Azuchi Castle Research Update

Https://t.co/j8W36cYtxu

The link above is an update on Azuchi Castle.  It seems there will be work being done on what the castle would have looked like during the time of Nobunaga.  There has been major excavation studies during the Showa and Heisei Era, but now there will be a major study during the new Reiwa Era.  Again, Owada Tetsuo is part of the committee.  For those who have not visited Azuchi Castle ruins, by all means please visit.  This is a must see.  As for myself, I have been to Azuchi many times.  Amazing for sure.

Tenka no tame!

Okehazama Day 2021

 Happy Battle of Okehazama Day 2021!  Here is a short video in Japanese on a the Battle of Okehazama.  Today, I have some new information that has not been discussed unless you ask the local historians of the Okehazama area.  The battle is often known as the Battle of Okehazama, one of Nobunaga's greatest victories in his military career.  However, according to Imagawa Ujizane, the son of Yoshimoto, the battle is known as Narumihara/Narumigahara.  Why?  The commander of Narumi Castle was Okabe Motonobu.  He brought Yoshimoto's head back to Sunpu.  Ujizane did not know the geography of Owari well or possibly not at all.  So Ujizane referred the battle as Narumihara in letter he wrote to Motonobu.  This is clearly from the view of the Imagawa.  It also shows how out of touch Ujizane was.  He was a not that bright to begin with.  Once Yoshimoto was killed at Okehazama, the Imagawa house soon fell into decline.

Nobunaga no tame!

Okehazama Seminar 2021

 On May 29th, there will be a seminar on the Battle of Okehazama held at Nagoya Meitetsu Grand Hotel on the 7th floor.  So far, the event will be held, but can change quickly due to the Wuflu.  

Tenka no tame!

Video Still Holds

 On the eve of the Battle of Okehazama, Mr. Okehazama's (Wataru Kajino) video still holds the test of time.  Although the video is in Japanese, it is pace is slow enough to understand.  One must remember that Mr. Okehazama was a local historian who knew the battlefield and geography better than the national historians who often blabbed nothing but air on television.  Mr. Okehazama was opened minded to new ideas as long as you can back it up with sources.  He was a breath of fresh air for sure.

Watch and learn and you will be surprised you can learn the Battle of Okehazama from a local perspective, not a national one.

Nobunaga no tame!

Departing For Okehazama

 When Nobunaga departed Kiyosu Castle during the Battle of Okehazama, he only had a few hundred men with him at the time.  Five pages were with him.  They were Iwamuro Nagato no Kami, Hasegawa Kyosuke, Sasaki Tohachi, Yamaguchi Hida no Kami, and Kato Yasaburo.  According to Oze Hoan's Shinchoki, Oda Miki no Jo, Kawajiri Hidetaka, Sassa Uchi no Suke, and Yanada Masatsuna was with Nobunaga when he left for the front.  The person who stands out is Yanada Masatsuna because he provided Nobunaga with key intelligence on Yoshimoto's whereabouts.  The question is and still is a mystery to this day, was Masatsuna with Nobunaga when he left Kiyosu Castle early in the morning on May 19th, 1560?  No.  He was not with Nobunaga when he left for the front.  Masatsuna was probably with The Men of the Fields gathering last minute intelligence for Nobunaga.  The others?  Who knows as it is still debated to this day.

Tenka no tame!

Atsumori by Hiroshi Hirata

 

The artwork above is Hiroshi Hirata's version of Atsumori.  Nobunaga in armor is singing and dancing to Atsumori right before he leaves for the from.  Nohime is located on the right side playing the hand drum.  Once can notice how detailed the artwork is.  You can tell the floor of Kiyosu Castle's main hall is made of wood.  The Oda family crest is center left.  This is perfectly sums up Nobunaga's golden hour as he is about to defeat Imagawa Yoshimoto at the Battle of Okehazama.

Nobunaga no tame!

Azuchi Inauguration

 

May 11, is an important day for Nobunaga and Azuchi Castle.  Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga, explains why. (P. 314) "On the 11th of the Fifth Month, the day being propitious, Nobunaga inaugurated the donjon of his castle." This happened in 1579, now the day is somewhat interesting.  According to Izawa Motohiko, the book above, this celebration happened on Nobunaga's birthday. (Izawa pp. 155-6).  It is often accepted that Nobunaga's birthday is May 12th.  For myself, his birthday is either of them depending on your position.  As for Izawa, he backs his theory with strong evidence.

Tenka no tame!

Prelude To Okehazama

 Less than two weeks before Okehazama, Nobunaga and his army invaded Mikawa to fight the Imagawa.  The was nothing more than a skirmish with Nobunaga setting fires to the surrounding areas.  Reality it was guerilla warfare used by Nobunaga.  He did not have the numbers,, nor the resources to fight the Imagawa head on.   What is important is that Nobunaga knew the Imagawa was going to launch a full scale attack on Owari, sooner, not later.  This was the smoking gun. Mikawa Kira is the area Nobunaga and his army fought at.  Nearly the same area where Nobunaga's first baptism of fire took place in 1547.  

As for resources, there is not that much.  The main source is the Okazaki Koki and Okada Masahito's Oda Nobunaga Sogo Jiten.  In Okaka's book, the battle is only mentioned briefly and for good reason, it was short. There is no mention on who participated on both sides with the exception of Nobunaga.  To this date, there are still a lot of unknowns.  For example, how many soldiers on both sides participated, the weapons used, and the dead and wounded.

Nobunaga no tame!

Okehazama Board Game Cover

 

Here is a board game cover related to the Battle of Okehazama. Nobunaga is performing Atsumori and Nohime is playing the hand drum.  I like the cover design to to its aethetics.  That being said, I do not have the game.

Tenka no tame!

Imagawa Yoshimoto Readings

 

May is the Battle of Okehazama month and recently Owada Tetsuo has updated his recommended readings for understanding Imagawa Yoshimoto and the Imagawa family.  He first starts off by telling the audience about the 500th anniversary of Yoshimoto's birth, the new statue in front of JR Shizuoka station, and finally the readings.

The first reading is for kids, students that is.  I think it is a great idea that schools are pushing this.  To understand the people who tried to build or unite Japan during the Sengoku Era.  Some of the books I do have in my personal library that he discusses.  For example, his own book on Yoshimoto and Imagawa-shi Metsubou by Oishi Yasushi.  However, there is one book he shows near the end I would like to have in my library. Imagawa Yoshimoto to Sono Jidai. That book was published earlier this year.  All of the books Owada explains is in Japanese.

Nobunaga no tame!