More Okehazama Videos

I found some videos on the Battle of Okehazama on the internet and they are okay and informative.  One is in English and shows the various battle landmarks.  The other one is in Japanese and breaks down the battle.  They are useful to a degree might help others understand the Battle of Okehazama.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSGqdeq3fTQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY8-rmKXHjk

Tenka no tame!

Honnoji Restaurant I

The Nobunaga restaurant near the Honnoji has finally opened.  Here is the link with the full menu (with pictures) and prices.  http://www.shinchou-saryou.jp/restaurant/  The Tsukemono (pickled vegetable) set is one of the more cheaper items on the menu besides the Nobunaga Curry and Oyakodon.  They do serve sweets such as wagashi and a bowl of matcha.

My main concern is that you have to make a reservation for the big one, Nobunaga's meal.  The above photo is what Nobunaga probably had for his last supper before he died.  The bento box was sold only in the Nagoya area a few years ago.  If you look at the picture, what he ate was very healthy.  I do plan to visit the Nobunaga restaurant later this year while in Kyoto. Besides, there is a nice art gallery and and set up is very relaxing and classy.

Owari ni hikari wo

Nobunaga no tame!

Nobunaga no Chef

Recently, I watched Nobunaga no Chef and was quite surprised how well the drama went.  I highly recommend it.  The story is about a Japanese French chef by the name of Ken (Yuta Tamamori) is taken back to the Sengoku Era by accident.  He does not know much except his cooking skills and before you know it, he is with the Uesama.  Mitsuhiro Okiwa plays the role of Nobunaga and nails it.  He is no Daisuke Ryu (Kagemusha) or Takashi Sorimachi (Toshiie to Matsu), but Mitsuhiro's role is so well done, you can learn a lot on Nobunaga's attitude and character.

This drama shows how Nobunaga saw the future and how he made himself into a self-made man.  Also displays Nobunaga's talents as he uses Ken for his tactical/strategic goals in uniting Japan.  Ken on the other, displays his talents as cook using the ingredients that the Sengoku Era provided him.  For a fantasy historical drama, it is not that bad at all.  Just watching Mitshiro Okiwa's role as Nobunaga is worth it.  You can watch Nobunaga no Chef on dramacrazy.

Tenka no tame!

Soken-in Temple

Soken-in is located within the large compound of Daitokuji (located in Kyoto), the head temple of the Daitokuji branch of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism.  Founded in 1583 by the great leader of Japan's unification of the 16th c., Toyotomi Hideyoshi, it is the memorial temple for Oda Nobunaga (1534-82), who had led the reunification movement and whose rise to hegemony put an end to the hundred years of strife referred to in Japanese history as the Warring States Period.

Hideyoshi had the elegant temple Soken'in built on the occasion of the first anniversary of lord Nobunaga's death, having the priest Kokei Sochin serve as its founding abbot.  There is a huge wooden statue of Oda Nobunaga in the main hall, an old water well carved from stone from Korea, and the impressive main gate and wall.

The temple has the graves of Nobunaga, his sons, and his ladies.  For example, Nobunaga's lovely wife Nohime's grave is here as well his concubine Onabe no kata's.  Nobunaga's daughter Tokuhime's grave is here too.  Soken-in is only open for public viewing during the fall and highly recommended when visiting Kyoto.

Nobunaga no tame!