Nobunaga no Boukei

 Earlier this year, I found a book online while in Japan. Nobunaga no Boukei is another Battle of Okehazama bok written by local historian Ota Teruo. Unfortunately, I was not able to obtain a copy.

Tenka no tame!

Mowing Down

 Continuing with the Osaka campaign in 1575.

The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 220)

"On the 14th of the Fourth Month, Nobunaga's army moved close to Ozaka and mowed down the entire crop in the area. His forces were estimated to be than a hundred thousand strong. Such a huge army, one that was magnificent from top to bottom, had by all accounts never been seen before. It made an enormous impression on town and country, noble and mean alike."

Nobunaga no tame!

2024 Toyoake City Okehazama Festival

 

Here is the flyer for the 2024 Toyoake City Okehazama Festival. The festival will be a two day event. It will be held on June 1st and 2nd.

Tenka no tame!

Riding to Tennoji

 Last month I wrote a post that Nobunaga moved his camp to Sumiyoshi. Here what happened next. The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga (p. 220)

"On the 13th he rode to Tennoji. To the last man, warriors from the Home Provinces, Wakasa, Omi, Mino, Owari, Ise, Tango, Tanba, Harima, and the four valleys of Negoro temple rallied to him. They set up camp in Tennoji, Sumiyoshi, and the vicinity of Uryuno."

Nobunaga no tame!

Komaki Castle Update

 There is some news regarding Komaki Castle. From 4/26 to 6/11 Komaki will be hosting Komaki Castle ishigaki fukugen panel. From the recent archeological work that was done the past few years, Komaki Castle stone use was more than previously thought. In fact, Nobunaga used Komaki Castle as dry run for Azuchi. The Castle was located on an independent hill, like a floating island at the Nobi Plain. Komaki improved Nobunaga's logistics as well as economically.  Komaki Castle was Nobunaga's headquarters from 1563-67.

Tenka no tame!

Dosan Letter

 Video on Saito Dosan and Nobunaga 

I would to continue on the recent Saito Dosan document Witten in 1552 discussing his concerns on Nobunaga. Here are some questions I am asking at the moment. How did Dosan find out about Nobunaga's behavior? Spies of course. Both Dosan and Nobunaga had spies, so it would not be surprising if that was the case. Letters from Nohime? High possibility. She probably knew Nobunaga was crazy at the same time knew that he was NO idiot. At the moment, we do not know who was Dosan corresponding to. I would sure like to know.

From the document, Dosan was concerned and admired Nobunaga. I find this interesting because the two have not met yet. When they finally met in 1553 at Shotokuji, there is a reason why Dosan hid at an abandoned shack. He wanted to know if the rumors were true about Nobunaga. At first, is was true. Nobunaga was wearing bizarre clothing. However, Nobunaga changed his attire before meeting Dosan. When Dosan finally met Nobunaga in person, he knew his son-in-law was no fool.

I have posted this before, but it is now a good time to review why the two met at Shotokuji in the first place.

Dosan never met Nobunaga in person 

To see if Nobunaga was a fool

To find out if Owari was weak enough to invade 

To find out if the Saito/Oda alliance was good enough to continue 

Everyone know the answer, Nobunaga was no fool and the alliance was solid. As for the document, I think it does show Dosan cared and admired Nobunaga even if he was still green and in the process of unifying Owari. At the same time, he knew his son-in-law was the future probably from contacts with Nohime or others.

Nobunaga no tame!

Breaking News

 Photos copyright from NHK with the exception of the photo of Shotokuji landmark 

The photo above is the Shotokuji landmark. Dosan and Nobunaga met at Shotokuji in 1553.

Last night there was a major discovery of a document written by Saito Dosan (Nobunaga's father-in-law/Viper of Mino) in 1552, a year before the meeting at Shotokuji. The subject of the document is about Nobunaga. It shows that Dosan was concerned and cared for Nobunaga. In fact, there are very few documents remain written by Dosan. Also mentioning Nobunaga is rare. So this is a special document. 

Since this document was written in 1552, Nobunaga was still young and was in the starting process of unifying Owari. Sure he had some shortcomings, but he was ready for it. When the two finally met in 1553 at Shotokuji, Dosan finally knew Nobunaga was no idiot and he was the chosen one to unify Japan.

Link: Https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20240424/k10014431231000.html

Tenka no tame!