The biggest reason for Tokugawa Ieyasu's success is that he was a health enthusiast and lived longer than his rivals. Oda Nobunaga died at 49, Toyotomi Hideyoshi at 62, while he lived to 75. He didn't win the most battles nor was he the most talented commander, but he had one key ability—patience, endurance, and longevity. Historical records note that he:

1) Maintained extremely disciplined eating habits
• Low oil intake
• Low salt intake
• Avoided overeating
• Preferred coarse grains, vegetables, and fish

2) Followed a regular lifestyle
• Went to bed early and woke up early
• Rarely stayed up late
• Exercised regularly through horseback riding and archery

3) Maintained emotional stability
Japanese people describe the personalities of three historical figures:
Nobunaga: like fire
Hideyoshi: like wind
Ieyasu: like a mountain
Meaning:
Stable, slow, but unshakable.