Thursday, November 5, 2026

Museum Reopening I





 Here are some pictures from the reopening Gifu Museum of History. Nobunaga's Owari no Utsuke Era clothing is on display as well as Saito Dosan' Mino no Mamushi. Since there has been a lot changes to the museum, for example, one can easily participate in the many hands-on activities the museum now provides. Unfortunately, the museum library has been greatly reduced to nothing. However, there are a lot more documents on display. More pictures and information will be posted soon.


Tenka no tame!

Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Museum Reopening


 Yesterday, I participated in the opening ceremony of the reopening of the Gifu Museum of History. I was overwhelmed by the number of new exhibits related to Nobunaga. In the end, it was a positive experience. I plan to write another post in full detail in the near future.


Nobunaga no tame!

Monday, November 2, 2026

Saikoji




 About little over a year ago I visited Saikoji. Saikoji is a Jodo temple. It is also the home of a beautiful Nobunaga memorial tower (kuyouto). Saikoji is located in Omi Hachiman. Saikoji can be reached by a 15 minute walk from JR Omi Hachiman Station. 


Tenka no tame!

Sunday, November 1, 2026

Noh and Toll Barriers


 In 1568, Nobunaga marched to Kyoto with his army to install Ashikaga Yoshiaki as shogun. Yoshiaki wanted Nobunaga to play the hand drum, but he refused. Nobunaga's independence was necessary to his success. 

The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 126)

"Yoshiaki wanted Nobunaga to play the hand drum, but he declined. The stick drum was played by Okura Jinsuke, small drum buy Kanze Hikoemon, and the flute by Ito Sojuro.

The fith play was Kureha, and that was the end of the Noh. Nobunaga gave souvenirs to the entire troupe, down to the wigmakers. After that, on the one hand for the sake of the realm, on the other because he felt compassion for the travelers coming and going, Nobunaga had all the toll collection at barriers, numerous in the provinces he ruled, put to a stop. Noble and mean in town and country, all were gratified. They reverence Nobunaga for his beneficence."


Nobunaga no tame!

Saturday, October 24, 2026

2nd Azuchi Nobunaga Kentei


 The 2nd Azuchi Nobunaga Kentei will be held on November 29th. Time: 10:30-12:00. Owada Tetsuo gives a brief explanation on the kentei (certification examination). The examination coincides with the 450th Anniversary of the construction of Azuchi Castle.


Tenka no tame!

Friday, October 16, 2026

Azuchi Castle by Okazu


 Sumie artist Okazu has done it again. This time, Azuchi Castle. Perfect for Azuchi Castle 450th Anniversary.


Nobunaga no tame!

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

A Gift From Nobunaga


 Big news regarding Nobunaga and Hachisuka Koroku. It seems that Nobunaga gave a short sword by Bizen Osafune Sukesada to Hachisuka Koroku for his efforts while in Harima Province. The sword is now housed at the Tokushima Castle Museum for its fall exhibition. The sword probably came from a retainer who served under the Asakura.

The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 370)
"Uno Minbu, who had entrenched himself in Shiso District, Harima Province, made off on the 5th of the Sixth Month in the middle of the night. When Kinoshita Heidayu (alias Araki Shigekata) and Hachisuka Koroku (Iemasa) went after him in pursuit, some of his loyal samurai retraced their steps to put up a fight. In clashes that ensued here and there, several dozen of them, warriors of standing, were killed."

Nobunaga no tame!

Friday, October 9, 2026

Nohime, Kicho, and Kocho


 Here is an update on Nobunaga's wife Nohime name. In my previous post regarding the subject matter Kicho appears in the Mino no Kuni Shokyuki. Nohime (EhonTaikoki) Kocho (Bukoyawa). The photo above is Nishigaya Yasuhiro Kosho Oda Nobunaga Jiten (p. 239), providing Nohime's name Kocho in the Bukoyawa. Again, Nohime had several names during her lifetime.


Nobunaga no tame!

Thursday, October 8, 2026

2026 Kiyosu Nobunaga Matsuri


 It is that time of year when fall festivals are everywhere in Japan. Kiyosu is no different. The 2026 Kiyosu Nobunaga Matsuri will be held this Sunday, Oct 11th. The time 9 am to 4:30 pm. 


Tenka no tame!

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

2026 Fall Azuchi Exhibition


 The Azuchi Archeological Museum will soon host its fall display: Tenkajin no Joukamachi Azuchi. The exhibition is from October 10th to November 15th.


Nobunaga no tame!

Sunday, October 4, 2026

Kicho and Nohime



 The first photo above is the Mino no Kuni Shokyuki, the word Kicho and Sagiyama-dono are written down in the document.  The second one below is the Ehon Taikoki and Nobunaga's wife was known as Nohime. Nobunaga's wife Nohime had several names: Nohime, Kicho, Kocho, Sagiyama-dono, and Azuchi-dono. The two most common are Nohime and Kicho.


Nobunaga no tame!

Saturday, October 3, 2026

2026 Gifu Nobunaga Matsuri


 The 2026 Gifu Nobunaga Matsuri will be held on November 7th and 8th. This yearly festival celebrates Nobunaga and Gifu. On the 8th of November, there will be a parade with Nobunaga, Nohime, and Saito Dosan. I plan to be there, you should as well.


Tenka no tame!

Friday, October 2, 2026

Death of Kajikawa Takahide


Portrait of Kajikawa Takahide 


 Kajikawa Takahide (?-1568) was the commander of Fort Nakajima during the Battle of Okehazama. Unfortunately he was killed in action during the siege of Ikeda Castle in Settsu Province in 1568. The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 122)

"On the 2nd of the Tenth Month, Nobunaga attacked the residential castle of Chikugo (Ikeda Kasamatsu) in Ikeda. Holding some troops in reserve on the high ground north of the castle, Nobunaga observed the battle. Among the retainers of Mizuno Kingo was a famous warrior named Kajikawa Heizaemon. Among Nobunaga's horse guards were Uozumi Hayato and Yamada Hanbyoe, who had also gained fame as men accomplished at the profession of Arms. Each striving to be the first, they broke through the outer bulwarks and fought man to man for awhile until Kajikawa Heizaemon was struck through hip-bone, retreated, and died a battlefield death."


Nobunaga no tame!

Thursday, October 1, 2026

2026 Fall Sokenin

 



The 2026 fall Sokenin exhibition schedule is here. Sokenin will be open October 10th to November 30th. Sokenin is a subtemple of Daitokuji located in Kyoto. One can see the sitting wooden statue of Oda Nobunaga (constructed by Kousei in 1583), the main hall, chashitsu (tea room), and more importantly, the graves of Nobunaga, Nohime (Nobunaga's wife), Onabe no Kata (Nobunaga's concubine), and children. It is a must visit for the Nobunaga scholar. 

Https://kyotoshunju.com/temple/daitokuji-sokenin/


Nobunaga no tame!

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Oda Nobuhide Video Update


 Here is an updated video by BS11 regarding Nobunaga's father, Oda Nobuhide. The video discusses Nobuhide's failure at the 2nd Battle of Azukizaka, Anjo, the exchanged hostages between Nobuhiro and Takechiyo (Tokugawa Ieyasu), Saito Dosan. This is important because the result was the marriage between Nobunaga and Nohime. Nobuhide's funeral as well.


Nobunaga no tame!

Thursday, September 24, 2026

Gifu City Museum History Renewal Update Video


 Here is a short video regarding Gifu City Museum of History renewal and reopening. The museum will reopen in early November. As for the Nobunaga and Sengoku Era historian, the new exhibits will be a major improvement. The Sengoku Era costume experience corner looks to be improved and impressive. Also the video explained the recent Gifu Castle archeological work as well. 


Tenka no tame!

Saturday, September 19, 2026

Nobunaga and Rikyu


 Nobunaga and Rikyu, what a tea combo. Nobunaga was passionate regarding the tea ceremony. He collected tea utensils and knew how to use them in a proper way. For his knowledge of tea, Rikyu was the man.

Warlords, Artists, and Commoners Japan in the Sixteenth Century. Edited by George Elison and Bardwell L. Smith. The Culture of Tea: From Its Origins to Sen no Rikyu H. Paul Varley and George Elison (p. 214)

"Rikyu, whose family was in the warehousing business, did not--so far as we know-play a significant role during the time when Nobunaga forced Sakai into his sphere of influence. It is not even clear when and under what circumstances Rikyu and Nobunaga and entered his service. But by about 1573, the year Nobunaga chased the last Ashikaga shogun, Yoshiaki, out of Kyoto and thereby put an end to the Muromachi bakufu, Rikyu had become, along with Sokyu and Sogyu, one of Nobunaga's--and therefore the country's--leading tea masters. Proof of the prominence Rikyu had achieved  by the mid-1570s may observed in the fact that he was selected to serve tea at a party for seventeen connoisseurs (sukisha) from Kyoto and Sakai which Nobunaga held at the Myokakuji in 1575, right after his return to the capital from the victorious campaign against the True Pure Land sector in Echizen. The record states unequivocally that Rikyu was the master of ceremonies--sado wa Rikyu. For Rikyu this association meant fame and fortune, and for Nobunaga it brought qualification as a man of culture."

I have written about the 1575 Myokakuji tea ceremony in the past. I drank tea there as well. The Honnoji Museum in Kyoto houses several of Nobunaga's tea utensils.

As for Warlords, Artists, and Commoners Japan in the Sixteenth Century, I highly recommend the book. It is a must read.

Nobunaga no tame!

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Azuchi Jaishi




 Azuchi Jaishi or Serpent stone was the famous rock hauled for the construction of Azuchi Castle. The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga has a passage on this subject (pp. 248-249)

"Nobunaga had large rocks hauled down from Mount Kannonji, Mount Chomeiji, Mount Chokoji, Mount Iba, and so forth. Each rock was transported up Mount Azuchi by as many men as it took--one thousand, or two or three. The quarry masters were Nishio Kozaemon (Yoshitsugu), Ozawa Rokurosaburo, Yoshida Heinai, and Onishi.

These men selected large stones for transportation, while rejecting the smaller ones. Tsudo Bo moved a great boulder as far as the foot of Mount Azuchi, but this rock, widely known as the Jaishi (Serpent's Stone) was so enormous that he could not get it up the mountain. That being the case, Hasiba Chikuzen, Takikawa Sakon, and Korezumi Gorozaemon came to Tsuda's aid with more than ten thousand men.  It took them three days and three nights to haul the Jaishi up the mountain. Thanks to Lord Nobunaga's ingenuity, building materials were brought up to the donjon with greatest of ease. Mountains and valleys were the scene of continuous activity by day and by night."


Tenka no tame!

Friday, September 11, 2026

Great For Fall Reading


 Looking for a great book to read during the fall season. My Battle of Okehazama novel is perfect book for the fall. Available at Amazon.com 


Nobunaga no tame! Tenka no tame!

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Omido Castle Video


 Earlier this month I wrote a blog post regarding Omido Castle, the birthplace of Takenaka Hanbei. Here is a video by historian Owada Tetsuo explaining Omido Castle. He later visits a local museum with a small interview with a staff member.


Nobunaga no tame!