Still Upset

I am still upset when watching the Nobunaga NHK Taiga drama. I wish there were more fighting scenes in the picture. It is one of the most darkest I have ever seen.

• No mention of Yanada Masatsuna. A major blunder. This was the man who made Okehazama possible for Nobunaga.
• Barely a whimper by name of Hattori Haruyasu and Mori Shinsuke. Why?
• No Takugen Shuon. This man gave the idea of Tenka Fubu, Gifu, and the name Nobunaga.
• Okehazama battle scene I can live with for now.
• Saito Yoshitatsu was married to Azai Hisamasa's daughter Omi no kata, not Nobunaga's older sister.

I thought the movie did a good job on the Oda/Tokugawa alliance. However, the lead up to Okehazama was very weak. Did not show the war council and Nobunaga giving them the finger (not interested). A more accutare one is the Nobunaga movie with Ken Watanabe. I wonder what Professor Kitsuno thinks?



One of the best parts of the series is when Nobunaga decapitated the man who was trying to take a look under a lady's veil. Nobunaga cut the man's head in one bloody stoke. A work of genius.


Tenka no tame!

Very upest so far!

I have been very upset so far on the NHK Tiaga drama series Nobunaga. Yes, he is my homeboy, but there is a lot of things are left. However, to be fair, I am enjoying it so far.

Here are some things that I am livid about.

• Nohime as a crybaby and a whimp. Yuko Narito played a Better Nohime in Ken Watanabe's Nobunaga. She was the Viper's daughter and a tough one. She was no crybaby! She was an iron lady! Testu Onna!
  
• Did not show when Dosan gave Nohime the dagger before heading off to Owari.
• The meeting between Nobunaga and Dosan. Did not mention or show the 500 guns, failure to show Nobunaga spied on Dosan in the shack, and Nobunaga's nagabakama. Ken Watanabe's Nobunaga was the perfect costume.
• Nobunaga's youth. It did well on sumo and hawking, but hardly anything on guns. Only a brief moment shooting with Nohime. No mention of Kunitomo 1549. No mention of Hashimoto Ippa and Daisuke Ichikawa. A huge crime. where were the persimmons and mochi? None! I thought Tenka Totta Baka and Nobunaga (Watanabe) did a better job.

To sum it up, the worst Atsumori version in I have ever seen. Nobody is going to beat Daisuke Ryu'sKagemusha, but come on! Put some heart into it.

As I said, I am enjoying it so far, but sometimes scratching my head.

Nobunaga no tame!

Nobunaga NHK Taiga Series

I have just ordered the NHK Taiga drama series Nobunaga: King of Zipangu. I have waited for a long time to get my hands on this. From what I have heard from the SA Online Citadel, it is one of the best. It stars Ogata Naoto, Nakamura Toru, and Frank Neil. I will let you know when I receive the set.

I am still reading up on Paul Varley's article as well as Tanegashima by Olof Liden. The more I read up on Nobunaga and guns related to the purchase in 1549, it appears that Hashimoto Ippa made the deal to click. Sure, Nobuhide might have given his son the go ahead or the cash. However, someone had to help Nobunaga make the deal done and that was Hashimoto Ippa.


Tenka no tame!

Nobunaga by Sakaiya Taichi

I recently bought this book by Sakaiya Taichi and others. The book was published in 1991. What I have read so far is ok. My main complaint is some of the information is outdated. However, there is dialog between writers and makes the book interesting. Also the book discusses Nobunaga's evil actions as well. I am still reading the book at the moment.



Nobunaga no Tame!

Movie link

I found this link during the weekend. Some bargain buys are there. The Nobunaga series looks too good to pass up.


http://www.samuraimoviedvd.com




Tenka no Tame!

Nobunaga/Hashimoto Ippa/Kunitomo

I have been reading Olof G. Lidin's Tanegashima: The Arrival of Europe in Japan, and it is a great book so far. I had a discussion with Samurai Archives Kitsuno earlier about Nobunaga's purchase of the 500 rifles in 1549. He might have received the go ahead and the cash from his father Nobuhide, but who really helped Nobunaga in the securing the deal?

It was Hashimoto Ippa who made the deal possible. Lidin explains,
"On the 18th day of the 7th month of Tenbun 18 (10 August 1549), they received the order from Lord Nobunaga through Hashimoto Ippa, and on the 21st day of the 10th month of Tenbun 19 ( 30 October 1550) the teppo were finished." (Lidin, p.135)

What I have read so far is that Hashimoto Ippa was the man who was responsible in making the deal go through. I am not concerned about the Kunitomo Teppoki at the moment. It might have been written years after Nobunaga's death. I am more concerned who helped Nobunaga purchased the 500 rifles. I will discuss this more later.


Here are some websites to look at.

http://www.kunitomo-teppo.jp/





Nobunaga no tame!

Tanegashima Part Two

I have just received Tanegashima and the book looks good so far. My friend from Samurai-Archives, Kitsuno had a big discussion on Nobunaga and the 500 rifles he ordered in 1549 at the Kunitomo gun factory. What I read from the book so far and only a glimpse. Nobunaga had help from Hashimoto Ippa to buy the 500 guns. I will discuss this topic in great length later.


Tenka no Tame!

SA Blog Animator

I just posted the Samurai Archives Blog Animator. Hopefully you will find some interesting things about it. Also I have posted more photos on their flickr group as well. The reason why I posted the SA blog Animator because I owe Mr. West a great deal since he is editing my Okehazama book. He need all the publicity he can get. God Bless him. I am halfway through the second volume on Nobunaga no Histugi, boy I am enjoying it.




Nobunaga no Tame!

Battle of Iwakura Information

It was well known that Nobunaga's victory at the Battle of Iwakura in 1559 unified Oda clan and made him the sole ruler of Owari Province.

Here is some additional information that you might not know. Yamauchi Kazutoyo's father, Moritoyo was killed at the Battle of Iwakura. He fought for the losing side, which was Oda Nobukata. As for Kazutoyo, he started to serve under Nobunaga in 1567/68.

As for Nobunaga no Hitsugi, I am enjoying it. I am in the middle of reading volume two right now. As for my Okehazama book, it is getting there. Hopefully ready for the Holidays.


Nobunaga no Tame!

Tanegashima

I ordered Tanegashima-The Arrival of Europe in Japan by Olof Lidin Friday. From what I heard from friends and scholars alike it is a good book. Hopefully the book contains information on firearms. I think this book should be on recommended Sengoku reading list.



Tenka no Tame!

Nobunaga's Coffin

Well, I finally bought the book. I bought Nobunaga no Hitsugi by Kato Hiroshi today. I have read about fifty pages so far. Not bad. I do plan to see the movie too. The review of the movie on the Samurai Archives Citadel are so-so.



Nobunaga no Tame!

Owada Tetsuo and more on Kagemusha

This is the Book by Owada Tetsuo I mentioned in my last post. It is easy to understand and read. If someones Japanese is limited, they can still understand what the author is talking about. The book is general, but the diagrams makes the book easy to comprehend. The big three: Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu's characteristics are discussed too. My favorite is why Sengoku warlords practiced the tea ceremony and what the ashigaru carried with them on the campaign. Family trees and bloodlines are simplified and makes it easier to understand. General, but a easy book to read.

More on Kagemusha.
mentioned "Amen!" and was in awe when Professor Kitsuno of Samurai Archives was making his case on the Daisuke Ryu's awesome performance as Nobunaga. Three minute performance? I think it was more than that. I enjoyed Nobunaga first appeared in the movie. On his horse and questioning his spies. You can see the fear on the messenger's face. Later he questioned the messenger again. If Shingen was alive the castle would be surrounded. Nobunaga and Ieyasu drinking wine and at the end giving Ieyasu the two bags of gold. KitsunoNobunaga in armor marching with his army with the priest giving his blessings. And do not forget Nobunaga's "Atsumori" near the end of the film. I love that movie!

The book is moving along and should be ready for the Holidays.



Tenka no Tame!

Nobunaga and Kagemusha

The Samurai Archives Citadel is at it again with Nobunaga and the movie Kagemusha. I still think Daisuke Ryu is the best portrayal of Oda Nobunaga to this date. He does Nobunaga so well that it makes me believe he is still with us. Sorimachi Takashi who played Nobunaga in the NHK Toshiie to Matsu series is a close second.

Yesterday I bought another book by Owada Tetsuo Chishiki ero kara no Sengoku BushoYumon.

I will comment on the book next week.



Nobunaga no Tame!