Gifu Castle Stone Foundation and Stone Wall

 

There has been two new recent discoveries at Gifu Castle. At the moment, the castle undergoing archeological work. Stone foundation and stone walls has been discovered. This video clip is short, but provides the necessary information.

Tenka no tame!

Nohime Sumie Okazu

 The top photo is artwork from Sumie Okazu. This brush artwork of Nohime is beautiful. Nohime (1535-1612) was born at Sagiyamajo (Sagiyama Castle) in Mino. Her father was Saito Dosan and her mother was Omi no Kata. Nohime had several names as well: Sagiyama-dono, Kicho, Kocho, and Azuchi-dono. Here is a passage from The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 58)

"Before long, Hirate Nakazukasa brokered another deal, one calling for Oda Saburo Nobunaga to become Saito Yamashiro Dosan's son-in-law and Dosan's daughter to be welcomed as Nobunaga's bride to Owari Province. As a result, the whole region become peaceful again."

The bottom picture is the ruins of Sagiyama Castle. The birthplace of Nohime and the retirement home of Saito Dosan. Chances are high before Nohime tied the knot with Nobunaga she was briefly married to Toki Yorizumi. As for Nohime, Nobunaga described her as goddess and having a mind of a genius.

Nobunaga no tame!

Tenka Seihitsu

 Earlier in January, I visited the Azuchi Castle Archeological Museum to see some new exhibits. Before I went, I saw this video on YouTube. At first, I thought it was some cheap scripted video. I was mistaken. When I saw the whole video at the museum, I was blown away. It was fantastic way to celebrate the 450th Anniversary of Azuchi Castle. While this is only about a thirty second clip, the actual movie documentary provides clues on why Azuchi Castle was built (Tenka Seihitsu/Peace and Tranquility). The video at the museum includes various floor plans, the unfortunate Azuchi Castle folding screen which is still missing (Vatican probably lost it), why Nobunaga built Azuchi in the first place. Here is an answer to that question: close to the capital (Kyoto) without the daily political bickering while still having control in such matters. 

I have to admit, the video was superb. It is better than the one at Azuchi Nobunaga no Yakata (Luis Frois/Okabe Mataemon (Nobunaga's carpenter)? That is a tough one. Both are extremely well done and informative. At the moment, the Nobunaga no Yakata video just edges out due to the public seeing it more often and you can buy the DVD at the gift shop as well as seeing clips on YouTube. In time, the Azuchi Castle Archeological Museum Tenka Seihitsu video will win the hearts of the Azuchi population.

Tenka no tame!

Recent Readings: Yukio Kajino 2025 Okehazama Seminar

 I recently returned home from a month long trip back to Japan. Now I am slowly reading Yukio Kajino's 2025 Okehazama Seminar which was held at Chofukuji Temple May 2025.

Yoshimoto's invasion of Owari goal

Where was Yoshimoto's camp.

While his seminar did provide some answers and clues. Unfortunately, the old saying goes, there are more questions than answers. In this sense, it is good thing. There is a lot more reading material people can access now through the internet or libraries.

One of the first documentation of the Battle of Okehazama did come from Owari or Mikawa. It came from Echigo, the Kasugayama Nikki (1560?). It is now clear that Uesugi Kenshin sent scouts or spies to observe the battle and report the results. 

Yukio Kajino does provide documentation from the Sengoku Era, most of the primary sources is from the early Edo Era. One document from the Edo Era is the Hosa Bunko Okehazama Kassen Zu (1650). This a map/document. It has listed that Yoshimoto's camp was at Urushiyama, far west from Arimatsu Okehazama Battlefield and the Toyoake City Battlefield. Another document Kajino provides is the Kantougekoumichinoki (1628). Why it is significant? It was the first documentation that mentioned anything related to the Toyoake City Battlefield. 

I plan to write more in the future as I continue to read the paper.

Nobunaga no tame!

New Owada T Video

 Here is a short clip historian Owada Tetsuo discussing the Battle of Okehazama regarding to the Toyotomi Kyodai drama. As I written earlier, I was disgusted about how the battle looked cheap, scripted, and slow. Here in this video, Owada discussed the numbers of the Imagawa army. I am in the 20,000-25,000 camp, separation between soldier and farmer, and Nobunaga's army. Here is a key point here, Nobunaga's army might have been small, but they had lot of experience in full combat. For example, the years between 1552-59 unifying Owari gave Nobunaga's soldiers experience they needed. They were toughen up and ready to go. Full advantage to Nobunaga.

Tenka no tame!

Azuchi Akechi Mitsuhide Residence

 Believe or not, there is a new Azuchi historical landmark. The Azuchi Akechi Mitsuhide Residence landmark is just a five to seven minute walk south from JR Azuchi Station. Many people do not know about this landmark. Even the tourist office did not know about it until I informed them. So it seems that Mitsuhide did have some sort of lodging in Azuchi.

Nobunaga no tame!

Disappointed

 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.

Nobunaga no tame!