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.
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.
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.
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."
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."
