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Wednesday, December 18, 2024
New Nijo Palace
Saturday, December 14, 2024
2024 Awards
Here are the 2024 Awards.
Book: Shincho-Ko ki Kubimaki to Okehazama no Tatakai by Obata Taizo
Historian: Volunteers Circle at Gifu City Museum of History
I will focus on the volunteer group on this post. The volunteers who spend their free time at the museum do a fantastic job making sure guests can experience wearing 16th century clothing. It is extremely popular with the locals as well as the tourists. The photo above is a replica of Nobunaga's Owari no utsuke costume. I have worn this garment many times and you really feel you have traveled back to the time of Nobunaga. Also the volunteers do an excellent job teaching guests the village life of Gifu during the time to Nobunaga and Saito Dosan.
Nobunaga no tame!
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Hawking in Mikawa
This post explains Nobunaga's falconry in Mikawa and his gift to Hideyoshi, a tea kettle.
The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 276)
"On the 10th of the Twelfth Month, Nobunaga set out to go hawking at Kira in Mikawa Province. Hashiba Chikuzen was due in Azuchi a few days later, and Nobunaga decided to give him the tea kettle named Otogoze as a reward for having newly reduced Tajima and Harima to obedience. Nobunaga brought the tea kettle out before his departure. 'Give it Chikuzen,' he ordered. 'as soon as he gets here.' It was a gracious gesture."
Tenka no tame!
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Sakura Nakamura Castle
Sakura Nakamura Castle was held by the Yamaguchi family during the 1550s when Nobunaga was trying to unify Owari. The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 64) "Having put his son Kurojiro in charge of Narumi Castle, Yamaguchi built a fort and bastions at Kasadera and installed the five [Suruga] captains Kazurayama, Okabe Gorobyoe, Miura Sama no Suke, Iinoo Buzen no Kami, and Azai Koshiro in these fortifications. Yamaguchi Sama no Suke, the father, then fortified the settlement of Nakamura and entrenched himself there."
Now Nakamura may have been located in the Sakura area, Sakura Nakamura Castle.
Nobunaga no tame!
Monday, December 2, 2024
Kiku Ningyo
Sunday, December 1, 2024
Rokujogawara
One of the spookiest pictures or place I visited last month was Rokujogawara, the old execution ground located in Kyoto near the Kamo River. Not far from Gojo Bashi (Gojo Bridge), many people met their end here. A passage from The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga describes Matsunaga Hisahide's grandchildren being put to death at the Rokujogawara in Kyoto. The two boys were Matsunaga Hisamichi's sons. The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 270)
"The two children were put onto a cart at the Ichijo Crossroads in Upper Kyoto and transported to the at Rokujo, where town and country, noble and mean alike flocked together to witness their execution. Totally undisturbed, as calm at their hour of death as any grown-up, their gaze fixed toward the west, the boys were put to death, holding each other's small hands and invoking Amida Buddha in a loud voice. Those who saw it were dumbstruck; those who heard about it were unable to hold back their tears. It was such a pitiful sight that one could not bear to look at it."
Nobunaga no tame!
Thursday, November 21, 2024
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!
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Shigehara Castle
"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!
Sunday, November 10, 2024
Mikawa Michi
Monday, November 4, 2024
2024 Gifu Nobunaga Matsuri Report
Saturday, November 2, 2024
Oyobigawa
Friday, November 1, 2024
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!
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
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!
Saturday, October 19, 2024
Tsushima Festival Update
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
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!
Monday, October 14, 2024
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!
Thursday, October 10, 2024
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!
Saturday, October 5, 2024
Ogawa Castle
Nobunaga no tame!
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Kano Eitoku's Grave
Tenka no tame!
Saturday, September 28, 2024
Nobunaga Arrives in Kyoto 1568
Thursday, September 26, 2024
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!
Saturday, September 21, 2024
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!
Saturday, September 14, 2024
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!
Friday, September 13, 2024
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!
Sunday, September 8, 2024
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!
Saturday, September 7, 2024
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!
Monday, September 2, 2024
Jionji
Tenka no tame!
Sunday, September 1, 2024
Atsuta Stones
Saturday, August 17, 2024
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!
Tuesday, August 6, 2024
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!