Tatsuomi Uesugi

Tatsuomi Uesugi (, Uesugi Tatsuomi) is one of the Five Grand Generals of Hi no Moto and the captain of the Uesugi Bushi. He also leads the Uesugi Alliance during the fight against the green Kishin, Yamata no Orochi.

Appearance
Uesugi is a tall, muscular man with long white dreadlocks that goes past his waist. He has stern, piercing eyes, however, he wears a patch on the left one because he had lost it. Uesugi has a huge dragon tattoo, which covers his back and also reaches his chest.

Casually he wears a claret kimono and matching hakama pants, which have the Uesugi emblem. His battle garment consists of traditional samurai armour and a surcoat (jinbaori), that has the Uesugi Bushi's distinctive dragon pattern.

Personality
Uesugi is one of the Five Grand Generals, like Naotora. He has a strict personality with a ferocious tone like a drinker, but he is the only man who is serious and holds the fate of Hi no Moto. He is a childhood friend of Naotora and his friends at Five Grand Generals.

Tatsuomi values blood ties within bushi more than anything. He is merciless with anyone who is not part of the Uesugi Alliance, and when he heard that Musashi and his friends wanted to see him he ordered their assasination inmediatly. Despite this trates, he treats and values every member of the alliance as a member of his family.

He often reminds himself that every bushi that will go to the field ground has a family and people who will await their return, this also motivates him in order to fight against kijin and led the Uesugi Alliance.

Awaji Island Recapture Operation Arc
At Harima port, Tatsuomi recalls receiving report from Kanetatsu that the Obsidian Goddess was spotted at the great eastern mine of Mimasaka.

When Naotora Takeda arrives, Kanetatsu takes him to Tatsuomi. Kanetatsu mentions that there were three outsiders and Tatsuomi orders to kill them, as unity of blood is everything for them. Naotora explains they are his subordinates, his older brother's second cousins. Tatsuomi then agrees to spare them. Naotora wonders why he called for him as he doesn't work for him. Tatsuomi believes that Naotora will want to help him slaying the Kishin of Awaji.

Later, Tatsuomi is on the walls of Shiryu Castle, when Musashi climbs up. Musashi is impressed by the castle and the Bushi and Tatsuomi explains he comes here before a battle to remind himself that the Bushi have families that wait them and he wishes to avoid the pointless deaths of the young Bushi. Kanetatsu arrives and reveals that Musashi is an outsider, which changes Tatsuomi's mood. As Musashi had trespassed into the castle, this would normally means death, but since he is with Naotora, Tatsuomi orders to throw him into the barracks.

Kuroko Usami, the Uesugi Band tactician, explains that the first deployment's mission is to lure the rampant lesser oni on Awaji to a single location and Kanetatsu Naoe will be leading it. Kuroko continues to explain that the lesser oni have sturdy horns and most Bushi won't be able to cut them. The men then wonder why Kanetatsu is leading it. Tatsuomi Uesugi explains that Kanetatsu one of the strongest of his Bushi, but refuses any honors or promotions, so Tatsuomi bestowed him with the "tatsu" from his name, and Kanetatsu is one of his three dragons.

Tatsuomi informs Naotora that the Obsidian Goddess has been found. He also suspects an infiltrator, who will try to take out the Uesugi when they face Yamata no Orochi. He send out Kuroko to look for the infiltrators and once she finds them, they will move. Later, when Michiru and Musashi form a black crystal and Kuroko captures them, Kuroko tells Tatsuomi that Michiru was on her list of potential spies, however, she comes with a plan and suggest he to arrest Musashi and let Michiru go. Tatsuomi then arrest Musashi and later Michiru contacts Yataro Inuda on the Awaji island, allowing Kuroko to trace it and realize where the enemy hideout is.

Abilities
Yellow Sword Soul: He possesses a yellow Color Of The Soul

Etymology

 * The name Tatsuomi means "dragon" (竜) (tatsu) and "retainer, subject" (臣) (omi).
 * Tatsuomi's surname Uesugi means "above, top, upper" (上) (ue) and "cedar" (杉) (sugi).

Trivia

 * Tatsuomi Uesugi's character is most likely inspired by one of the most famous daimyōs of the Sengoku period, Uesugi Kenshin. There are many motifs that they share:
 * dragon motive: in the manga, Tatsuomi has the kanji of dragon in his name and a huge dragon tattoo on his back while in real life, Uesugi Kenshin sometimes was referred to as "The Dragon of Echigo"
 * Bishamonten: in the manga there is a huge Bishamonten-like statue in the Uesugi Bushi's castle; in real life, Uesugi Kenshin was a Buddhist and a devotee of Bishamonten