I didn’t want to die. I wanted to quit. I wanted to escape. Finally, I can rest."
He stayed in hiding at his mother’s home from then on. But before disappearing from history, he gave Tokiyuki one last clever plan.
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