Awful

Sometani Shota just looks awful as Nobunaga.  He looks like a soy boy and history shows that Nobunaga was a full-scale alpha male.  He was manly.  Even during his days as the Fool of Owari Nobunaga was tall and attractive.  Hate to say it, but NHK screwed up big time with Sometani as the Messiah of Japan.

Nobunaga no tame!

Motoki Masahiro

Actor Motoki Masahiro will play the role of Saito Dosan, Nobunaga's father-in-law in Kirin ga kuru.  He looks great in my opinion and could play the role of Nobunaga.  In a way, he looks like Nobunaga in his prime.  He would definitely be a better choice than bathhouse Sometani Shota.  That is for sure.  As for the first episode, mixed reviews so far.  If you want to know who is my favorite for Saito Dosan, Ashida Shinsuke in King of Zipangu.

Tenka no tame!

Gifu Castle Update

Gifu Castle is in the news of late with new discoveries of stone used by Nobunaga.  The investigation is still ongoing, but so far the news has been positive.  As for the archaeological work at Gifu Castle Park, that is still continuing as I write this post.

My friend Hide has a blog post on the Gifu Castle stone discovery.

http://ameblo.jp/mikawa-hide/entry-12566386689.html

Nobunaga no tame!

Nohime Photo

Here is a photo of Nobunaga's wife, Nohime (1535-1612) played by Kawaguchi Haruna in the 2020 NHK Taiga drama Kirin ga Kuru. The drama starts on January 19th.

Tenka no tame!

Not Optimistic

Well, I have to say I am not that optimistic about Mitsuhide Taiga drama.  The reason is the the boyish actor Sometani Shota.  The picture on the upper right does not look like a manly Nobunaga.  To NHK and other studios in Japan, Nobunaga was an Alpha male.  A manly man who was ruthless in order to unite Japan who was under constant chaos in the 15th and 16th century.  Nobunaga was a good looking guy, but manly.  If you want cast a pretty boy Takuya Kimura is a good choice.  He was casted as Nobunaga in the tv drama Tenka totta baka (The fool who conquered Japan).  Once you have seen the show, you will understand.    I would like to see Takashi Sorimachi play the role of Nobunaga again.

Nobunaga no tame!

Nohime Article

Earlier this morning I read an article on Nohime.  Now with the new Akechi Mitsuhide Taiga drama, she will be in the history news as well as Nobunaga.  There is theory out there that Nohime was married to Toki Yorizumi before she wed Nobunaga.  Just before Yorizumi suddenly died, Nohime was asked by her father Saito Dosan to wed Nobunaga. Yorizumi was possibly assassinated by Dosan in order to make peace with Oda Nobuhide who was his fierce rival.

Tenka no tame!

Moriyama Castle

Moriyama Castle was located just northeast of Nagoya Castle during the time of Nobunaga.  It was 167 by 190 feet in length. The lord of Moriyama Castle was Nobunaga's uncle Oda Nobumitsu (1516-55).  According to the Shincho-Ko ki, Nobumitsu was a man excelling in the profession of  Arms.  He participated with Nobunaga in such battles as Kayatsu and Muraki in the early 1550s.  Also he was known to help Nobunaga to capture Kiyosu Castle, a major turning point for the unification of Owari. In return, Nobumitsu received Nagoya Castle as his reward.  However, not long after Nobunaga took over Kiyosu, Nobumitsu was assassinated by one of his retainers  Sakai Magohachiro.

Nobunaga no tame!

Happy 2020

Happy 2020 to all you Nobunaga fans and scholars out there!

2020 will be busy for me.  In early March I will have my presentation on the Battle of Okehazama explaining my point of view with the preservation committee.  Also the Akechi Mitsuhide drama airs January 19th, so far there have been hiccups with the cast.  This year I plan to continue my work on the Battle of Okehazama as well as Nobunaga's early career.

Nobunaga no tame!
Tenka no tame!