Muraki and Nagoya I

Last month while in Japan, I bought Shiba Hiroyuki's book Owari Odashi.  On page 248, it mentions that Ando Morinari stationed his troops near Nagoya at Shiga and Tabata during the Battle of Muraki (1554).  Key points to Nobunaga's victory at Muraki:

• Use of firearms.
• Support from his father-in-law Saito Dosan of Mino.
• Nobunaga's daring crossing of the sea.
• Nobunaga's leadership during the Battle of Muraki.

Tenka no tame!

Muraki and Nagoya

During the Battle of Muraki (1554), Oda Nobunaga requested help from his father-in-law, Saito Dosan of Mino.  Dosan sent one of the Mino Big Three, Ando Morinari to help Nobunaga protect Nagoya Castle.  Morinari along with 1,000 soldiers were sent to protect Nagoya.  According, to Obata Tazo's, Shogi*Okehazama no Tatakai, Morinari's soldiers were placed north of Nagoya at Shiga and Tabata (p.82).  This is the first time I have seen this.  Could it be true?  Probably, since both places were not far from Nagoya Castle.  Nobunaga ended up winning the Battle of Muraki due to his leadership and firearms. Six years later, Nobunaga shook the world with his stunning victory at the Battle of Okehazama.

Nobunaga no tame!

Nobunaga no Tegami

While I was in Japan last month doing more research on the Battle of Okehazama, I had the opportunity to watch a television program "Nobunaga no Tegami."  If anything that I have learned from the program was that Nobunaga probably did not write all of his letters.  His yuuhitsu/secretary did the actual writing, while Nobunaga wrote his signature and stamped his Tenka Fubu seal on the letter.  For example, the 17 Points that Nobunaga wrote to Ashikaga Shogun Yoshiaki in 1573 was most likely done by his secretary.  As for the very personal letters, I presume Nobunaga wrote himself.

What also caught my attention is how difficult it is to read brush writing.  Scholars have to use huge complicated dictionaries to figure out which is the correct kana or kanji written.  A time consuming task indeed.

Tenka no tame!

2015 Okehazama Festival

The 2015 Arimatsu Okehazama Festival will be held on May 17th.  I will be there and expected to participate in the festival in one way or another.  There will be an armor parade, history talk, and other things related to the Battle of Okehazazma.

http://okehazama.net/

Nobunaga no tame!

More Komaki News

Komaki Castle has been in the news of late and that is good news.  According to recent studies on the castle, it seems that Nobunaga used more and more stone at Komaki.  Three rows of stone.  That is a lot of stone used during that time.  I have been surprised myself how much stone was used at Komaki Castle.  This was Nobunaga's first castle that he constructed on his own.  Did he have Azuchi on his mind at the time?  Who knows, but Komaki was certainly a dry run for Azuchi.

Tenka no tame!

Okehazama Paper Craft

Today, my Battle of Okehazama paper craft came in the mail just before my trip back to Owari.  Sengoku battle and castle paper crafts are slowly getting popular in Japan.  They do take a lot of time to cut and paste. That being said, if constructed properly, it is a work of art.  I will need a lot of help for sure when I start to construct the Okehazama paper craft.

Nobunaga no tame!

Takaneyama

During the Battle of Okehazama, Imagawa Yoshimoto's retainer, Matsui Munenobu moved his army of 1,000-1,500 from Makuyama near Jizo Pond to Takaneyama.  Takaneyama was the highest point on the battlefield.  It was 177 feet above sea level.  Even with all the modern buildings and the like, one can still see Takaneyama's tactical advantage.  During the battle, Munenobu could clearly see the Oda forts of Tange, Zenshoji, and Nakajima.  However, Munenobu's tactical advantage would never come into play as he along with several other of the Matsui family were killed in action at the Battle of Okehazama.  Today, Takaneyama is also known as Arimatsu Shrine.

Tenka no tame!