Maeda Keiji

Maeda Keiji is a character first introduced in Sengoku Basara 2. He is Maeda Toshiie's and Matsu's nephew, and occasionally fights with them, but also loves his family. He has a mysterious pass with Toyomi Hideyoshi and Takenaka Hanbei which was touched on in Sengoku BASARA 2 Heroes.

Adopted nephew of Maeda Toshiie and Matsu. Keiji is what people call a happy-go-lucky man. He enjoys festivals, as well as pulling pranks at Toshiie. Despite his demeanor towards his step-family, he loves them though shows resentment at them due to their objection to his lifestyle. Accompanying him is a small monkey named Yumekichi. His weapon is a ludicrously oversized nodachi. Despite its length, he can use it one-handed. He also uses its sheath, but rather than carry it around he throws it in to the sky, having it come down just when he needs to use it. He receives a three stage gaiden in Sengoku Basara 2 Heroes, where he used to be friends with Toyotomi Hideyoshi, but loses him due to Hideyoshi's lust for power.Keiji serves the Uesugi army during the tenure of Sengoku Basara 3, flirting with the female Saika Magoichi along the way.

Maeda Toshimasu (前田利益^?) (1543 — 1612), better known as Maeda Keiji (前田慶次^?) or Keijirō (慶次郎), was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku Period through earlyEdo Period. Toshimasu was born to the Takigawa Clan of Owari, 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 Nobunagareplaced Toshihisa with Toshiie as Maeda family head, he lost this position. Perhaps because of this loss of inheritance, Toshimasu is well known for not getting along with his uncle.^{[citation needed]}

While in Kyoto, Toshimasu met and befriended Naoe Kanetsugu, Uesugi Kagekatsu's karō. The two became close friends. Consequently, Toshimasu agreed to join Kanetsugu in the Uesugi clan's invasion of Aizu. During the retreat from the failed invasion, Keiji was given the task of leading the rear guard. 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.

After this, Toshimasu returned to the capital and devoted himself to arts and literature. Keiji was barred from Toyotomi’s Kyushu campaign for his wild way. When the Tokugawachallenged the Uesugi in 1600, he once again fought with Uesugi’s army. In the battle against the Mogami, he broke through the enemy lines with only eight riders, and shattered their formation.^{[citation needed]} After the Uesugi clan's move to the Yonezawa Domain, Toshimasu remained with them, serving as a retainer.

Keiji's armour can still be seen today at the Miyasaka Museum.