Ungoji

Ryuhozan Ungoji is the family temple of the Hattori family. Located in Tsushima City, Aichi Prefecture it is a ten minute walk from Meitetsu Tsushima Station. Also Tsushima Shrine is close as well. Ungoji is supposedly founded by Hattori Iga no Kami Munezumi in 1429. The Shrine itself is part of the Soto sect of Buddhism. What makes this temple special is Hattori Koheita. He was the first man to attempt to kill Imagawa Yoshimoto at the Battle of Okehazama 1560. It is his family temple. Tsushima City has quite a few landmarks related to Nobunaga and the Oda family as well.

Nobunaga no tame!

Kaku Kozo Okehazama Art

 Here is another brilliant video by historian Kaku Kozo and artist Mami Nakamura. This time the video showcase art from a primary school student regarding the Battle of Okehazama. When the two discuss and breakdown the painting, you will see Nobunaga on his horse leading the way to victory, Yoshimoto still inside his lacquered palanquin, Hattori Koheita and Mori Shinsuke in action, and near the top righthand corner Fort Washizu and Marune being burned. For a primary school student, the artwork is colorful and highly detailed. Also Mami Nakamura also explains her Nohime Kigan no tsuzumi portrait as well. A short video, but highly informative.

Tenka no tame!

Taigan Historical Art Museum

 This is a video regarding to the Taigan Historical Art Museum. The Taigan Historical Art Museum is located at Machida City, Tokyo. From what I understand, this museum is similar to the Touken Museum located in Nagoya. The difference between the two is that Taigan does have a lot more documents and artifacts related to Oda Nobunaga. In fact, there is a two-story replica of Azuchi Castle. To be honest, I have never visited the Taigan Historical Art Museum. If you have, please tell me your experience. As for the video, the main points are documents related to Nobunaga and artifacts regarding Kawanakajima.

Nobunaga no tame!

Youtokuin Mokuzou

 This is the wooden statue of Nobunaga's wet nurse Youtokuin (1515-1608) located at Kokuseji, Okayama City. Youtokuin was the mother of Nobunaga's retainer Ikeda Tsuneoki (1536-84).

The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 98) "...Ikeda Shozaburo (Tsuneoki), the son of Nobunaga's wet nurse. In other words, Shozaburo and Lord Nobunaga, the actual power holder, had drunk the same mother's milk; the two were like brothers."

Another good resource is Okada Masahito Oda Nobunaga Sogo Jiten (pp. 183-185).

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Mitsuashi no Kaeru Kouro

 If you visited the Honnoji Museum in Kyoto in the past, you have probably seen the Mitsuashi no Kaeru incense burner. On the eve of the Honnoji Rebellion, legend has it, the Three Legged Frog incense burner croaked to warn Nobunaga the danger that was about to come. Was it true? Who knows. That being said, it is a good story. Nobunaga did own the incense burner and it survived the Honnoji destruction. To see the original incense burner with your own eyes is a real treat. Also at the Honnoji Museum, is various tea cups (chawan) and tea kettle Nobunaga owned. Regarding to the Three Legged Frog incense burner, it played a role in the movie The Legend and the Butterfly. 

Nobunaga no tame!

Higishou

 Nobunaga performed a higishou, a ordeal by fire at Sanno/Hiyoshi Shrine near Kiyosu. The shrine is a short walk from Meitetsu Shin Kiyosu Station. The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (pp. 98-99)

"It was decided to hold an ordeal by fire in front of the Sanno Shrine, in presence of officials and witnesses nominated by both parties involved in the suit. Here was demonstrated how terrible is the Way of Heaven. 

Nobunaga had each side give him its version of what had happened and quickly sized up the situation. His complexion changed. He asked to hear the details regarding the ordeal by fire.

Nobunaga received the blazing-hot axe head onto his hands took three steps, and placed in on its tray. 'Did you see that?' he asked, and had Sasuke put to death."

The Sanno/Hiyoshi Shrine is not far from the Minoji and the Gojo River. It is only about a ten to fifteen minute walk to Kiyosu Castle.

Tenka no tame!

Matsunaga Hisahide Hiragumo Tea Ketttle Video

 Here is a video by historian Owada Tetsuo explaining Matsunaga Hisahide and the famous tea kettle (hiragumo). Near the end of the video, he discusses a document between Nobunaga and the Hosokawa family. If you are in the Kyoto area, you can visit Matsunaga Hisahide's grave at Myoekaiso graveyard. Not far from Myoekaiso graveyard is Shinnyoin, a temple that has a relationship with Nobunaga and Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki. As for the tea kettle Hiragumo, it is shaped as a spider crawling on the ground.

Nobunaga no tame!