Fujiwara Theory

This is my last post before I leave for Japan.  The Oda are considered to be offshoots of the Fujiwara clan.  In 1518, Oda Michikatsu the deputy governor of Owari issued a document signing it "Fujiwara no Michikatsu."  Now the oldest document with Nobunaga's signature was written in 1549, when issued the a public off-limits notice to The Eight Villages of Atsuta signed as "Fujiwara no Nobunaga."  That same year (1549), Nobunaga ordered 500 matchlock rifles from Kunitomo in Omi Province.

Now Nobunaga used the title "Fujiwara no Nobunaga" only once.  The reason why Nobunaga used the Fujiwara name still unclear to this day.  There is a theory that Nobunaga used the Fujiwara name to give him some special status claiming that the Oda was a descendent from a 14th century court noble by the name of Fujiwara Nobumasa.

Tenka no tame!

Kobayashi Castle

Kobayashi Castle landmark is located near the Osu Kannon district in Nagoya.  Nobunaga's younger sister, the 12th daughter of Oda Nobuhide was married to Maki Nagakiyo.  Nagakiyo died in 1570.  Kobayashi-dono, Nobunaga's sister died in 1587.  She was also known as Shintokuin.

Nobunaga no tame!

Okehazama at Obu Poster

Here is the Battle of Okehazama Exhibit at Obu Poster.  I will be able to see the exhibit in person next month and plan to give a report on once I return from my trip.

Toyoake City Battle of Okehazama Link: http://toyoake-okehazama.com

I might have posted the link last year, but it is necessary to post it.  The Toyoake City Battle of Okehazama link provides one with the history and details of the Toyoake City Battle of Okehazama Battlefield.  It also includes reference materials to those who want to know the Battle of Okehazama.

Tenka no tame!

Okehazama at Obu

Earlier this morning I found out some fantastic new on the Battle of Okehazama from my friend Hide in Japan.  The Obu City History Museum will have a month long display on the Battle of Okehazama.  I will definitely be there to check it out.  The exhibition will be held April 13th-May 19th.  What I understand the exhibition will have topics related to:

• Imagawa Yoshimoto/Oda Nobunaga's foundations
• Oda Nobuhide's invasion of Mikawa
• Yoshimoto's invasion of Owari
• The Battle of Okehazama
• Post Battle of Okehazama
• Other related topics

Link:https://ameblo.jp/mikawa-hide/entry-12454248966.html

Nobunaga no tame!

Nobunaga Children's Book

Komiku Nihon no Rekishi 1
Daisuke Hayakawa, Toru Sugita with historian Kaku Kozo.
Pages 118
Publsihed in 2007.

Last week I purchased a children's history book on Oda Nobunaga.  Normally, I do not buy children's books, but it was on sale for a dollar at Book-Off.  This book covers the history of Nobunaga and it does a decent job covering his youth to the Honnoji Incident.  It is easy to read (Japanese) and the artwork is modernized for the present generation.  The book starts off with Nobunaga as a young child experimenting with long spears, later with guns, and his father's death.  It covers the meeting with Saito Dosan, marriage to Nohime, death of Nubuyuki, and Okehazama.  The book moves forward with the conquest of Mino, Battle of Anegawa, Hiei-zan, his dealings with Ashikaga Yoshiaski and Azai Nagamasa, Ishiyama Honganji, Battle of Nagashino, Azuchi Castle, his use of iron clad ships, and the Honnoji.  This book is extremely general and it covers several topics in a page or two.  To be fair, there are books in this series that cover Okehazama and Nagashino.  I would recommend this book to those who have Japanese children.

Tenka no tame!

2019 Okehazama

It is almost that time of year when the Battle of Okehazama starts to bloom with various parades and festivals.  The 2019 Toyoake City Okehazama Festival will be held on June 1/2.  Link in Japanese with  the information.  https://ameblo.jp/mikawa-hide/entry-12279322672.html   Last year I was able to see with my own eyes for the first time, the Toyoake City Okehazama Matsuri.  I enjoyed the mock battle as well as the military parade.

Nobunaga no tame!

Terabe Castle

Two years before the Battle of Okehazama, Matsudaira Motoyasu (Tokugawa Ieyasu) made his first baptism of fire when he attacked Terabe Castle in 1558.  The flatland castle was built in the 15th century by Suzuki Shigetoki.  Suzuki Shigeteru was the lord of the castle when he defected from the Imagawa to the Oda.  Imagawa Yoshimoto sent Motoyasu to attack Terabe.  In response, Nobunaga sent his army to repel the attack.  Later in 1566, Nobunaga ordered Sakuma Nobumori to attack Terabe.

Tenka no tame!

Azukizaka 1542

Japan will welcome the new era of Reiwa.  In 1542, Oda Nobuhide scored an important victory over the Suruga forces at the Battle of Azukizaka in Mikawa.  This was 18 years before Nobunaga's Okehazama victory.

Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (pp. 53-4)

"In the first decade of the Eighth Month, (Tenbun 11 1542), Suruga troops advanced on Shodawara in Mikawa Province, where they deployed in seven battle groups.  At the time, Oda Bingo no Kami held a fort called Anjo Castle in Mikawa.  With Yuhara leading the Suruga vanguard, the enemy advanced toward Azukizaka.  Accordingly, Bingo no Kami rushed from Anjo Castle to Yahagi.  His younger brothers Lord Yojiro. Lord Magosaburo, Lord Shirojiro, and other warriors had in the meanwhile engaged the enemy at Azukizaka.  the following distinguished themselves in this battle:

Oda Bingo no Kami; Lord Oda Yojiro, Lord Oda Magosaburo, Lord Oda Shirojiro, Oda Sake no Jo (Nobufusa), who suffered a spear wound; Naito Shosuke, who gained a high renown by killing a strong opponent; Nagoya Yagoro of the Kiyosu forces, who was killed in battle; Shimokata Sakon (Sadakiyo), Sassa Hayato no Kami, Sassa Magosuke, Nakano Matabyoe (Kazuyasu), Akagawa Hikoemon, Kanbe Ichizaemon, Nagata Jiroemon, and Yamaguchi Sama no Suke (Noritsugu).

All of them clashed with the enemy in three or four passages of arms.  In between, the adopted a defensive posture with one knee bent to the ground; then they rushed to the attack again.  There was no end to their exploits in this encounter, which was a tough fight from the first to last.  Here Yuhara took the head of Nagoya Yagoro.  After that, the Suruga forces withdrew."

18 years later Sassa Hayato No Kami was killed at the Battle of Okehazama.

Nobunaga no tame!