Okabe Mataemon's Mansion

Here is some information on Okabe Mataemon (Yoshikata), the head carpenter during the construction of Azuchi Castle. Hide's blog does a good job a photo of Okabe's mansion landmark and a map link.

http://ameblo.jp/mikawa-hide/entry-10422985214.html

According the map, Okabe Mataemon's mansion is located near Atsuta Shrine. Having been to Atsuta Shrine many times, I have to admit, I missed this one. If I do return to Japan for the Okehazama festival, you can be sure that I will take a photo of the landmark.

However, there is debate on his death. For example, Okada Masahito's Oda Nobunaga Sogo Jiten, lists Okabe's birth and death as unknown(p. 263). Then you have Jeroen Lamers Japonius Tyrannus who stated that Okabe's death was in 1582(p. 124).

I am tending to go with the Japanese source and not Lamers for now. By the way, I received the 2007 Taiga drama Furin Kazan for Christmas. A damn good drama and highly recommended.

Tenka no tame!

2009 Favorites

Here are some of favorites for 2009.

Film: (1959) Fuunji Oda Nobunaga with Nakamura Kinnosuke.

Book: (Nobunaga related) Japanius Tyrannus by Jeroen Lamers.

Book: (Non Nobunaga related) State of War: "The Violent Order of Fourteenth Century Japan" by Thomas Conlan

Historian (Nobunaga related) Fujimoto Masayuki.

Historian (Non Nobunaga related) Thomas Conlan.


Owada Tetsuo would have been a no brainer, but he is in a different class by himself. He is the main man to go to for Sengoku history. The reason why I chose Fujimoto Masayuki and I disagree with a lot for what he has to say, the most important thing is that he makes you think.


I love Conlan's work and his State of War book is a must have for any one studying samurai warfare. He is also my of my favorite historians. As for Lamers, Japanuis Tyrannus is a must have for the Nobunaga scholar. Many have e-mailed me about the book. It is the only English book I know that fully covers Nobunaga's career in depth. Still many people do not want to fork out the money for it. I say to them, it is worth every penny. To this day, Lamer's book has been my number one source in English on Nobunaga.
One of my friends in Japan sent me a Christmas care package and I received a book on Shibata Katsuie by Aozono Kensaburo. A great book, but the main problem I have with it so far is that there is no bibliography.


Nobunaga no tame!

Wakaki Hi no Nobunaga

In 1959, Fuunji Oda Nobunaga was in theaters in Japan starring Nakamura Kinnosuke. However, there was another movie about Nobunaga that same year starring Ichikawa Raizo. He played Nobunaga's role in Wakaki Hi no Nobunaga. Sadly, I have not seen the film yet and dying to get my hands on it.

According the the link, Wakaki Hi no Nobunaga premiered in October 1952 at Kabukiza and the drama was made up of three acts and four scenes. From what I am being told is that Ichikawa's Nobunaga role was above average. I really enjoyed Nakamura's role and it was a treat. Again, I cannot comment on Ichikawa's performance until I see it.

Here is the link: http://www.kabuki21.com/wakaki.php

If anybody know where I can purchase the flim, let me know ASAP.


Tenka no tame!

Okehazama Arimatsu Map

Just in time for the big party next year, the Okehazama Battlefield Arimatsu location team printed a color map with all the important landmarks. This is a must have and dying to get my hands on it. Even if you cannot understand Japanese, the red line trail makes the map easy comprehend.

Here is the link: http://okehazama.net/modules/osirase/index.php?page=article&storyid=55

I received the Toyoake Okehazama Battlefrield Map from my friend Dohaland in October as a gift. the difference between the two is that the Toyoake Map is in English with all the landmark explanations. I could translate the Arimatsu map into English with some time in hand.

Also here is a photo of me at Kiyosu Castle ready to serve Nobunaga.

http://ameblo.jp/samuraicountry/day-20091208.html


Nobunaga no tame!

Takane-yama (Okehazama Arimatsu)

Takane-yama was the area where Matsui Munenobu had his troops.

Takane-yama landmark: "This place was the highest point around here, where Matsui Munenobu, a retainer of Imagawa had his force take a position. While they defeated Oda's detached companies, Oda's main force secretly passed though the valley and went toward Kamagatani."

The pictures were taken during the Okehazama walking tour with Mr. Yukio Kajino in October.

As for Matsui Munenobu, he was killed in action at Okehazama. Both the Arimatsu and Toyoake battlefield locations has a tomb for Matsui Munenobu.


Tenka no tame!