Azuchi Festival 2019

This was a real treat for back in early June.  I was able to go to the Nobunaga Azuchi Festival for the first time.  Also it will not be the last.  Now, the town of Azuchi is usually dead quiet for most of the year.  The only day of the year Azuchi seem to get lively is the Azuchi Nobunaga Festival.

I arrived early in the morning and met a few of the Sengoku princess and warriors before the parade started.  Then the group gathered at a local temple for the opening ceremonies.  After that was over the parade began.  In fact, I was able to participate due to befriending one of the caretakers of the Azuchi Castle ruins.  Unfortunately, there were no matchlock rifles or the such, a big disappointment in my opinion since it is needed for a true Sengoku Era Matsuri.  Later I met Nobunaga, the lovely Nohime, and several other Sengoku Era historical figures.  I chatted with them on my work regarding the Battle of Okehazama.

Now, for all its worth, this is one of the better Nobunaga Festivals I have been to.  The Azuchi Nobunaga Matsuri is extremely local.  And on good day, one can see Nobunaga and his posse walk in the footsteps of history. 


Tenka no tame

Ban Naoko

Who is Ban Naoko?  Ban Naoko was the younger sister of Nobunaga's retainer Ban Naomasa (?-1576).  Naomasa's wife was Shibata Katsuie's daughter.  Now back to Naoko.  She became one of Nobunaga's beautiful concubine and gave birth to a son Nobumasa in 1554.  Nobumasa (1554-1647) was born at Nagoya Castle and had his genpuku in 1566.  This is important since Nobumasa was born three years before Nobutada.  It is also safe to assume that Nobumasa was an illegitimate child.

Nobunaga no tame!

Old Photos of Marune and Washizu

Here are some old photos of Fort Marune and Fort Washizu.  The photo above is Fort Marune and that was taken in 1969.  The bottom photo is Fort Washizu.  Just by looking at the photos, the geography did not change much at the time.  The area was almost virgin to a degree.  The photos can give historians a clue on what the Battle of Okehazama was like.

Nobunaga built the two forts back in 1559, a year before the Battle of Okehazama.  He knew the Imagawa army was going to invade Owari, sooner, not later.  Sakuma Morishige was in charge of Fort Marune.  It was built to counter Odaka and Kutsukake Castle.  Morishige was killed in action during the Battle of Okehazama.  As for Washizu, Oda Genba and Iino Sadamune was put in charge of the fort.  Washizu was to counter Odaka and Narumi Castle.  Both Oda Genba and Iino Sadamune were killed in action at the Battle of Okehazama.

Tenka no tame!

2020 Mitsuhide Taiga Gifu

For those who plan to visit Gifu in 2020, you are in for a real treat.  The Gifu City Museum of History will have a special display for the 2020 Akechi Mitsuhide Taiga drama.  This is good news.  From what I understand, the display will cover Nobunaga, Saito Dosan, and Mitsuhide.  Landmarks and temples include, Gifu Castle Park, Sofukuji, Jozaiji, and Ryushoji.  I have been to all of these places and plan to visit again next year.  As for the museum, Gifu has one of the best Sengoku Era related museums in Japan.  The second floor has a replica of what Gifu might have looked liked during the time of Nobunaga.  The small library is great too since you can read up on Nobunaga and other Sengoku Era battles.


Nobunaga no tame!

Okehazama Trip 2019

While in Japan in May and June I was able finally to visit Jigenji, a shine that Nobunaga allegedly visited during the Battle of Okehazama.  The only problem with Jigenji is where it is located.  Jigenji is is on the east side of Nagoya and far from the route that Nobunaga took during the Battle of Okehazama.  It is the least known shrines that Nobunaga visited during the Battle of Okehazama.  The known shrines Nobunaga visited during the battle were Enokihakusan Jinja, Hioki Shrine, and Atsuta Jingu.  Now it is confirmed that Nobunaga did in fact stopped at Jigenji.  Now the question is did Nobunaga visit before or after the battle?  At the moment, I am thinking after due to the location.

Just south of Atsuta Jingu is the location of the original Kami Chikuma no Yashiro.  Nobunaga did stop here for sure.  The picture of the building is where Nobunaga look towards the east and saw the smoke from Fort Washizu and Marune.  At that time, he knew the two forts were gone.

Tenka no tame!

Azuchi's Jogonin

In late May, I was able to visit Azuchi's Jogonin.  The temple is a Pure Land sect of Buddhism and it is about a 10 minute walk from JR Azuchi Station.  Why is Jogonin so important in Nobunaga's and Azuchi's history?  Answer: The Azuchi Disputation!  It started when two believers of the Lotus sect harass a preacher from the Pure Land sect.

The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga, p. 316.
"The disputation took place in the Buddha Hall of the Jogon'in, a Pure Land temple on the outskirts of the town of Azuchi.  Oda Shichibyoe Nobuzumi, Suganoya Kuemon, Yabe Zenshichiro, Hori Kyutaro, and Hasegawa Take were put in charge of security inside the temple.  The Lotus sect appeared magnificently attired.  Its representatives were Nichiko of the Chomyoji, Jokoin, Kuon;in, Myokokuji (a younger brother of the Sakai merchant Aburaya), and Fuden.  Daizobo of the Myokenji acted as the scribe.  They brought the Lotus Sutra in eight scrolls, an ink stone, and paper with them."

In the end, Nobunaga declared the Pure Land sect's representative the winner and executed members of the Lotus team as a fraud.

Nobunaga no tame!