Rekishi Kaido August Issue

 The August issue of Rekishi Kaido has been published and out for sale. The magazine's main topic is the mystery about the Honnoji and Nobunaga's retainers. This has to do with the recent Toyotomi Kyodai Honnoji episode.

Nobunaga no tame!

What Happened To Oichi After Nagamasa's Death

 Here is an interesting short video by historian Owada Tetsuo discussing Nobunaga's sister Oichi. In 1573, Nobunaga attacked and destroyed Odani Castle. Azai Nagamasa was killed and what happened to Oichi and her children. According to Owada Tetsuo Oichi did not return to Gifu, he is correct on this matter. Owada Tetsuo states that Oichi returned to Nobunaga's younger brother, Oda Nobukane's (1543-1614) Ueno Castle which was located in Ise (modern day Mie Prefecture, Tsu City). However, Owada might be wrong in my opinion. There is evidence that Oichi and her children eventually returned to Owari and stayed Nobunaga's uncle Oda Nobutsugu(died in 1574) Moriyama Castle. When Oda Nobutsugu was killed in action fighting Ise Nagashima Ikko Ikki in 1574, Oichi and her children returned to Gifu Castle. There is a document by the  name of Keishin-in bun that has information on this subject. However, how reliable, I do not know. My opinion, is Oichi and her children after Azai Nagamasa death, returned to Moriyama Castle in Owari.

Tenka no tame!

Fort Tatsugahana

 Just before the Battle of Anegawa 1570, Nobunaga set up camp at Fort Tatsugahana. The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 147) "On the 24th, as his forces closed on this castle from all four sides, Lord Nobunaga pitched camp at Tatsugahana. Lord Ieyasu also took the field. He put up camp at the same place." 

As for the month, Sixth Month 24th day. A few days later, the Battle of Anegawa began. Nobunaga would later move his camp slightly northwest, south of Anegawa.

Nobunaga no tame!

Toyotomi Kyodai Honnoji

 Here is the upcoming Toyotomi Kyodai Honnoji episode. It looks good, but the best Honnoji scene is from the movie The Legend & Butterfly with Takuya Kimura as Nobunaga. As for reading material in English Brandon C. Schindwolf's Toki wa Ima is highly recommended. As for Akechi Mitsuhide, he was nothing more than a disgruntled employee in my opinion.

Nobunaga no tame!

Nobunaga and Nohime Tanabata

 Today is Tanabata Day and here is a card that celebrates it the Nobunaga way. Nobunaga's name is on the right and Nohime's name is on the left. Gifu Castle is written in the middle.

At the moment, I am rereading Fumio Watanabe's Okehazama Kassen no Shinso. It is a great book with a different opinion regarding to the Battle of Okehazama. I plan to write a full report in the near future.

Tenka no tame!

Nobunaga's Turning Point

 Here is an interesting video short by historian Kaku Kozo. He explains Nobunaga's turning point was his defeat at the Battle of Kanegasaki 1570. Nobunaga was lucky to escape. The betrayal of Azai Nagamasa shook Nobunaga in my opinion. While the Azakura were strong enough to hold their Echizen domain, they were never a threat to become a national power. The Azai on the other hand, controlled Omi and that was the gateway to Kyoto. It was a matter of time that Nobunaga battled it out with the Azai and Asakura at Anegawa 1570. Nobunaga did have help from Tokugawa Ieyasu. It was only a couple of years later Ieyasu's turning point happened at the Battle of Mikatagahara against the Takeda.

I have visited the Anegawa battlefield, but it was decades ago.

As for the Battle of Kanegasaki, see The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (pp. 142-43) Anegawa (pp. 147-48).

Nobunaga no tame!

2026 Nobunaga Gion Matsuri Post

 As always, I will post Nobunaga's participation in the Gion Matsuri. He seemed to loved festivals in general. One must remember Nobunaga and Nohime enjoyed the Tsushima Tenno Matsuri decades earlier. The photo above is from the 1870s. Nobunaga's participation was in 1578.

The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 286) " Tiger, Sixth Month, 14th day: Nobunaga watched the Gion Festival. He had told his horse guards and pages that there was no need for bows, spears, halberds, or other hand weapons, so they carried none. After viewing the festival, he gave leave to his live guards and went hawking straight away with about ten pages."

Nobunaga no tame!