Obaiin

This is one the many sub-temples at Daitokuji in Kyoto. Unfortunately, Obaiin was closed. However, I was able to take a photo of the sign.

Obaiin Temple was constructed in 1562 when Oda Nobunaga ordered Hashiba Hideyoshi to build a small hermitage in order to hold a memorial service for his father, Oda Nobuhide. The graveyard include such figures such as Oda Nobuhide, Oda Nobunaga's second daughter and her husband, Mori Motonari and his wife, and three sons, and other members of the Mori family.

Nobunaga no tame!

White heron

It was said that two white herons from Atsuta Shrine, where Nobunaga prayed right before the Battle of Okehazama, flew to battlefield. The story can be found in the Oze Hoan Shinchoki.

From the pamphlet:

There is a legend associated with egrets in this region. Oda Nobunaga stopped at the Atsuta Shrine to pray for victory on the way to Okehazama. As he was offering a prayer, two white egrets flew up into the sky from the shrine. They guided the Oda army to Okehazama and perched in a huge tree in the Ishizuka-no-Mori. Based on the legend, Mr. Yamaguchi Masayoshi erected this monument.

The landmark is near the Toyoake Okehazama battlefield. The two white herons did appear in the NHK Taiga drama Toshiie to Matsu, believe or not. Again, this story is found in Oze Hoan's work, not Gyuichi's. That being said, I was happy to visit and take photos of the landmark. A must see for anyone who is interested in the battle.


Tenka no tame!

A rare grave

A statue of Nohime located at Kiyosu Castle.




There are many mysteries on what happened to Nobunaga's wife, Nohime (1535-1612). It was a fact that she did not produced any children and highly possible she was barren. Nohime does a have a grave at Sokenin, a sub-temple of Daitokuji in Kyoto. Believe it or not, she does have a grave located in Gifu City.

Located in Gifu City, Fudo-cho Nohime's grave.

I was lucky to hit the jackpot on this rare find. There are two graves that are related to Nohime and that is fantastic news in my opinion. This is an ihatsu grave, the lock of the deceased's hair.


Nobunaga no tame!

Kamagatani's geography during the Battle of Okehazama

Here is an old photo from the late Taisho or early Showa Era of Kamagatani. The geography was different then and I think the photo represents how Okehazama looked during the time of the battle. Or close to it. If you visit the Okehazama battlefield now, it will hard to get a clear picture how the geography was like during the battle. The old photos that I posted early this year gives the historian clues and a much clearer picture as well. To tell you the truth, it opened my eyes as well. I think the area was much more open with tress, bushes, hills, and rice paddies surrounding Okehazama.

Tenka no tame!

Kamagatani

This is one of the new landmarks at the Arimatsu Okehazama Battlefield.

(Kamagatani) Oda Nobunaga and his forces reached here secretly and hid themselves in the thunderstorm. Right after the rain he ordered to attack Imagawa's right wing and found Yoshimoto's whereabouts. He quickly told his forces to make a dash and won a decisive victory.


Here is another landmark near the Kamagatani area. The Nobunaga slope/hill.

June 22, 1560
Oda Nobunaga's forces rushed up this hill charging into Imagawa Yoshimoto's main camp. This became known as the famous "Battle of Okehazama." The victory of Oda's forces led to the dawn of Japan's early-modern period.
A picture overlooking Kamagatani. These landmarks were new and was lucky to take a photo. Many thanks to Yukio Kajino who led the tour.

Nobunaga no tame!