CHAPTER 1: NOBUNAGA’S RISE TO POWER

 

    With the war occurring non stop around him, young warlord Oda Nobunaga, inherited the title of Daimyo from his father. As the leader of his clan, he demonstrated brilliance and decisiveness, as he quickly unites the province of Owari surrounding him. No one expected that he could be such an inspiring leader, as he was known as the “Fool of Owari”.

 

    Nobunaga’s method, tactics, and vision as a samurai was significantly (or rather drastically) different from that of a normal samurai, making him unique. He did not share the normal virtues of a samurai, but had his own definition of samurai values. He spent five years (1555 AD - 1560 AD) building up his clan’s resources and administration, making the Oda Clan prosper once again. The young Nobunaga looked upon the horizon as he plans his rise to power (Tucker).

 

CHAPTER 2: THE LEGENDARY BATTLE OF OKEHAZAMA

 

    In June, 1560 AD, as Nobunaga was busy developing his fiefs, his scouts delivered truly devastating news: Imagawa Yoshimoto, the daimyo of the Imagawa Clan to the East, had assembled a massive army to conquer the capital of Kyoto, and anything that lies between. This means that if the Imagawa wanted to reach the capital, he would have no other way but to cross (and conquer) Nobunaga’s lands. With the support of the Hojo Clan and the Takeda Clan, the Imagawa were determined to crush anything in their path.

 

    As this dire news spread across the Oda Clan, panic and fear struck the Owari province. Nobunaga’s advisors and generals were split into two; those in favour of surrendering to the Imagawa, and those who favour to defend and fight the Imagawa by garrisoning the castle. This intense discussion in the main hall of Nobunaga’s castle, Kiyosu, kept going on and on without any decision being made. Nobunaga remained quiet, seemingly thinking of something. Suddenly he rose to his feet.

 

    “I am going to bed”, uttered the Oda daimyo. His generals and advisors were utterly shocked by their lord’s actions. Amidst this chaos he can still slouch around, they thought. Shibata Katsuie, a general of the Oda Clan, uttered quietly under his breath “He (Nobunaga) will not do anything to face the Imagawa. This clan is doomed!”

 

    Little did they know that Nobunaga already had a grand plan in mind. He commanded his soldiers to stand by at Zenshoji Temple. As he prepared himself to ride into battle, the Imagawa Clan, with a force of 25,000 men strong, entered the province of Owari, taking control of two of Oda’s border fortress, Marune and Washizu, setting up camp at the slopes of Dengaku-hazama. Zenshoji Temple is on the other side of the mountain, where Nobunaga and his best troops and generals lie in wait.

 

   

They could not charge straight on without a plan, as the Imagawa outnumbered them ten-to-one. The Imagawa’s forces totaled 25,000, while Nobunaga only had 2,500 to 3,000 troops. Seemingly calm at the Imagawa main camp, Imagawa Yoshimoto and his aides were enjoying a feast, celebrating their success so far.

 

    Nobunaga proceeded to leave nearly half of his army at Zenshoji Temple, while the other half, led by Nobunaga himself, circled around undetected, reaching the rear side of the Imagawa army. They were on top of the slope with Imagawa Yoshimoto’s camp below them, being careful not to get detected. Oda’s troops at Zenshoji commenced the plan by placing a large number of banners around the temple, giving the impression that the Oda’s main force was located there. The Imagawa watched Zenshoji warily, but were still relaxed.

 

    As the morning breaks, the entire area was blanketed by a heavy, thunderous rainstorm, limiting visibility and hearing capabilities. Raising his sword, Nobunaga ordered his forces to charge forward, attacking the Imagawa’s main camp directly. So sudden was the attack that none of the Imagawa samurai expected it, as Nobunaga and his brave soldiers charged through their camp. The rear side of the Imagawa army was struck with fear and devastating panic, while the front end of the army thought it was just a commotion between their soldiers. By the time they realized it, Nobunaga’s forces were cutting down thousands of the Imagawa soldiers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    As the main army was split into two, the chaotic confusion left the tent of their daimyo, Imagawa Yoshimoto, unguarded. Mori Shinsuke, a warrior who served Nobunaga, cuts down Imagawa Yoshimoto, sending their entire army into a rout. As the rainstorm concluded, Nobunaga raised his clan banners and shouted for victory, followed by his soldiers. At this moment, Nobunaga achieved a victory that was basically impossible to replicate, a legendary battle in history. Defeating an army of 25,000 with only 1,500 soldiers, Nobunaga established himself and his clan as a force to be reckoned with, sending a shockwave through Japan. It was during this time that his nickname “The Fool of Owari” was replaced by a moniker that terrified the lands around him; “Demon King” (Glenn).

 

CHAPTER 3: KIYOSU ALLIANCE

 

 With Nobunaga securing an impossible victory at Okehazama, the remainder of the Imagawa forces returned to Suruga province. Matsudaira Motoyasu, sensing a weakness in the Imagawa Clan, decided to declare independence and retook the province of Mikawa, their homeland. As such, Motoyasu discarded his name, adopting a new name for himself; Ieyasu Tokugawa, Daimyo of the Tokugawa Clan.

 

    Although he developed Mikawa into a much better state than what it was before, he was still surrounded by enemies. His neighbour, was the “Demon King” himself, Oda Nobunaga. Going against the suggestion of his generals, Ieyasu rode to Kiyosu Castle in order to secure an alliance that would strengthen them both. His advisors were against it because Nobunaga was too unpredictable. He may take advantage of the situation and slay Ieyasu during the meeting.

 

    However, things turned out unexpectedly. Nobunaga welcomes Ieyasu with open arms, meeting him privately in the rear palace. They engaged in a friendly conversation, as the two knew each other long, long time ago (back when Ieyasu was a slave in Nobunaga’s clan). Afterward, they raised to their feet together and placed their swords side-by-side, signifying that the alliance between the Oda, and the Tokugawa, was successful. They are now bonded in an alliance that empowers them both, with Nobunaga setting his sights into the west, as Ieyasu watches the East. This alliance was referred to as the Kiyosu Alliance in Japanese history.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 4: THE INVASION OF MINO

 

    Nobunaga continued to strengthen his forces, expanding the territory under his clan’s control. During this time, 1566 AD, the Oda Clan had expanded to the west, with the Kitabatake Clan’s territory conquered. Having four separate territories at hand, Nobunaga looked to the north, towards the Saito Clan in Mino Province. Since the death of their former Daimyo Saito Dosan, the Saito Clan became weaker under the broken leadership of Saito Yoshitatsu. Declaring war with the Oda Clan, the Saito Clan proceeded in their attempt to rise to power by fighting Oda Nobunaga’s forces.

 

    Gathering his forces in 1567 AD, Nobunaga and his army marched north to face the Saito Clan in a decisive battle at the Saito’s main castle, Inabayama. This battle will be known in history as the Siege of Inabayama Castle.

 

    Nobunaga intelligently took advantage of the enemy Daimyo’s weak leadership, and recruited many former Saito officers to his side. At this moment, one of Nobunaga’s most trusted samurai officer, Kinoshita Tokichiro, executed his long-planned strategy. Years before the expected engagement of the Oda Clan against the Saito Clan, Tokichiro already convinced the local lords of Mino to join Nobunaga should the Oda Clan decides to invade. When Nobunaga launched the siege, many of Mino’s local lords joined the Oda Clan.

 

   Together with his friend, Hachisuka Masakatsu, they built a castle garrison near Inabayama Castle, called Sunomata, as a staging point for the siege. What is historically amazing is the fact that despite limited force of labor, Tokichiro built Sunomata Castle in just one day.

 

    Afterwards, Tokichiro led brave soldiers to break into the castle, and open the castle doors from within so Nobunaga and the rest of the army could storm in. He succeeded, and Nobunaga overwhelmed Inabayama Castle, conquering the province of Mino. Under the suggestion of a tea master, Nobunaga renamed the castle from Inabayama to Gifu Castle, with the word “Gifu” signalling his intent to conquer the lands around him. After this victory, clans surrounding the Oda Clan started to be alerted to Nobunaga’s influence and military presence. Directly after the castle’s rename, Kinoshita Tokichiro renamed himself as Hashiba Hideyoshi.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 5: SECURING HIS FLANK

 

    Nobunaga figured that if he kept himself at the centre of chaos’s fulcrum, he will eventually topple. As such, he devised a strategic alliance with the Azai Clan to the West, by marrying his sister Ichi, to the future Daimyo of the Azai Clan, Azai Nagamasa. The plan was carried out, and Nobunaga ended up having two staunch ally by his side. The Azai, guarding his northwest, and the Tokugawa, guarding his south and west.

 

    Using the momentum he had, Nobunaga began launching several military campaigns to conquer his neighbors. The Oda Clan succeeded in conquering the north west province of the Sakura Clan, and was also successful in subjugating the Rokkaku Clan to the West, claiming the castle nearest to the capital in Kyoto, Kannoji Castle. With his military power ever increasing, Nobunaga set his sight to the north, towards the Asakura Clan. However, there was one major problem to this plan.

 

    The Asakura Clan and the Azai Clan had been allies for hundreds of years. Basically, Azai Nagamasa had families in the Asakura Clan, and vice-versa. With Nobunaga’s intent to launch an attack on the Asakura, Nagamasa was forced to decide between family or his wife. To fight Nobunaga would betray his wife, and to fight the Asakura would betray his families. After months of painful dilemma, Nagamasa chose his family over his wife, despite his deep love for Ichi, and mobilized his forces to march against his brother-in-law, Nobunaga.

 

    This betrayal shocked Nobunaga, who did not expect the young Azai Daimyo to intervene. As he was retreating his forces from Asakura territory, he and his army were ambushed by Azai Nagamasa and his troops at the plains of Kanegasaki. Nobunaga, despite being the fierce warrior, was forced to retreat, as countless Oda generals were killed on the battlefield. Nagamasa, also being a great fighter, gave chase, but was stopped by two of Nobunaga’s most skillful retainers, Akechi Mitsuhide and Hashiba Hideyoshi, both acting as the vanguard. Nobunaga’s retreated successfully thanks to both of his vanguard's’ efforts.

 

CHAPTER 6: RECOVERY AND RETALIATION

 

    After his retreat at Kanegasaki, Nobunaga recovered the remainder of his forces, ready to counter-attack Azai Nagamasa, his former ally. Marching towards the Azai’s main castle, Odani, the two armies met at the rivers of Anegawa, in which Nobunaga battled the combined forces of the Azai-Asakura with the help of his steadfast ally, Tokugawa Ieyasu.

 

The Asakura fought the Tokugawa, and they ended up retreating due to Ieyasu’s battle tactics and fearless samurai generals. Ieyasu’s bodyguard and general, Honda Tadakatsu, defeated 4 of the enemy generals, forcing the Asakura to retreat.

 

Nobunaga defeated the Azai at Anegawa, and proceeded to attack Odani Castle. Ichi Oda, Nobunaga’s sister and Nagamasa’s former wife, was released before the battle. Nobunaga charged onwards, defeating Nagamasa and his army. In the aftermath of the battle, Nagamasa committed seppuku (the honorable suicide in samurai’s honor codes), taking his own life. With the Azai defeated, Nobunaga carried on with his original plans, subjugating the Asakura Clan as well. By this time, his army was the most powerful military power in all of Japan.

 

CHAPTER 7: AZUCHI AND THE CONQUEST

 

    Nobunaga moved his main forces to Kannoji Castle, the former castle of the declined Rokkaku Clan. With the best engineers in his force, he ordered the construction of Azuchi Castle, his new main base of military operations. The process of building the mighty castle spans about three years, commencing in 1576 AD and ended construction in 1579 AD.

 

   Azuchi Castle was the largest, most well-defended castle in Feudal Japan circa 1579 AD. Instead of the usual black and lifeless color of the typical Daimyo castle, Azuchi was lavishly painted in many different colors, with decorations consisting of tigers and dragons. Built primarily from granite stone, the castle stood strong like a mountain. Towering over the province at the very center, the castle was built with seven stories, the tallest of any castle at the time (second tallest would be the Hojo’s Odawara Castle). Strategically placed at the center of his clan’s territory, it is also very close to the capital Kyoto, allowing Nobunaga to purge any instability in the capital while being from a safe distance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

The year before Azuchi was constructed, Nobunaga and his forces gathered at the eastern castle of Gifu. The reason why he did so was due to the threat posed by the Takeda Clan from the east. Under the leadership of Takeda Katsuyori, the Takeda Clan possessed the legendary Takeda cavalry, one of the strongest military unit in Japan. Sensing a powerful presence, Nobunaga marched east to confront the famous Takeda Clan.

 

    The Battle of Nagashino (1575 AD) as this battle was called, involves the forces of the Takeda Clan fighting against Oda Nobunaga’s forces in a quest for supremacy. Nagashino Castle was a castle of the Tokugawa, and the Takeda attacked the location because it was a threat to their supply lines. Nobunaga sprang into action swiftly to aid the Tokugawa in their struggle.

 

    The Takeda Cavalry were fierce and fearless fighters, striking fear into the Oda-Tokugawa’s forces. Takeda Katsuyori was determined to crush Nobunaga and his army, citing that “their famous muskets cannot stop the march of our legendary cavalry”. Little did he know that Nobunaga already assembled a powerful defence.

 

    First off, Nobunaga designed and assembled wooden stockades at the front line, in which no horse can pass through due to the wooden spikes. This brilliant military innovation forced the charging Takeda Cavalry to rotate around in order to fight. Behind the stockades was Nobunaga’s elite arquebusiers, comprising of three thousand Tanegashima Rifles. The defence was strong for the Oda-Tokugawa, and the Takeda’s spirit was high.

 

    The two armies clashed at Nagashino. Katsuyori did not expect the wooden stockades, and ordered his men to charge towards Nobunaga’s flank. Since it was raining, Katsuyori yelled, “The Oda Clan cannot use their muskets in the rain. Charge!”

 

    Unfortunately for him, Nobunaga assembled rifles, not mere muskets. Muskets cannot fire when their powder is wet, but this does not hold true to the Tanegashima Rifles. The rifles were more powerful and could fire in volleys. As the Takeda Cavalry rotated, Nobunaga ordered his men to fire in a volley of three, known as the Triple Formation. In this custom formation, three mechanics was involved. One soldier fires the rifle, then he moved back to reload. Another soldier behind him moved forward to fire, then he moves back to reload. The one who reloaded before steps forward to fire again. In effect, this resulted in a non-stop salvo of rifle fires that crushed the Takeda Cavalry.  

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

    Even if the Takeda Cavalry managed to get past the stockades and the rifles, they would still need to go head-to head with the Oda-Tokugawa’s best generals, such as Honda Tadakatsu, Maeda Toshimasu (one of the most powerful warrior in Japan), Shibata Katsuie, Akechi Mitsuhide, Hashiba Hideyoshi and even Oda Nobunaga himself (Turnbull).

 

    As the Takeda Cavalry were routed, Katsuyori and the remainder of his forces retreated, finally committing seppuku in the mountains. After this glorious victory, Nobunaga’s name began to spread across the land. His military power was proven unstoppable, even successfully defeating the infamous Takeda Clan. Not stopping the momentum, Nobunaga assigned his forces to lead military campaigns all over the provinces around them.

 

Hashiba Hideyoshi was assigned with the western campaign, fighting the Mori Clan. The northwestern campaign was led by Akechi Mitsuhide, and the northeastern campaign was led by Shibata Katsuie. Nobunaga himself led multiple campaigns to the south, fighting the Suzuki Clan, Tsutsui Clan and the Miyoshi Clan altogether.

   

    Nobunaga’s southern military campaign ended in a massive victory, conquering all the southern provinces. After this grand victory, he decided take a rest at Honnoji Temple in Kyoto, with only a small group of bodyguards protecting him. Since Kyoto is at the heart of the Oda’s territory, no one could have attacked. However…

 

CHAPTER 8: INCIDENT AT HONNOJI, THE FALL OF THE DEMON KING

 

    As Nobunaga rested at Honnoji, he received a call for aid from Hashiba Hideyoshi, who was fighting the Mori Clan in the west, being cornered in Takamatsu Castle. Nobunaga sent relief forces from Azuchi, rendering his own safety dangerously weak. Thus, in June 1582, the fateful time arrived…

 

    Akechi Mitsuhide was ordered to cease his military campaign in order to help Hideyoshi, but for reasons unknown (debated until today by historians) turned his army around towards the capital and charged right in, yelling “the enemy is at Honnoji!”

 

    Mitsuhide’s forces encircled the temple of Honnoji, setting it on fire, with his Daimyo Nobunaga still inside. This betrayal devastated the entire Oda Clan, with no one able to reach the capital in time.

 

    The “Demon King” fought back the attackers, cutting down hundreds of enemy soldiers amongst the flames. The fire however, consumed the temple, and Nobunaga vanished forever in the sea of flames. Nobunaga’s body was never found (not even today), so historians are debating whether he died at all. Some famous theory is that Nobunaga ordered Mitsuhide to betray him. It is still being debated after 500 years.

   

    And thus, the first of the Unifiers, Oda Nobunaga, the “Demon King”, presumably died at Honnoji (again it was never confirmed). As such, Japan’s most powerful Daimyo and samurai warlord died at the hands of his own retainer. The Oda Clan was enraged by this betrayal (Tucker).