Rokkaku Jotei submits

 In 1570, Rokkaku (Sasaki) Jotei submitted to Nobunaga. The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 159)

"On the 22nd of the Eleventh Month, Nobunaga concluded peace with Sasaki Jotei, whereupon Mikumo (Shigemochi) and Mikami (Suetsugu) presented themselves before Nobunaga in Shiga. High and low were satisfied."

Tenka no tame!

Shigehara Castle

 

Shigehara Castle was the pretext to the Battle of Muraki in 1554 and later Okehazama 1560. The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 71)

"Around that time, the Suruga forces stationed in Okazaki attacked and seized the stronghold of Yamaoka [Dengoro] in Shigiwara. They brought up reinforcements from Okazaki and turned Shigiwara into a base for operations directed against the castle of Mizuno Kingo [Nobumoto] at Ogawa."

Earlier this year I wrote a post about Ogawa Castle. For Yoshimoto and his army 

Strategic: Owari   Operational: Chita Bay   Tatical: Muraki, stepping stone into Owari.

Nobunaga no tame!

Mikawa Michi

 

Yesterday I took pictures of the Mikawa Michi, one of the roads that leads to the Okehazama Battlefield. The map posted above has a pen pointing towards the Sengoku Era Mikawa Michi as well as the second picture. The third picture with Sena Ujitoshi's camp landmark is the modern/Edo Era Mikawa Michi. As you can see, the Sengoku Era Mikawa Michi is barely noticeable and worn out as the Edo Era Mikawa Michi is still being used to today. As for the map, you can see that the Sengoku Era road is above the Sena Ujitoshi's landmark and in the middle of a rice paddy. The Edo Era Mikawa Michi is the Big Lake. The geography has changed since the Battle of Okehazama.

Tenka no tame!

2024 Gifu Nobunaga Matsuri Report

 

Over the weekend I was able to see the 2024 Gifu Nobunaga Matsuri. To be honest, I was a bit disappointed. You had two Nobunagas. Owari no Utsuke and Tenka Nobunaga. Nohime was there as well as Oichi. Unfortunately, no Saito Dosan or Luis Frois. In fact, the parade was too short. To make matters worse was the traffic. The participants had to wait at least seven to ten minutes before moving on. Nohime and Oichi were almost two blocks ahead of Nobunaga. They should have cut off traffic for at least twenty or thirty minutes so the parade can move smoothly and orderly. That never happened. Now was it worth going out of my way to see the parade even with all the mishaps? You bet it was worth it. I enjoyed seeing Nobunaga and Nohime. Before I forget, there was a teppo squad. Beautiful to see the guns fired. Again, I had fun, enjoyed myself, felt the presence of Nobunaga and Nohime in Gifu.

Nobunaga no tame!

Oyobigawa

 

 

Today I visited the Oyobi River in Gifu. The bottom picture is the Minoji or Mino Path.

The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 103)

"Nobunaga immediately galloped forward, about thirty cho [three and a quarter kilometers] from Ora. The two forces made contact at Oyobigawara."

Tenka no tame!

The Myth

 

There is a small park and pond located behind the Shinmachi Hospital which allegedly Nobunaga's head was washed after the Honnoji Rebellion. It is only a myth and it never happened. Nobunaga's body was never found. He was most likely to cremated in the hot flames which the Honnoji burned. I repeat, this well or pond is a myth and a farce.

Nobunaga no tame!

Nobunaga's Kagemusha Appearance

 This probably one of the best scenes in the movie Kagemusha when Nobunaga departs with his army. Enjoy.

Tenka no tame!

Tsushima Festival Update

 

Today I was ableto visit Tsushima Shrine and also the area where Nobunaga and Nohime enjoyed the Tsushima Matsuri in 1556.

Rumi Komonz Kicho&Nobunaga (p. 41) "Leaving Hotta's residence together, Kicho and Nobunaga went to the Tsushima Shrine annual festival. Having only a few bodyguards, twenty-two year old Kicho and her twenty-three year old husband were dressed simply as villagers of Owari." 

You can read the full story in my January 2014 post. This is important because Nobunaga was not just in involved in military affairs, but also had the time to spend with his wife Nohime. Believe or not the Oda family has a long relationship with Tsushima.

Nobunaga no tame!

2024 Gifu Nobunaga Matsuri

 The 2024 Gifu Nobunaga Matsuri will held held in early November. It will be held on the 2nd and 3rd of November. This is the biggest festival in Gifu and probably the best Nobunaga festival in the country. I plan to at least attend one of the two days.

Tenka no tame!

Ikeda Tsuneoki's Birthplace

 Today I was able to visit Ikeda Tsuneoki's birthplace in the Arako area of Nagoya. This was the site of Tsuneoki's father's (Tsunetoshi) mansion. Tsuneoki was Nobunaga's half-brother and his mother Youtokuin (1515-1608) was Nobunaga's wet nurse. Tsuneoki's area of birth is interesting since it is near Maeda Toshiie's birthplace of Arako Castle. Both served under Nobunaga and were the original "Boys from Owari."

Nobunaga no tame!

Ichijonotani Video

 This is one of the best videos I have seen in a long time regarding the ruins of the Asakura stronghold of Ichijodani. In 1573, Nobunaga led his army into Echizen (modern day Fukui) and put Ichijodani to the torch. Mr. Bushido does a fantastic job explaining the area and the history. Unfortunately, it was hot that day you can see Mr. Bushido constantly wiping his face with a hand towel. That being said, he is always enthusiastic about history which makes this video enjoyable to watch. The video includes a visit to the open air museum, which I have visited myself years ago. If you want to know life was like during the Sengoku Era, the museum will give you clues. I highly recommend a visit to the Asakura ruins and the museum. Also Mr. Bushido visits another museum related to Ichijodani. Unfortunately, I have not been there myself. However, it is a must to visit because once again it shows life was like during the Sengoku area. Also worth mentioning that Ichijodani was once called Little Kyoto due to the nobles and other officials who fled during the Onin war.

Tenka no tame!

Ogawa Castle

 

Ogawa Castle located near the Chita Peninsula, was a stronghold for the Mizuno family. This hilltop castle was built by Mizuno Sadamori between 1469-87, it housed several Mizuno warlords (Mizuno Tadamasa and Mizuno Nobumoto. It was also the birthplace of Tokugawa Ieyasu's mother Odai no Kata (1528-1602). Ogawa Castle played a role in the Battle of Muraki (1554). At the time of the battle, Mizuno Nobumoto was the lord of the castle. Nobunaga arrived there to make battle plans. During the Battle of Muraki, Mizuno Nobumoto attacked the east side of Muraki, Nobunaga in charge of the south side, and Oda Nobumitsu the west side. Nobunaga's use of firearms was the turning point at the Battle of Muraki. Ogawa Castle was abandoned in 1606.

Nobunaga no tame!

Kano Eitoku's Grave

 

Earlier this year I visited Kano Motonobu (1476-1559) and Kano Eitoku (1543-1590) grave at Myokakuji graveyard in Kyoto. Eitoku did artwork for Nobunaga such as Rakuchu Rakugai folding screen and paintings for Azuchi Castle. This is a short passage from The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 254) "In a twelve-mat room on the west side, Nobunaga commissioned Kano Eitoku to paint plum trees in black ink (sumie)." Unfortunately, Eitoku worked himself to death which cut his life short. Both Motonobu and Eitoku were from Kyoto. Motonobu was Eitoku's grandfather.

Tenka no tame!

Nobunaga Arrives in Kyoto 1568

 

Nobunaga finally arrives in Kyoto with his army in 1568. The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga mentioned that Nobunaga stayed at Tofukuji. However, Nobunaga's headquarters was actually the famous Toji.

The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 121)

"On the 28th Nobunaga moved his headquarters to the Tofukuji and ordShibata Hyuga no Kami, Hachiya Hyogo no Kami [Yoritaka], Mori Sanzaemon, and Sakai Ukon [Masahisa] to take charge of the advanced guard. They crossed the Katsura River to attack Shoryuji Castle, an enemy fort held by Iwanari Chikara no Kami [Tomomichi]. When the enemy made a sortie with light infantry, these four captains gave glance at each other, instantly decided to charge, and rode their horses strainto the enemy. They took more than fifty heads, which they presented to Nobunaga at the Tofukuji."

Now with the footnote regarding to Tofukuji and Toji. (p. 121)

"The Tofukuji is a Zen temple located on the southeastern outskirts of Kyoto. In fact, Nobunaga set up his headquarters not there but at the Toji, the great temple of the Shingon sect in the south of Kyoto" Also it worth mentioning that Nobunaga arrived in with his army on the 26th, not the 28th.

Nobunaga no tame!

Road to Kyoto III

 Continuing with Nobunaga's 1568 Kyoto campaign. This time Nobunaga crossed Lake Biwa.

The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 121)

"On the 26th he crossed Lake Biwa and set up his headquarters in the Gokurakuin, a priory of the Miidera. His troops camped at Banba and Matsumoto in Otsu."

Tenka no tame!

Yoshiaki and Joubodaiin

 

 Continuing with Nobunaga's march to Kyoto in 1568. This post will focus on Ashikaga Yoshiaki's short stay at Joubodaiin. I was able to visit Joubodaiin last year. Nobunaga and Nohime spent time at Joubodaiin in late October (1568).

The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 121)

"On the 21st Yoshiaki was already urging on his horse to the Joubodaiin in Kashiwabara, where he spent the night."

Nobunaga no tame!

Road to Kyoto II

 

Continuing with Nobunaga's march to Kyoto in 1568.  This post will focus on Ryushoji  which is located in Nishi-no-sho. Ryushoji is about a five minute walk from JR Nishi Gifu Station. 

The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 121)

"On the 14th, as he promised, Nobunaga sent Fuwa Kawachi as his envoy to come get Yoshiaki at Ryushoji in Nishi-no-sho, Mino Province."

Tenka no tame!

The Road to Kyoto I

 I continue with Nobunaga's march to Kyoto in 1568 with the pacification of Omi.

The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (pp. 120-1)

"On the 13th Nobunaga went up Mount Kannonji and seized the castle by trick. As a result, Sasaki's remaining partisans surrendered, pleading for mercy. Taking hostages to make sure of them, Nobunaga left them in their original holdings. Now the whole province of Omi has been pacified."

Nobunaga no tame!

Matsunaga Hisahide's Grave

 

One of Matsunaga Hisahide's (?-1577) grave is located at Myoekaiso graveyard in Kyoto. I was able to visit earlier this year. I am not going to post anything about the siege of Shigi  Castle. Instead, this post will focus on the destruction of the Great Buddha Hall in Nara. At the time, Hisahide was the culprit. However, he was not responsible for the destruction.

From a footnote in The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 272)

"The year was 1567. According to the Jesuit missionary Luis, the Great Buddha Hall was set ablaze not by Matsunaga Hisahide, as universally believed, but by a Christian samurai from the Miyoshi army that was besieging Hisahide's Tamon Castle and was encamped in the Todaiji temple complex."

Tenka no tame!

The Road to Kyoto

 This post will focus on Nobunaga's march to Kyoto in 1568. 

The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 120)

"On the 7th of the Ninth Month, Nobunaga took his leave of the kubo, saying that he would first conquer the whole of Omi and send a welcoming party to receive Yoshiaki. That day, Nobunaga set out from Gifu at the head of an army from the four provinces Owari, Mino, Ise, and Mikawa. On the 7th he pitched camp in the village of Hirao."

Nobunaga no tame!

Jionji

 

Jionji is located in the heart of Gifu City. It houses the Enmei Jizo. The Enmei Jizo was made of Japanese cypress during the Heian Era and it is one of the oldest jizo in Gifu Prefecture. Originally located in Hashima City, Nobunaga moved it to its present location at Jionji.

Tenka no tame!

Atsuta Stones

 

If you ever visited Atsuta Shrine and the Nobunaga Victory Wall, did you noticed anything on the ground? Believe or not, there are stones on the ground near the Victory Wall. Why? After Nobunaga's construction of the Victory Wall, he ordered a gate to be built in the early 1570s. It was known to be a national treasure. Unfortunately, the gate was destroyed during WW2 and only the stones remain. The gate was known as Kaizoumon. The black and white picture above is what the Kaizoumon looked like before it was destroyed. When you visit Atsuta Shrine in the near future, remember the stones nearby the Nobunaga Victory Wall.

Nobunaga no tame!

Shoden Eigen

 Earlier this year I visited Shoden Eigen-in near Kenninji in Kyoto. Shoden Eigen is the home of Nobunaga's younger brother, Oda Nagamasu's (1547-1621?/22) grave. He was either the 10th or 11th son of Oda Nobuhide and was born in Owari. Nagamasu participated in Nobunaga's Kyoto Cavalcade in 1581 in the Gorenshi group. Here is the interesting part. During the Honnoji Rebellion in 1582, he stayed at Nijo with his nephew Oda Nobutada, but somehow managed to escaped and fled to Gifu Castle. Nagamasu also participated in the Battle of Sekigahara 1600 as he led 450 soldiers. He on the side of the victorious Tokugawa Ieyasu. Nagamasu was also known as a tea master who studied under Rikyu and later formed his own school. It was known that he was baptized and took the name of John. One of his most famous tea houses is located in Inuyama in Aichi Prefecture. In 1618 Nagamasu restored Shoden Eigen. Soon after that, he passed away in the Higashiyama area of Kyoto. Nagamasu is only mentioned a few times in The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga. 

Also see Taniguchi Katsuhiro's Oda Nobunaga Kashin Jinmei Jiten (pp. 110-11)

Tenka no tame!

Tobe Shinzaemon

 

Tobe Shinzaemon Masanao help mediated the exchange between Oda Nobuhiro and Takechiyo (Tokugawa Ieyasu) in 1549. After the Imagawa captured Anjo Castle, Nobuhiro became a hostage. The Imagawa wanted Takechiyo back and the Oda Nobuhide wanted his son, Nobuhiro back in Owari. So Tobe Shinzaemon Masanao made the hostage exchange happened. Unfortunately, Tobe Shinzaemon Masanao passed away in 1557, three years before the Battle of Okehazama. Tobe Shrine/Tobe Shinzaemon grave is a short walk from Chorakuji, the area where Mizuno Tatewaki's mansion was located. Tatewaki was in charge of Fort Tange during the Battle of Okehazama.

Nobunaga no tame!

Senninzuka Update

 

Earlier this year I was able to visit the Senninzuka landmark. It was the area where the Okehazama dead was buried. Senninzuka was also known as Suruga-zuka. Kaioh Ryuki of Sogenji buried the dead along with Meiso and gave the dead their alms. The landmark was built in 1739 and in 1937 it was designated as a historical landmark. In 1937, the Toyoake City Okehazama Battlefield became a historical landmark as well. Senninzuka is located far east from the Arimatsu and Toyoake City Okehazama Battlefield. My conclusion is that the battle was more expansive than originally thought. 

Tenka no tame!

Yanada Masatsuna's Grave

 A few years ago I was able to visit Yanada Masatsuna's grave with the help of Arimatsu Okehazama Battlefield Preservation Committee. His grave is located at Shouoji Temple near the Kutsukake Castle ruins in Toyoake City, Aichi Prefecture. Yanada Masatsuna was from Kunotsubo in Owari. He provided Nobunaga with intelligence on the whereabouts regarding Imagawa Yoshimoto's camp during the Battle of Okehazama. After Nobunaga's victory, he was rewarded with Kutsukake Castle and cash for his efforts. In 1573, he participated in a tea ceremony with Kawajiri Hidetaka, Ban Naomasa, and tea master Tsuda Sogyu.

For more information on Yanada Masatsuna, please read Okehazama Kassen Kishu no Shinjutsu by Ota Teruo.

Nobunaga no tame!

Kyoto and Gifu

 Here is a short passage from The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 148) when Nobunaga went to Kyoto and returned to Gifu.

"On the 6th of the Seventh Month, Nobunaga went up to Kyoto, taking only his horse guards with him. He reported to the shogun on the situation in Omi, attended to various state affairs, and on the 8th of the Seventh Month returned to Gifu, ending his campaign."

Tenka no tame!

Kajikawa Channel

 

Not far from Gifu Castle Park and Jozaiji is the Kajikawa Channel landmark. The reason why it was called "Kajikawa Channel" was due to the residence of Yasaburo Kajikawa. Who was Yasaburo Kajikawa? Yasaburo Kajikawa was also known as Kajikawa Takamori (?-1596). He was the son of Kajikawa Takahide (?-1568). Takahide was the commander of Fort Nakajima during the Battle of Okehazama. Both Takahide and Yasaburo served under Nobunaga.

Nobunaga no tame!