Kureha Jinja

 Kureha Jinja is located in Ikeda City, Osaka. The shrine is dedicated to the goddess Kurehatori, a weaver from the Qin Dynasty who introduced advanced weaving techniques to Japan.

As for the shrine itself, it was destroyed during the Battle of Arioka Castle 1579 (Itami) between Nobunaga and Araki Murashige (1535-86). Main hall was rebuilt by Toyotomi Hideyori in 1604.

Nobunaga no tame!

Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, Kenshin, Yoshimoto and Yoritomo Documents

 Here is an interesting find on YouTube earlier today. Tye Ibaraki Prefecture History Museum will have a special exhibition on several Sengoku warlords documents. Unfortunately, the exhibition is only open until the 22nd of this month. From the video above, Nobunaga's letter is the subject of Araki Murashige's betrayal. Hideyoshi has a document as well as Uesugi Kenshin. Imagawa Yoshimoto's document is one of his oldest. A nice way to end the video was Minamoto Yoritomo document. 

A good video on Sengoku documents.

Tenka no tame!

Owada Tetsuo Sunomata Video

 Here a video by Owada Tetsuo explaining Sunomata Castle. There is a brief mention of Sunomata in The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 108)

"In Eiroku 4, the Year of Metal Junior and the Bird, in the first decade of the Fifth Month, Nobunaga crossed the wide expanse of the Kiso and Hida rivers and forced his way into western Mino. After setting fire to several locations and settlements in the area, he gave orders to establish a strongpoint at Sunomata."

The best English reading material regarding to Sunomata is David D. Neilson Society at War: Eyewitness Accounts of Sixteenth Century Japan  (pp. 123, 133, 207, 217, 226) are important information on Sunomata.

One of the reasons why Oda Nobuhide failed twice in the 1540s attacking Mino was not the Saito, but Mother Nature was the enemy, the rivers. The water of the river was the Saito key ally. I have written about this in the past.

As for the stockade, it took about five days to build and about 500 guns were equipped for Hachisuka Koroku and his men.

Nobunaga no tame!

2026 Spring Sokenin

 Sokenin, a subtemple of Daitokuji located in Kyoto will hold its spring public exhibition. Open to the public on weekends and national holidays from March 28th to May 6th. Open daily April 25th to May 6th. 

Here at Sokenin, one can see the Nobunaga wooden statue constructed by Kousei. Sokenin also is the home to Nohime, Onabe no Kata, and Nobunaga's daughter Tokuhime's grave. 

The price of admission is 800 yen.

Tenka no tame!

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!