2024 Gifu Nobunaga Matsuri

 The 2024 Gifu Nobunaga Matsuri will held held in early November. It will be held on the 2nd and 3rd of November. This is the biggest festival in Gifu and probably the best Nobunaga festival in the country. I plan to at least attend one of the two days.

Tenka no tame!

Ikeda Tsuneoki's Birthplace

 Today I was able to visit Ikeda Tsuneoki's birthplace in the Arako area of Nagoya. This was the site of Tsuneoki's father's (Tsunetoshi) mansion. Tsuneoki was Nobunaga's half-brother and his mother Youtokuin (1515-1608) was Nobunaga's wet nurse. Tsuneoki's area of birth is interesting since it is near Maeda Toshiie's birthplace of Arako Castle. Both served under Nobunaga and were the original "Boys from Owari."

Nobunaga no tame!

Ichijonotani Video

 This is one of the best videos I have seen in a long time regarding the ruins of the Asakura stronghold of Ichijodani. In 1573, Nobunaga led his army into Echizen (modern day Fukui) and put Ichijodani to the torch. Mr. Bushido does a fantastic job explaining the area and the history. Unfortunately, it was hot that day you can see Mr. Bushido constantly wiping his face with a hand towel. That being said, he is always enthusiastic about history which makes this video enjoyable to watch. The video includes a visit to the open air museum, which I have visited myself years ago. If you want to know life was like during the Sengoku Era, the museum will give you clues. I highly recommend a visit to the Asakura ruins and the museum. Also Mr. Bushido visits another museum related to Ichijodani. Unfortunately, I have not been there myself. However, it is a must to visit because once again it shows life was like during the Sengoku area. Also worth mentioning that Ichijodani was once called Little Kyoto due to the nobles and other officials who fled during the Onin war.

Tenka no tame!

Ogawa Castle

 

Ogawa Castle located near the Chita Peninsula, was a stronghold for the Mizuno family. This hilltop castle was built by Mizuno Sadamori between 1469-87, it housed several Mizuno warlords (Mizuno Tadamasa and Mizuno Nobumoto. It was also the birthplace of Tokugawa Ieyasu's mother Odai no Kata (1528-1602). Ogawa Castle played a role in the Battle of Muraki (1554). At the time of the battle, Mizuno Nobumoto was the lord of the castle. Nobunaga arrived there to make battle plans. During the Battle of Muraki, Mizuno Nobumoto attacked the east side of Muraki, Nobunaga in charge of the south side, and Oda Nobumitsu the west side. Nobunaga's use of firearms was the turning point at the Battle of Muraki. Ogawa Castle was abandoned in 1606.

Nobunaga no tame!

Kano Eitoku's Grave

 

Earlier this year I visited Kano Motonobu (1476-1559) and Kano Eitoku (1543-1590) grave at Myokakuji graveyard in Kyoto. Eitoku did artwork for Nobunaga such as Rakuchu Rakugai folding screen and paintings for Azuchi Castle. This is a short passage from The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 254) "In a twelve-mat room on the west side, Nobunaga commissioned Kano Eitoku to paint plum trees in black ink (sumie)." Unfortunately, Eitoku worked himself to death which cut his life short. Both Motonobu and Eitoku were from Kyoto. Motonobu was Eitoku's grandfather.

Tenka no tame!

Nobunaga Arrives in Kyoto 1568

 

Nobunaga finally arrives in Kyoto with his army in 1568. The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga mentioned that Nobunaga stayed at Tofukuji. However, Nobunaga's headquarters was actually the famous Toji.

The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 121)

"On the 28th Nobunaga moved his headquarters to the Tofukuji and ordShibata Hyuga no Kami, Hachiya Hyogo no Kami [Yoritaka], Mori Sanzaemon, and Sakai Ukon [Masahisa] to take charge of the advanced guard. They crossed the Katsura River to attack Shoryuji Castle, an enemy fort held by Iwanari Chikara no Kami [Tomomichi]. When the enemy made a sortie with light infantry, these four captains gave glance at each other, instantly decided to charge, and rode their horses strainto the enemy. They took more than fifty heads, which they presented to Nobunaga at the Tofukuji."

Now with the footnote regarding to Tofukuji and Toji. (p. 121)

"The Tofukuji is a Zen temple located on the southeastern outskirts of Kyoto. In fact, Nobunaga set up his headquarters not there but at the Toji, the great temple of the Shingon sect in the south of Kyoto" Also it worth mentioning that Nobunaga arrived in with his army on the 26th, not the 28th.

Nobunaga no tame!

Road to Kyoto III

 Continuing with Nobunaga's 1568 Kyoto campaign. This time Nobunaga crossed Lake Biwa.

The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 121)

"On the 26th he crossed Lake Biwa and set up his headquarters in the Gokurakuin, a priory of the Miidera. His troops camped at Banba and Matsumoto in Otsu."

Tenka no tame!