Discovery at Omizo Castle

News related to Nobunaga's cousin, Oda Nobuzumi on his castle Omizo.  According to the archaeological discovery at Omizo, the castle was built with the Azuchi method.  Omizo Castle was located on the western side of Lake Biwa.  With Hideyoshi located at the north with Nagahama, Nobunaga with Azuchi at the east, and Mitsuhide at the south with Sakamoto, it created a diamond around Lake Biwa.

Link: https://t.co/cvdV9rxjuT

Tenka no tame!

Okehazama Talk in April

Okehazama and local Nobunaga historian Seishiro Mizuno will host a seminar on the Battle of Okehazama in April.  The seminar will be held on April 28th, at the Meito Cultural hall near the Nagoya subway station Kamiyashiro.  If you are in the Nagoya area during this time, by all means go.  His last seminar on the Battle of Inou and Shibata Katsuie was a huge success.

Nobunaga no tame!

Nobunaga and Kozuke

The Gunma Prefectural Museum of History will host a special exhibition Oda Nobunaga to Kozuke kuni.  Nobunaga and Kozuke domain will be held March 17th to May 13th.

http://grekisi.pref.gunma.jp/95exhibition.html

Tenka no tame!

Shiga Castle

Shiga Castle was the home of Nobunaga's elder adviser Hirate Masahide (1492-1553).  Masahide excelled in diplomacy, poetry, and the tea ceremony.  While Nobunaga's father Nobuhide was still alive, he asked Masahide to work out a peace agreement with the Kiyosu faction in the late 1540s.  At first, it stalled, but Masahide eventually made the two parties agree to a deal.  More importantly, Masahide worked out another deal with Saito Dosan of Mino to allow Nobunaga to marry Dosan's daughter Nohime.  After Masahide's death in 1553, Nobunaga built a temple for him Seishuji.  His grave however was moved to Tounji.

Nobunaga no tame!

Nobunaga's Kyoto Parade

I have never really touched on Nobunaga's famous Kyoto Parade which was held in 1581.  As of today, it is still debated whether or not Nobunaga's real intention was to scare the living hell out of the Imperial household into submission.

Lamers Japonius Tyrannus (206-7)

"Nobunaga staged a military parade in Kyoto in March 1581 as a formal celebration of the Honganji's defeat.  It was unquestionably the ceremonial crowing of Nobunaga's career.  Of special interest is that Nobunaga carefully wove strands of Imperial fabric into the carpet of magnificence he unrolled on the streets of Japan's capital."

Nobunaga ordered Akechi Mitsuhide to organize the parade.  Nobunaga left his Kyoto headquarters Honnoji around eight in the morning on his horse Daikoku.  As for the picture above here is a list:

1. Emperor Ogimachi
2. Prince Sanehito
3. Oda Nobunaga
4. Spectators
5. Emperor's temporary residence
6. Court ladies
7. The military horse parade
8. Courtiers
9. Imperial Palace

Tenka no tame!

Samonji Sword News

Big news out of Shizuoka as swordsmiths are trying to replicate Yoshimoto's Samonji sword for his 500th anniversary of his birth.  Yoshimoto was in possession of the sword during the Battle of Okehazama.  The sword was two feet six inches in length.  After Yoshimoto's death at Okehazama, the sword was in the hands of Nobunaga.  He later cut down the length to two feet two inches.

Link:  https://t.co/78stXYzDWb

Nobunaga no tame! 

Oda Nobuhide Book Review

Title: Tenkajin no Chichi Oda Nobuhide
Author: Taniguchi Katsuhiro
Publisher: Yodensha
Year: 2017
Pages: 254

I received Taniguchi Katsuhiro's new book on Oda Nobuhide in the mail last year.  So far, the book is a must have for any scholar on Oda Nobunaga.  The book's bibliography is no exception.  It is extensive and Taniguchi used everything he could get his hands on.

If there is anything that stood out in the book, it is on page 205.  Nobuhide moved often and only in Owari.  Shobata, Nagoya, Furuwatari, and Suemori.  Nobuhide moved from western Owari near Mino to eastern Owari near Mikawa.  Here is my opinion on this.  After his alliance with Saito Dosan, Nobuhide had is back somewhat protected.  The real threat came from the Imagawa and Nobuhide moved his headquarters to Suemori to be ready for them when the time came.

Nobunaga saw this too when he was young and no doubt had an effect on him.  He too, moved often. Nagoya, Kiyosu, Komaki, Gifu, and Azuchi.  Nagoya, Kiyosu, and Komaki are in Owari while Gifu is in Mino and Azuchi is in Omi.  Nobunaga moved for military, political, and economic reasons.

Tenka no tame!