Shinpen Okehazama Kassenki

Here is my current summer reading and it is a good one. Shinpen Okehazama Kassenki by Tamiya Atsuteru (1808-71). Written in 1846 (Kouka 3) 286 years after the Battle of Okehazama. Believe or not, the Shinpen Okehazama Kassenki is not that difficult to read and it is full of useful information. Is it perfect? No. That being said, it is a must read for any Battle of Okehazama scholar.

Key points: Brief mention of the Battle of Muraki.

His take on Nobunaga's Atsumori performance is different and radical than the traditional norm. For example, he mentioned that Nobunaga held an eve-of-battle banquet with his retainers performing Atsumori. To tell you the truth, that never happened. I plan to write a separate post on this important subject in the near future.

Yoshimoto's camp: Dengakuhazama. Again, nobody knows the full answer to this. It is still highly debated.

Kutsukake Castle mentioned several times in the manuscript. Including Yanada Masatsuna's reward.

Nobunaga's prayer at Atsuta Shrine. All of Nobunaga's key forts mentioned: Tange, Zenshouji, and Nakajima. The bad weather: heat and rain.

The constant retreating and fighting by the Imagawa army. Mori Shinsuke's finger chewed off by Yoshimoto before being killed. Yoshimoto's palanquin abandoned during battle.

There are many nuggets of information in the manuscript. That being said, there is a lot of side notes and endnotes as well.

I do highly recommend Shinpen Okehazama Kassenki.

Many thanks to Yukio Kajino and the Okehazama Battlefield Preservation Committee for the recommendation.

Nobunaga no tame!

Old Okehazama Matsuri Video and Book Review

 On the bottom is a two year Battle of Okehazama Festival Video from Touken. The festival took place at the Toyoake City Battlefield. Near the end of the video, a mock battle takes place. If I had to choose between the Arimatsu or Toyoake City Okehazama festival, Toyoake wins out simply because of the mock battle. I have participated in both. There is nothing wrong with the Arimatsu Okehazama festival. It just does not have the mock battles.

Years ago I wrote a short post on Fumio Watanabe's Okehazama book. It is decent, but it does have some flaws.

Fumio Watanabe Okehazama Kassen no Shinjutsu

Publisher: Ikohousha Year: 2012 Pages: 255

Watanabe's big push: Nobunaga's victory at the Battle of Okehazama was not a chaotic, impromptu dash, but a well calculated strategy combining frontal and flanking maneuvers from Fort Nakajima. Yoshimoto's weakness he stated was not military educated properly compared to Nobunaga and letting his retainers do the job. There is some truth to that. See pages 247-250.

One of the negatives, unfortunately, Fumio Watanabe never visited the battlefield and reaches his conclusions by the use of books and maps. I am assuming after publishing his book, he has visited both battlefields. That being said, his two maps at the end of the book are useful. 

I do think Fumio Watanabe's Okehazama book is a must read for the Battle of Okehazama scholar. It will open your mind a bit. Read it for yourself and then decide. 

Tenka no tame!

Oda Nobumitsu, Nobunaga, and Kiyosu Video

 This is another fantastic video by local historian Seishiro Mizuno regarding Nobunaga's uncle Nobumitsu and Kiyosu Castle. Nobunaga captured Kiyosu Castle, the Jewel of Owari in 1555 with the help of Nobumitsu. In exchange, Nobumitsu would receive Nagoya Castle. It did happen. However, he was assassinated by one of his retainers Sakai Magohachiro.

Oda Hikogoro (Nobutomo) Oda Magosaburo (Nobumitsu)

The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (pp. 74-75)

"On the 20th of the Fourth Month, an ambush was prepared. Should Sakai Daizen come to the southern tower to pay his respects to Magosaburo, he was to be killed by men who lay in wait. Daizen indeed came to the castle, but he sensed something dreadful in the air and immediately took to his heels, not stopping until he reached Suruga Province, where he asked Imagawa Yoshimoto for asylum. Magosaburo, however, forced the deputy military governor, Lord Hikogoro, to commit hara-kiri, seized control of Kiyosu, handed it over to Kazusa no Suke Nobunaga, and moved to Nagoya Castle himself.

On the 26th of the Eleventh Month that same year, Lord Magosaburo died in an unforseen incident. To be sure, the end result was consequent with Lord Kazusa no Suke's good fortune."

Nobunaga no tame!

Toll Barriers

 Who ever created this meme is a genius. 

The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 167)

"Furthermore, Nobunaga abolished all duties at toll barriers throughout the provinces under his control. The realm was at peace. Travelers could come and go as they pleased, thanks to Nobunaga's benevolence. As for his compassion was exceedingly profound, so did his blessings and his good fortune surpass the ordinary. This was the foundation of his ever-increasing prosperity."

Travel during Sengoku Japan was expensive and dangerous, so abolishing toll barriers was a must. The two biggest losers were powerful monasteries and local barons. Nobunaga wanted to curb their independence and power. Instead, the receipts went to Nobunaga's coffers. Cheaper trade traffic meant cheaper trade, which made higher economic development.

Nobunaga did not abolished all the toll barriers in the areas he controlled. For example, the Yamashina family still controlled some toll barriers and Nobunaga kept the tolls that supported the Imperial treasury. Japonius Tyrannus (p. 136)

Also Nobunaga was not dumb, he knew the most effective way to promote his power was economic prosperity as well as military power.

Nobunaga no tame!

Endo Naotsune Grave

 This is Endo Naotsune's grave which is located slightly southeast from Nobunaga's headquarters at the Anegawa Battlefield. Endo Naotsune (1531?-70) served under the Azai and was from Sakata-gun, Omi located in modern day Maibara City. Sugawa Castle was home to the Endo family and Naotsune did have a residence at Odani Castle. During the Battle of Anegawa (1570), Naotsune attacked Nobunaga's headquarters, but he was killed and his head was taken by Takenaka Kyusaku Shigenori (younger brother of Takenaka Hanbei).

As you can see from the middle signboard, Naotsune attacked Nobunaga (who was on his horse), but Takenaka Kyusaku Shigenori saves the day as Naotsune is killed off. The upper photo is the Sugawa landmark and the bottom photo is Naotsune's grave.

Tenka no tame!

Gifu City Museum of History Reopening

 

Big news from Gifu regarding the history museum. On November 3rd, the Gifu City Museum of History will reopen. This is great news since the museum is the jewel of Gifu Castle Park. I plan to be there since the Gifu Nobunaga Matsui will be held on the first weekend of November. For the Nobunaga or Sengoku Era historian, this museum is extremely important. As for the video, it is in Japanese.

Nobunaga no tame!

Seishiro Mizuno Battle of Muraki Video

 Here is another great video by local historian Seishiro Mizuno. I do not agree with everything he has to say, but he makes you think. This video covers Nobunaga's 1554 Battle of Muraki victory. Unfortunately, it came at a cost as many were killed or wounded.

The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 73) "A countless number of Nobunaga's pages and other leading retainers were among the casualties, a sight too horrible for the eyes."

"He returned to his field headquarters, where he issued orders regarding this and that while tears of joy streamed down his face."

Nobunaga's key points for victory 

Support from his father-in-law, Saito Dosan. Ando Morinari stationed troops at Shiga and Tabata.

Quick crossing of the sea

Nobunaga's use of firearms 

Leadership 

Imagawa objective 

Strategic: Owari

Operational: Chita Bay

Tactical: Muraki Castle, stepping stone to Owari.

Six years later after Muraki, Nobunaga achieved victory at the Battle of Okehazama.

Tenka no tame!