Breaking News: Gifu Castle To Shut Down For A Year

 Breaking news regarding Gifu Castle. Gifu Castle will be shut down for over a year for Castle renovations. I was in Gifu recently and heard the news on the grapevine. Now it is finally official. At the same time, there has been archeological work being done at castle area as well. Near the end of this video you will get a hint on what is being done. There will be an emaki tenji or picture scroll display of Gifu's history and its warlords. You can expect Nobunaga and Saito Dosan to be the display on the first floor.

The Gifu Rakuichi is now finally open, but it faces uncertainty as the castle and ropeway is shutdown. According to the vendors, there will be a lot other festivities to be planned at the park. Also you can see clearly everything is being done in stages. For example, first was the Gifu Rakuichi (now open). Second, the Gifu City Museum of History (still closed, but will open in November, probably during the Gifu Nobunaga Matsuri). Third, Gifu Castle.

Nobunaga no tame!

2026 Toyoake City Okehazama Matsuri

 The 2026 Toyoake City Okehazama Matsuri will be held on June 6th and 7th. Sunday the 7th is big day. Mock battles, tours to various historical sites, and stalls. I have participated in this festival in the past and had a blast.

Tenka no tame!

Nobunaga and Mt. Fuji

 Nobunaga made a visit to Mt. Fuji in 1582, just after he wiped the Takeda. The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 455)

"On the 12th of the Fourth Month, Lord Nobunaga departed Motosu before dawn; it was so cold that it felt like midwinter. At the foot of Mount Fuji, in the plains of Kamino and Ideno, he told his pages to give their horses the whip freely and staged wild charges. As he viewed Mount Fuji, the snow covering its loftiness made it appear like a white cloud. It is an extraordinary and glorious mountain."

Nobunaga no tame!

Gifu City Library

 Over the weekend, I hit the jackpot. The new Gifu City Public Library located next to City Hall is a goldmine regarding books and materials related to Oda Nobunaga. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume books on Nobunaga. Also the library has a lot of books on Akechi Mitsuhide and the Honnoji. It has everything from academic, fictional novels, non-fiction material, and even children's books. If you are near the Gifu City Hall, please made a visit to the library. This is a must for every Nobunaga historian. Everything you need is there at your fingertips.

Tenka no tame!

Spring Myokakuji Exhibition

 Yesterday, during my trip to Kyoto, I was able visit Myokakuji. Myokakuji has had a long relationship with Saito Dosan and Oda Nobunaga. The temple houses a replica of Dosan's will to Nobunaga. Before Honnoji, Myokakuji was often Nobunaga's number one lodging in Kyoto. In fact, he had stayed at Myokakuji than any other temple in Kyoto. Honnoji was not until later in Nobunaga's career. Then you have the famous 1575 tea ceremony that Nobunaga held at Myokakuji with Sen no Rikyu as the tea master. 

I have written about the 1575 tea ceremony in the past and it the passage can be found in The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga. Also had the chance to drink a bowl of matcha in the past at Myokakuji. Unfortunately, there was no opportunity during this time.

Nobunaga no tame!

2026 Arimatsu Okehazama Festival

 The 2026 Okehazama Matsuri will be held on May 17th. Unfortunately, there will be no key spokesman this year. Usually, there is a lecture that is held at Chofukuji Temple. If I was allowed to speak on a particular matter concerning the Battle of Okehazama, it would be both in English and Japanese, seven minutes in each language. As for the festival itself, there will be tours, Sengoku village stalls, and the mantoe held at night.

Tenka no tame!

Owada T Anegawa Video

 Last night I saw a video analysis of the Battle of Anegawa by Owada Tetsuo. Believe or not, the Toyotomi kyodai drama version of the Battle of Anegawa was not that bad at all. Of course, the Nobunaga King of Zipangu has the best version of the Battle of Anegawa. Unfortunately, most of the Sengoku Era battles that are aired today are cheap and tame. 

Owada Tetsuo explains the background of the Battle of Anegawa with Nobunaga attacking Yokoyama Castle. Not after that, the Battle of Anegawa begins. Depending where the Oda/Azai Tokugawa/Asakura troops were placed, the battle had a different name. Owada T explains this in the video. The area where the Oda and the Azai armies fought was known as the Battle of Nomura. The area were the Tokugawa and Asakura armies fought was known as the Battle of Mitamura.

Nobunaga no tame!