Yamada Arinobu

Yamada Arinobu(山田有信; 1544-1609) was a retainer of the Shimazu clan during the Edo period.

He served under Shimazu Takahisa and then under Shimazu Yoshihisa. On 1568, he became a karo for his services.

He was known as a skilled commander in the battle. On 1578, Otomo Yoshishige attacked Shimazu clan and Arinobu gathered 500 troop to hold ground at Taka Castle. He managed to defend the castle and this led to a decline in the morale of Otomo troop. In the battle of Mimigawa that followed, the Shimazu army defeated Otomo who retreated under heavy losses losing commanders like Kamachi Akimori from which it never recovered.

On 1586, Toyotomi Hideyoshi launched the invasion into Kyūshū and Shimazu territory, Arinobu again gathered handful of troop to take stand again and defended it even after the main body of army led by Shimazu Yoshihisa lost. Refusing to surrender against the Toyotomi troop, Arinobu surrendered only after Yoshihisa ordered surrender offering his son Yamada Arinaga as hostage.

He died on 1609 and it is said that Yoshihisa prayed in front of Arinobu's coffin thanking Arinobu's long service.