Nobunaga and Yoshitsune

After reading Okehazama Kassen Kishu no Shinjutsu by Ota Teruo, Oda Nobunaga and Minamoto Yoshitsune has a lot in common when it comes to surprise attacks.  The Battle of Okehazama 1560 and the Battle of Ichi-no-tani 1184 are some similar.  Nobunaga was a Genpei War freak and either Hirate Masahide or Hirata Sanmi (military instructor) taught him the old war tales and tactics.  Nobunaga was no fool and used the Genpei Wars to the fullest extent. For Nobunaga, Okehazama was his Ichi-no-tani.  Here are two videos of the battles and see for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnmEt9x3aFw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MZ2_CMCNjw

• Both were surprise attacks and both Nobunaga and Yoshitsune won their battles.
• Both charged down a hill.  That being said, Yoshitsune's charged is supposed to much longer and steeper.
• Nobunaga had the weather in his favor.  The rain covered his troops from the Imagawa.
• Nobunaga sings and dances to Atsumori on the eve of the battle.  Taira Atsumori was killed at Ichi-no-tani.
• Okehazama was decisive battle (Imagawa Yoshimoto was killed), while Ichi-no-tani was not.
• Nobunaga's crossing of the sea at the Battle of Muraki in 1554.  Winds and the sea was strong in one of Yoshitsune's previous battles.
• In 1568 in Kyoto, someone presented Nobunaga armor that Yoshitsune wore at the Battle of Ichi-no-tani.
• Nobunaga was a tall and handsome man, while Yoshitsune was short with buck teeth.

These are just a few examples and there are probably many more.  See Okehazama Kassen Kishu no Shinjutsu (pp. 278-280).  This is an interesting subject in my opinion and would like to continue to do more research on the relationship.  If possible, I would love to write a column on Okehazama and Ichi-no-tani for the Battle of Okehazama Preservation Society.

Nobunaga no tame!