Kawanakajima Film 1941

 Here is an old film on the Battle of Kawanakajima airedin 1941.  The film was directed by Tenosuke Kingusa. In 1561, Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen fought for the fourth time at Kawanakajima.  I have only seen snippets of the film, but the battle scenes look good for an old film.  The 4th Battle of Kawanakajima took place one year after Nobunaga defeated Yoshimoto at the Battle of Okehazama.

Tenka no tame!

Red Face Young Warrior Nobunaga Poster

 Here is a movie poster Red Face Young Warrior Oda Nobunaga starring Nakamura Kinnosuke.  The movie was released in 1955.  This was his first role as Nobunaga.  Actress Hizuru Takachiho played the role of Nohime.  Unfortunately, I have not seen the film yet and trying to find it.

Tenka no tame!

Saito Dosan Video Update

 Here is a video on the career of Nobunaga's father-in-law, Saito Dosan presented by Swngoku historian Owada Tetsuo.  I have not seen the video in its entirety, but topics include the banishment of Toki Yorinari, the marriage between Nobunaga and Nohime, and Dosan's death at the Battle of Nagaragawa in 1556.

Nobunaga no tame!

2020 Okehazama Festival Pictures

 

Here are some photos from the 2020 Okehazama Festival courtesy of the Battle of Okehazama Battlefield Preservation Committee and Yukio Kajino.  The festival was held earlier in the month due to the virus.  Usually, the Toyoake City Okehazama festival is held on the first weekend of June and the Arimatsu Okehazama festival is held in the middle of June.  From what I am being told is that the festival was a huge success.  So happy to hear that.

As most of you know, my specialty is on the Battle of Okehazama and every year I hold seminars in English and Japanese on the subject.  I also do tours.  Unfortunately, there is no museum at the moment which is a disgrace.  There used to be one at the Toyoake City Battlefield, but it has been closed down for years.  I would like to see one in the near future and will put my time and resources to make it happen.  Once built, I would like to work there to show Japan and the world the Battle of Okehazama.

Tenka no tame!

New Okehazama Map

 Here is a new map I found on the Battle of Okehazama.  It is not that bad and easy to understand.  On the top, it shows the route Yoshimoto took when he left Sunpu on May 12th.  However, if you look closely, Chiryu Castle is omitted.  Why?  It was well known and documented that Yoshimoto stopped at Chiryu (under the command of the Nagami family) on the 17th.  The map has Kutsukake (under the command of Kondo Kageharu) on the 17th, which is wrong.  Yoshimoto stopped at Kutsukake on the 18th.

Sunpu to Kakegawa Castle: 30 miles.

Okazaki (May 16th) to Chiryu (May 17th): 7 miles.

Chiryu (May 17th) to Kutsukake (May 18th): 6 miles.

Kutsukake to Odaka 8 miles.

Odaka to Fort Washizu and Marune: half a mile.

Sakai River narrow and easy to cross.

Nobunaga's route to Okehazama:

Kiyosu to Okehazama: 15 to 17 half miles.

Kiyosu to Atsuta: 7 miles.

Atsuta to Tange: 5 miles.

Tange to Zenshoji: less than a mile.

The map has the commanders of Fort Tange (Mizuno Tatewaki), Fort Zenshoji (Sakuma Nobumori), but not Fort Nakajima.  Kajikawa Takahide was in command of Fort Nakajima. The map also shows both routes that Nobunaga took to defeat Yoshimoto.

Nobunaga no tame!

Fuunji Nobunaga Posters

Here are some movies posters from the 1959 film Fuunji Oda Nobunaga starring Nakamura Kinnosuke as Nobunaga and Kyoko Kagawa as Nohime.  I have written several posts about the movie in the past.  The story of young Nobunaga struggling to Owari under control, the meeting with his father-in-law Saito Dosan, his relationship with his wife, Nohime, and finally the climax with the Battle of Okehazama.

Tenka no tame!
 

Rakuchu Rakugai Screen

 Here is a video by Owada Tetsuo talking about the Rakuchu Rakugai folding screen.  Painted by Kano Eitoku for Oda Nobunaga, Nobunaga later presented the folding screen as a gift to Uesugi Kenshin in 1574.  The folding screen expresses life in Kyoto during the Sengoku Era.

Nobunaga no tame!

Nagashino Troop Movement Video

 Here is a nice video on the Battle of Nagashino.  The video covers the prelude to the battle and more importantly, troop movements of both Oda/Tokugawa and Takeda armies.  Slowly, the video shows how the Takeda attack the Oda/Tokugawa positions only to be shot to pieces.  Later in the video, it shows the Oda army break ranks to pursue the fleeing Takeda army.  It is in entirely in Japanese and easy to understand.  One of the better videos on Nagashino since it covers troop movements before, during, and after the battle.

Tenka no tame!

Nobunaga and Tea Utensils I

 Here is another event regarding Nobunaga and tea utensils that took place in early 1570.

Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 140)

"At that time, the most famous objects  of art in the realm were the following tea ceremony articles, which were to be found in Sakai:

Item: painting of sweets. Tennojiya Sogyu

Item: [tea-leaf jar] Komatsushima. Yakushin

Item: [flower vase] Kojiguchi  Aburaya Joyu

Item: painting of a bell. Matsunaga Danjo

Each of them was truly renowned piece.  Using Yukan and Niwa Gorozaemon as his emissaries, Nobunaga let it be known that he wanted them for his own collection.  The owners who could not possibly disobey Nobunaga's orders, presented the articles without demur.  Nobunaga ordered that they be given gold and silver in exchange."

Nina Gorozaemon is Niwa Nagahide.

Nobunaga no tame!

Nobunaga and Tea Utensils

 The first part of the video by Owada Tetsuo explains Nobunaga and his acquisitions of tea ceremony utensils and Emperor Ogimachi.  Nobunaga acquired many tea utensils not for static investment purposes, but political and social use for the unification of Japan.

Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 132)  This event takes place in 1569.

"Whereas Nobunagahad no shortage of gold, silver, rice, or cash, he decided that he should furthermore aquiChinese objects of art (karamono) as well as the most famous pieces of this realm for his collection.  First, from Upper Kyoto,

Item: [tea caddy] Hatsuhana  owned by Daimonjiya Sokan

Item: [tea caddy] Fujinasubi  from Yujobo

Item: bamboo tea ladle  from Hooji

Item: [flower vase] Kaburanashi  belonging to Ikegami Jokei

Item: painting of wild geese  Sano

Item: [flower vase] Mokusoko. Emura"

Tenka no tame!

Shiga Mansion Artcle

 Here is a small article by my Okehazama colleague Seishiro Mizuno about Nobunaga's elder retainer Hirate Masahide (1492-1553).  Masahide excelled in poetry and the tea ceremony.  He also made the marriage between Nobunaga and Nohime possible.  The article explains Hirate Masahide's Shiga mansion and his grave.

Nobunaga no tame!