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!