In 1543, Toshimasu was born in the village of Arako (present-day
Nakagawa-ku, Nagoya), Toshimasu was born to the Takigawa Clan, originally the son of
Takigawa Kazumasu. He was adopted by Maeda Toshihisa, the older brother of
Maeda Toshiie. Toshimasu served under
Oda Nobunaga along with his uncle. Toshimasu was originally intended to inherit Maeda family headship; however, after
Oda Nobunaga replaced Toshihisa with Toshiie as Maeda family head, he lost this position. Perhaps because of this loss of inheritance, Toshimasu is well known for quarreling with his uncle. Keiji's armor can still be seen today at the Miyasaka Museum. In 1581, Toshimasu was under the command of his uncle, and made a reputation for himself through conflicts within
Noto Province and was rewarded with 5,000 koku. In 1584, during the
Battle of Komaki and Nagakute, Toshimasu came with
Maeda Toshiie's to rescue
Suemori Castle when was attacked by
Sassa Narimasa. When Maeda Toshihisa died in 1587, Toshimasu sent his son into the Maeda family's service. Keiji was barred from
Toyotomi's Kyushu Campaign for his wild ways. In 1590, he continued to help his uncle in the
Odawara campaign. After Odawara campaign, Toshimasu returned to the capital and devoted himself to arts and literature. Either after Toshihisa's death or in 1590, relations between him and Toshiie grew sour. He fled from the Maeda family without taking his wife or child. After his escape, he resided in Kyoto. While in
Kyoto, Toshimasu met and befriended
Naoe Kanetsugu from the
Uesugi clan. The two became close friends, and Toshimasu agreed to join Kanetsugu at Sekigahara Campaign, in the Uesugi clan's invasion of
Aizu. Later in 1600, at the
Siege of Hasedō against
Mogami clan and
Date clan. He was led the center garrison of Uesugi forces, after Uesugi failed, Toshimasu was appointed to lead the rear guard during the retreat. Riding his horse "Matsukaze" into battle and brandishing a two-pronged spear, he made a splendid show of force. Due in part to Toshimasu's actions, the Uesugi forces were able to retreat largely intact. Legend says he broke through the enemy lines with only eight riders, and shattered their formation. After the Uesugi clan's move to the
Yonezawa Domain, Toshimasu remained as a retainer and spent half retired life at
Mukuan (Toshimasu's fortified residence). ==Matsukaze==