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!