2026 Dosan Matsuri

 The 2026 Gifu Dosan Matsuri will be held on April 4/5. This is a yearly spring festival that celebrates Nobunaga's father-in-law, Saito Dosan.

Nobunaga no tame!

Okehazama Short Video

 This a short video by Owada Tetsuo giving a brief update on the Battle of Okehazama at the Nippon Shiro Matsuri (Japan Castle Festival). The Arimatsu Battle of Okehazama Preservation Committee had a booth at the festival. Owada Tetsuo explains that the Battle of Okehazama is very popular with the masses. There is a 3D video map of the battle.

Tenka no tame!

Kenshoji

 

Earlier this year I made a special visit to Kenshoji, which is located in Kyoto. Kenshoji is the resting place for Nobunaga's illegitimate son, Oda Nobumasa (1554-1647). He was born at Nagoya Castle three years before Nobutada. His mother was Ban Naoko, the younger sister of Ban Naomasa. In 1566, he celebrated his genpuku. Nobumasa did have a wife, Princess Yasuhime, Oda Nobuhiro's daughter. Nobunaga might have been Nobumasa's biological father, but Murai Sadakatsu was his adopted father. In 1585, three years after Nobunaga's death, Nobumasa retired.

Nobunaga no tame!

Gifu Castle Stone Foundation and Stone Wall

 

There has been two new recent discoveries at Gifu Castle. At the moment, the castle undergoing archeological work. Stone foundation and stone walls has been discovered. This video clip is short, but provides the necessary information.

Tenka no tame!

Nohime Sumie Okazu

 The top photo is artwork from Sumie Okazu. This brush artwork of Nohime is beautiful. Nohime (1535-1612) was born at Sagiyamajo (Sagiyama Castle) in Mino. Her father was Saito Dosan and her mother was Omi no Kata. Nohime had several names as well: Sagiyama-dono, Kicho, Kocho, and Azuchi-dono. Here is a passage from The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 58)

"Before long, Hirate Nakazukasa brokered another deal, one calling for Oda Saburo Nobunaga to become Saito Yamashiro Dosan's son-in-law and Dosan's daughter to be welcomed as Nobunaga's bride to Owari Province. As a result, the whole region become peaceful again."

The bottom picture is the ruins of Sagiyama Castle. The birthplace of Nohime and the retirement home of Saito Dosan. Chances are high before Nohime tied the knot with Nobunaga she was briefly married to Toki Yorizumi. As for Nohime, Nobunaga described her as goddess and having a mind of a genius.

Nobunaga no tame!

Tenka Seihitsu

 Earlier in January, I visited the Azuchi Castle Archeological Museum to see some new exhibits. Before I went, I saw this video on YouTube. At first, I thought it was some cheap scripted video. I was mistaken. When I saw the whole video at the museum, I was blown away. It was fantastic way to celebrate the 450th Anniversary of Azuchi Castle. While this is only about a thirty second clip, the actual movie documentary provides clues on why Azuchi Castle was built (Tenka Seihitsu/Peace and Tranquility). The video at the museum includes various floor plans, the unfortunate Azuchi Castle folding screen which is still missing (Vatican probably lost it), why Nobunaga built Azuchi in the first place. Here is an answer to that question: close to the capital (Kyoto) without the daily political bickering while still having control in such matters. 

I have to admit, the video was superb. It is better than the one at Azuchi Nobunaga no Yakata (Luis Frois/Okabe Mataemon (Nobunaga's carpenter)? That is a tough one. Both are extremely well done and informative. At the moment, the Nobunaga no Yakata video just edges out due to the public seeing it more often and you can buy the DVD at the gift shop as well as seeing clips on YouTube. In time, the Azuchi Castle Archeological Museum Tenka Seihitsu video will win the hearts of the Azuchi population.

Tenka no tame!

Recent Readings: Yukio Kajino 2025 Okehazama Seminar

 I recently returned home from a month long trip back to Japan. Now I am slowly reading Yukio Kajino's 2025 Okehazama Seminar which was held at Chofukuji Temple May 2025.

Yoshimoto's invasion of Owari goal

Where was Yoshimoto's camp.

While his seminar did provide some answers and clues. Unfortunately, the old saying goes, there are more questions than answers. In this sense, it is good thing. There is a lot more reading material people can access now through the internet or libraries.

One of the first documentation of the Battle of Okehazama did come from Owari or Mikawa. It came from Echigo, the Kasugayama Nikki (1560?). It is now clear that Uesugi Kenshin sent scouts or spies to observe the battle and report the results. 

Yukio Kajino does provide documentation from the Sengoku Era, most of the primary sources is from the early Edo Era. One document from the Edo Era is the Hosa Bunko Okehazama Kassen Zu (1650). This a map/document. It has listed that Yoshimoto's camp was at Urushiyama, far west from Arimatsu Okehazama Battlefield and the Toyoake City Battlefield. Another document Kajino provides is the Kantougekoumichinoki (1628). Why it is significant? It was the first documentation that mentioned anything related to the Toyoake City Battlefield. 

I plan to write more in the future as I continue to read the paper.

Nobunaga no tame!

New Owada T Video

 Here is a short clip historian Owada Tetsuo discussing the Battle of Okehazama regarding to the Toyotomi Kyodai drama. As I written earlier, I was disgusted about how the battle looked cheap, scripted, and slow. Here in this video, Owada discussed the numbers of the Imagawa army. I am in the 20,000-25,000 camp, separation between soldier and farmer, and Nobunaga's army. Here is a key point here, Nobunaga's army might have been small, but they had lot of experience in full combat. For example, the years between 1552-59 unifying Owari gave Nobunaga's soldiers experience they needed. They were toughen up and ready to go. Full advantage to Nobunaga.

Tenka no tame!

Azuchi Akechi Mitsuhide Residence

 Believe or not, there is a new Azuchi historical landmark. The Azuchi Akechi Mitsuhide Residence landmark is just a five to seven minute walk south from JR Azuchi Station. Many people do not know about this landmark. Even the tourist office did not know about it until I informed them. So it seems that Mitsuhide did have some sort of lodging in Azuchi.

Nobunaga no tame!

Disappointed

 I just watched the Battle of Okehazama scene from the Taiga drama Toyotomi Kyodai. Unfortunately, it was bad as expected. Just heartbreaking. The Battle scenes looked slow and scripted. The Toyotomi brothers arguing and acting like children. Nobunaga just stands there watching the action and slowly walks into the battlefield. It was know that during the battle, Nobunaga got off the his horse and joined in fighting. 

Still, Nobunaga: King of Zinpangu is the best for a Taiga drama Battle of Okehazama scene. I do not know what to say. Everything looks cheap, corners cut, slow and scripted.

Nobunaga no tame!

New Seishiro Mizuno Video

 My good friend and Okehazama colleague Seishiro Mizuno has a new video on YouTube discussing his views on the Battle of Okehazama. Before I give my opinion on the video, I highly recommend his book Wakaki Nobunaga no Shirarezaru Hansei. It is an excellent book that is full of useful information regarding to the Battle of Okehazama. 

Seishiro goes into great detail on the koku (rice production) using the 1598 Taiko Kenchi. Owari Province might have been small in size, but terms of koku, it was extremely prosperous compared to Mikawa, Totomi, or Suruga. 

Now I will discuss where I disagree with Seishiro. He mentions that Imagawa Yoshimoto arrived at Odaka Castle on May 18th and retreated back the next day. Yoshimoto arrived at Kutsukake Castle on the 18th. Then he explains Yoshimoto stopped twice while retreating. First at Urushiyama and the second at Takaneyama. Unfortunately this is false. However, if Yoshimoto was originally marching to Odaka Castle on the 19th of May and he stopped at Urushiyama, I can somehow see that happening. He mentioned that Yoshimoto was waiting for Nobunaga to arrive and did not come. Which was true. Takaneyama was the base camp for Matsui Munenobu. A steep hill at 177 feet high Yoshimoto in a palanquin would have been difficult to transport. Kutsukake Castle to Odaka Castle was approximately eight miles. Again, the only way I see Yoshimoto stopping at Urushiyama if was heading to Odaka on the day of the battle. Then again, why would Yoshimoto retreat back to Mikawa if he had the men and the logistics to advance to Kiyosu. It makes no sense.

Unfortunately, there are more questions than answers regarding to the Battle of Okehazama. As for Seishiro Mizuno's video, I highly recommend it. Easy to understand and his views are coming from a local perspective. That is a good thing.

Tenka no tame!

Nobunaga, Kitsuno, Children Statue, and Kyushoji

 

I was able to see the new Nobunaga and Kitsuno and their children statue with my own eyes for the first time. The statue is located near the Meitetsu Hotei Station in Konan City.  Later during my visit I was able to take a picture of Kitsuno's grave. Kitsuno (1528?-66) was Nobunaga's concubine. She was the daughter of Ikoma Iemune and gave birth to Nobunaga's children Nobutada, Nobukatsu, and Tokuhime. Unfortunately, she passed away at young age and her posthumous name was Kyuan Keisho Daizenjo-ni. The family, Kyushoji received 660 koku from Nobunaga. Kyushoji was abandoned in 2022 due to budget constraints. In 2023, area became a children's park. The Kyushoji graveyard still exists and one a good day visit Kitsuno's grave along with the Ikoma family.

Nobunaga no tame!

Noh at Sasaki Jinja

 In 1581, during the new year, Sasaki Jinja held a Noh performance after Nobunaga presented the people of Azuchi with gifts. Sasaki Jinja is located in Azuchi.

The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 383)

"On the 2nd of the First Month, Nobunaga gave the townspeople of Azuchi, ward by ward, a large number of wild geese and cranes caught by his falcons. To express their gratitude, the townspeople gave a celebratory Noh performance at the Sasaki Shrine. Then they reverenced his gifts before accepting them."

Tenka no tame!

Happy 2026

 Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu! Happy New Year! As always I will post Nobunaga's famous 1574 New Year celebration.

The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 204)

"Item The head of Asakura Sakyo no Daibu Yoshikage.

Item The head of Azai Shimotsuke.

Item The head of Azai Bizen.

These had been taken by Nobunaga the previous year in the North. The banquet began when the aforesaid three skull, lacquered and gilt, were brought out on white dinner trays as a relish to the sake."

Nobunaga no tame!