Nobunaga link

There is a Nobunaga link that I use time to time and it is highly useful.  The page is in Japanese.  That being said, this is one of the better Nobunaga links out there.  The link also has a twitter and facebook account.

https://www.oda-sha.jp/

Nobunaga no tame!

Nobunaga and Kunitomo

In 1549, Nobunaga ordered 500 matchlock rifles from Kunitomo in Omi.

Tanegashima (Lidin, p. 135)

"Over and over again, Lord Nobunaga repeated that the number of teppo were too few, and the iron workers and teppo specialists were ordered to step up their efforts.  Ichiyu received the command that all kinds of preparations should be made and since quick action was asked for, instructions were sent to Kunitono village in Omi Province, to kunitomo Zenbee, Hyoeshiro, Sukedayu, Tokyusaemon in Kunitomo in (Goshu) Omi Province.  These four men undertook the work together with the iron experts, and 500 teppo for six-momme bullets were manufactured.  On the 18th day of the 7th month of Tenbun 18 (10 August 1549), they received the order from Lord Nobunaga through Hashimoto Ippa, . . ."

1 momme=3.75
The bullets for Nobunaga's guns were 22.5 grams.

Tenka no tame!

Young Nobunaga

I did some artwork drawing a young Nobunaga during his "Owari no Utsuke" days and it turned out okay.  Here is a passage from Ota Gyuichi's Shincho-Ko ki (Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga), pp. 58-9.

"As for young Nobunaga's manner: He had on a bathrobe (yukatabira) with its sleeves removed, wore half-trousers (hanbakama) over it, and carried any number of pouches for flints and that sort of thing around his waist.  He kept his hair straight up like a tea whisk, tied with crimson and fresh-green cords. He bore a great sword with a vermilion sheath and ordered all the samurai of his retinue to outfit themselves in vermilion."

Nobunaga no tame!

Rokkaku at Okehazama

When I was at the Okehazama battlefield early this spring, I found out that the Rokkaku family of southern Omi provided some support for Nobunaga.  the information I received from the Kajino family and Chofukuji Temple near the Arimatsu Okehazama Battlefield is interesting.  According to the ancient documents from Chofukuji, the Rokkaku send an army of 1,500 which 272 were killed in action.  From the Mikawa Fudoki, 2,300 men were sent to provide aid.  If Rokkaku did provide aid for Nobunaga, I think that number is too high. According to the Kajino family, 1,500 or less is a more probable number.

With Nobunaga's victory over Imagawa Yoshimoto, the Saito had a major problem.  Saito Yoshitatsu knew he was next.  Right after the the Battle of Okehazama, Yoshitatsu made an alliance with the Rokkaku.  Nobunaga's relationship with the Rokkaku has been up and down.  In 1568, while marching to Kyoto with a massive army, Nobunaga brushed aside the Rokkaku with ease.

Update: I included an article that I received from Chofukuji Temple years ago. Also see Owada Tetsuo Okehazama no Tatakai (p. 130). According to Owada Tetsuo, the Rokkaku sent about 1000. 
Tenka no tame!

Nagoya Debate

Photo of Nagoya Castle landmark 2006.

Nagoya Castle is back in the news for Nobunaga's birthplace.  Link: https://ameblo.jp/mikawa-hide/entry-12397181294.html

No matter if Nobunaga's birth place is Shobata or not, chances are it was Nagoya.  Shobata was too close to enemy territory, Mino.  Nagoya, located in the heart of Owari was a safer place for the birth of Nobunaga.  If Shibota was Nobunaga's birthplace, he was taken to Nagoya as soon as possible for safety issues.  I still stand with Nagoya as the place of birth for Nobunaga.  At the same time, I add Shobata for another point of view to be fair.  Nagoya Castle during the time of Nobunaga was measured 1640 by 1968 feet in length.

Nobunaga no tame!

Yasuke Part I

There has been a lot of news about Nobunaga's black attendant Yasuke of late.  Which is good.  Yasuke was only with Nobunaga for over a year or so.  Not that long.  Nobunaga came into contact with Yasuke in February of 1581.  He was about 6'2 in height and where he came from Africa is still a mystery.  Some say he was a Habshi from Ethiopia or a Dinka from South Sudan.  Who knows.  That being said he was able to some Japanese to communicate with the locals.

The Shincho-Ko ki does has a passage about him.

The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga pp. 385-6.

"On the 23rd of the Second Month, a blackmoor came from the Kirishitan Country.  He appeared to be twenty-six or twenty-seven years old.  Black over his whole body, just like an ox, this man looked robust and had a good demeanor.  What is more, his formidable strength surpassed that of ten men."

Tenka no tame!

Merit

Nobunaga promoted his captains and soldiers on merit, not linage and it proved to be a success.  He hated the the old order on how the long established families kept the the ones who did the work down and out.  He change it.  If you did well on the battlefield or other related works, you were rewarded.  At the same time he demoted, banished, or killed high or low for not doing their job.  Nobunaga was not afraid to hire someone on the outside, like the Men of the Fields, Hideyoshi, or even Akechi Mitsuhide to do the dirty work for him.  It proved to be extremely successful.  Competition created success for Nobunaga.

Neil McMullin, Oda Nobunaga and the Buddhist Institutions, p 84

"Breeding and proper blood lines meant nothing to Nobunaga.  Together with such patricians as Niwa Nagahide and Hosokawa Fujitaka, he added to his inner circle such low born people as Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Akechi Mitsuhide.  Oda promoted people on the basis of their ability, and demoted those--no matter what their breeding--who failed to meet his expectations.  A good example of the latter was Nobunaga's punishment of Sakuma Nobumori, a person of noble family and one of Oda's top ranking generals, for his poor performance during the siege of the Honganji citadel from 1575 to 1580. Persons, whether they were bonzes, kuge, or peasants, who showed loyalty to Oda were rewarded, and those who opposed him were destroyed."

Nobunaga also banished Hayashi Hidesada and Ando Morinari for not doing their job. Even maidservants were put to death for skipping work.  Yet, someone like Maeda Toshiie who was banished and allowed back in the Oda house due to his merits on the battlefield at the Battle of Moribe in 1561.  It must have been difficult for the old guard as well as the newbies to work for Nobunaga.  You had to perform or else.  Knowing your boss was not afraid to hire someone on the outside added the stress.  That being said, if you were consistent on the battlefield and the like, you were well rewarded.

Nobunaga no tame!