Battle of Ino 1556 I

Battle of Inogahara landmark:  Take Nagoya City Subway Tsurmai Line and exit at Shonaidori Station, use exit 2.

I will continue with the discussion of the Battle of Ino since it put Nobunaga on the offensive and it was a key victory for the unification of Owari.   Nobunaga was outnumbered almost 2 to 1 and still came out on top.  Why?  I do believe that Shibata Katsuie and Hayashi Mimasaka, along with Hidesada underestimated Nobunaga's military tactics and strategy.  After all, they heard nothing but how he was an idiot and scumbag.  It was the complete opposite.  Yes, Nobunaga often mock battles and firing the guns out in the Owari countryside while he should be attending to formal matters, but that is what made him strong.  The preparation made him a force to be reckon with.  Only a few noticed.  Hirate Masahide was one of those.  Even though he tried his best to train Nobunaga into a traditional samurai, it did not work.  That being said, he did know that Nobunaga was a rare gem because he was not traditional.  Shibata Katsuie, Hayashi Mimasaka, Hayashi Hidesada, long with Nobuyuki did not understand until it was too late.

Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 80)

"There were more than four hundred fifty heads in all, including those of Owaki Torazo, Kobe Heishiro, and many other samurai of standing.

From that moment on, Nagoya and Suemori were castles under siege.  Again and again, Nobunaga forced his way between them, burnt down everything as far as the entries to the townships below their walls, and launched attacks on them."

Nobunaga knew he did not have the numbers to compete with Nobuyuki's allied army.  That being said, Nobunaga knew the quality of his soldiers and put them in place where they can succeed at its highest capacity.  This is leadership at its best.  Katsuie found out the hard way and sided with Nobunaga.  After his brother's death at Ino, Hayashi Hidesada knew that being on the wrong side meant death.


Nobunaga no tame!