2014 Okehazama Festival

The 2014 Arimatsu Okehazama Festival is less than two months away.  If you are in the area on May 18th, by all means please go.  You will not be disappointed.  There will be a center stage, discussion on the Battle of Okehazama, and a memorial for those who died on the battlefield.

http://okehazama.net/modules/osirase/index.php?page=article&storyid=209

For those who want to see the Okehazama treasures at Chofukuji Temple, this is your chance.  I have visited the temple many times and took many pictures of some interesting artifacts relating to the Battle of Okehazama.

Nobunaga no tame!

Banshoji Temple News

There will be a rare event held at Banshoji Temple next month in Nagoya.  The theme, Nobunaga Nagoya born will discuss the temple's history and its relationship between the Oda family and Nobunaga.  Banshoji Temple is located in the heart of Osu Kannon in Nagoya.  It is the home of Oda Nobuhide's grave.  The head chief priest Daito Genyu will be interviewed by one of my colleagues Chris Glenn.  After the interview, there will be a very rare display of a statue of Oda Nobuhide.  I have never seen the statue in person, only photos of it.  Tickets to this event that will be held on April, 20th is limited.  The price is 1,500 yen.

Banshoji Temple is home to one of Nobunaga's infamous events.  The throwing of incense at his father's funeral.  About two years ago I have written a post on this event and the story is from the Shincho-Ko ki.  http://otsuke.blogspot.com/2012/03/nobuhides-death-part-i.html

Tenka no tame!

Shobata Castle News

There is news that an artist has created a Nobunaga mosaic for Shobata Castle's PR.  If you have read my previous posts on Shobata Castle, you know I do not believe that Nobunaga was born at Shobata.  I believe that he was born at Nagoya Castle.  The only source that points to Shobata is the Bishukojoshi.  As for the art work, the picture above proves it was done in good taste.  By the way, I like it.  Here is the link to the article on the Nobunaga mosaic.  http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/e-japan/aichi/news/20140323-OYT8T00523.htm

It seems that Shobata Castle was huge during its day.  It measured between 672 by 708 feet and it was constructed by Oda Nobusada in the early 1500s.

Nobunaga no tame!

Okehazama Help

Spring is here and that means the weather will be getting warmer.  Around this time Imagawa Yoshimoto prayed for a successful Kyoto campaign at Sengen Shrine.  As we all know, it did not work  as he was killed at the Battle of Okehazama by the Uesama.  For people who are planning to visit both the Arimatsu and the Toyoake City Okehazama battlefields, my friend Hide who write for Mikawa-Hide blog, has a great link for those who want to see the key areas.  The link is in Japanese and it includes photos as well.  http://ameblo.jp/mikawa-hide/entry-11510369137.html 

Hide includes both the Arimatsu and Toyoake City Okehazama battlefields, Kamagatani, Koutokuin, Sena Ujitoshi Camp, and Tofukuji.

Another great link in Japanese:  http://okehazama.net  May 18th, will be the Arimatsu Okehazama Matsuri.  I suggest if you are in the area around this time, please go.  You will not be disappointed.

Nobunaga no tame!

Agui Castle

My good friend Seishiro Mizuno, who is from the Nagoya area has done some good work on the early career of Nobunaga.  His book Okehazama no Michi has lots photos and maps on Nobunaga's birth to the Battle of Okehazama.  Now Mr. Mizuno has written a short column on Agui Castle. http://ow.ly/uJYL4

Agui Castle played a very small role in the Battle of Okehazama.  Before Matsudaira Motoyasu (Tokugawa Ieyasu) delivered the supplies to Odaka Castle, he was able to visit his mother Odai no Kata at Agui Castle.  Odai no Kata was remarried to Hisamatsu Toshikatsu, who was the lord of Agui Castle.  After meeting his mother, Motoyasu delivered the supplies to Odaka and later attacked Fort Marune on the eve of The Battle of Okehazama.

Tenka no tame!

Sengoku Matcha

Believe or not, Sengoku matcha is out on the market now for you matcha lovers out there.

http://sankei.jp.msn.com/economy/news/140310/prl14031012280051-n1.htm

Nobunaga was quite fond of the tea ceremony and his most famous one was held in October 1575.  The chakai was held at Kyoto's Myokakuji and the master of the tea ceremony was Sen no Rikyu.  The tea ceremony was used by Nobunaga to make back door deals with the merchants of Sakai and Kyoto in order to get his hands on guns and gunpowder.   Kind of like golf today being played by judges and lawyers.

Nobunaga no tame!

Gifu Castle News I

There is more fantastic news from Gifu.  The castle archaeological works are starting to show how Nobunaga's palace was like during its glory.  I am not talking about Gifu Castle on top of Mt. Kinka, but Nobunaga's palace on ground level.  It was the highest non-religious structure at the time.  Nobunaga's palace building resembled very similar to Kyoto's Kinkakuji.  The building type was a shiden zukuri. a walk through garden.

http://www.nobunaga-kyokan.jp/blog/  Click on the blog date 3/7/2014 for more photos and a map.
http://otsuke.blogspot.com/2012/11/random-news.html

Tenka no tame!

Komaki Castle I

There was an article on Komaki Castle by the Asahi Shinbun on the recent archaeological work being done there.
http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASG2V4K9ZG2VOBJB005.html?iref=comtop_list_nat_t

The evidence is slowly proving that Komaki Castle was a dry run for Azuchi Castle.  Nobunaga's stay at Komaki Castle (1563-1567) was short since Komaki was the launching pad for Mino.

Earlier post on Komaki Castle:

http://otsuke.blogspot.com/2013/09/komaki-castle.html

Nobunaga no tame!

Iguiba

This place near the Battle of Muraki landmark is called Iguiba.  This is the area where Nobunaga's soldiers celebrated their big victory at the Battle of Muraki 1554.  I was fortunate enough to visit Iguiba last fall with Mr. Okehazama (Wataru Kajino) and Yukio and Akitsugu Kajino.  This was an important victory over the Imagawa since six years later would be the Battle of Okehazama.

I wrote a post on the complete description of the Battle of Muraki 1554 last year. http://otsuke.blogspot.com/2013/02/muraki.html

http://otsuke.blogspot.com/2013/03/muraki-ii.html

Tenka no tame!