Okehazama 2020

Today is Battle of Okehazama day, the day Nobunaga changed Japanese history forever when he defeated Imagawa Yoshimoto.  The battle set the stage for Nobunaga to unite and rule Sengoku Japan.

Key points to Nobunaga's victory:

1. Nobunaga had a plan from the start.
2. He did not tell his retainers/captains about the plan since betrayal was all too common during the Sengoku Era.  Nobunaga did not trust them at all. Only the Men of the Fields knew about the plan.  The old saying goes, "A plan should be carried out in secret."
3. He used the middle men on the outside such as the Men of the Fields to do his dirty work for him.  He had more trust in them than his own retainers.
4. The weather was so hot and miserable  it made the Imagawa army stop and rest. Also the thunderstorm provided cover for the Oda army.  The storm prevented the Imagawa army to do any scouting around the surrounding  army.
5. The intelligence provided by Yanada Masatsuna was crucial in Nobunaga's victory.
6. The quality of the Imagawa army was poor compared to the Oda.  Nobunaga's army was toughen up by all the battle experience they received while unifying Owari.
7. Charisma.  Nobunaga' was able to run off his unorthodox character to his soldiers when they needed it the most.
8. Yoshimoto never respected his enemy as a worthy opponent. He always thought Nobunaga was a country samurai with no national pedigree.  The snobbish attitude cost him him his life and the Imagawa house.
9. Kyoto.  Yoshimoto was so obsessed with the capital as his goal, he forgot who was the real true enemy, Nobunaga.
10. Tactics.  Yoshimoto failed tactically.  His allies vanguard which consisted  of the Matsudaira, Ii, and the Asahina did much of the bulk work.  However, Yoshimoto's main army failed due to the lack of attentiveness and overconfidence.
11. Profession.  Nobunaga took his warrior profession seriously.  From the day he was born until the day he died, Nobunaga was a soldier of war.  Yoshimoto on the other hand, could not decide if he was Kyoto court noble or a warrior.  Chances are high he did not receive a proper military education. 
12. Plan. Preparation. Execution. It was near flawless as Yoshimoto and the rest of the Imagawa army could not adjust nor recover.

Nobunaga no tame!