CHAPTER 14: SEKIGAHARA

 

    In the final battle of Sekigahara (1600 AD), the Western Army, led by Ishida Mitsunari, faces off against the Eastern Army, led by Tokugawa Ieyasu. The army clashed at the plains of Sekigahara.

   

    Prior to the actual battle, the Western Army led by Ishida Mitsunari was marching towards the Eastern Army, but took a few days rest at the central plains of Sekigahara, east of Kannoji and west of Gifu. While they were resting , Ishida ordered his scouts to march ahead and inform them of the enemy’s march. The Tokugawa, unbeknownst to the Ishida, did the same. Both side’s scouts lurked dangerously close to each other. They eventually stumbled upon one another, but could not see each other due to the heavy fog.

 

     As they realized the sound of scouts marching on the opposite end, both the Ishida’s scouts and the Tokugawa’s scouts made haste towards their main camp, revealing the positions of the two opposing army. Ishida Mitsunari stayed in his defensive positions, while the Tokugawa marched onwards towards Sekigahara. As the sun rises the next morning, the fog clears, and both sides can now see each other. The battle thus began.

 

     Initially, the Western Army had a total of 120,000 troops, while the Eastern Army had a total of 75,000 troops. Ishida Mitsunari did not recognize the fact that Tokugawa Ieyasu had been sending letters to various Daimyos serving the Western Army. He promised them lands should they decide to switch sides during the battle.

 

     Tokugawa’s forces initiated the battle with Fukushima Masanori’s charge north from the left flank, however the flank was guarded by a great warrior, Otani Yoshitsugu. Realizing this, Ieyasu ordered his men to support Fukushima’s advance. Ishida Mitsunari, in return, ordered the central unit to mobilize in order to reinforce his right flank (attacked by Fukushima Masanori). The central unit however, commanded by Shimazu Yoshihiro, refused to obey, citing that he will only take orders from respected commanders, which ruled Ishida Mitsunari out (Shimazu Yoshihiro did not consider Ishida as a capable commander).        

 

    Otani Yoshitsugu and Kobayakawa Hideaki was holding back Fukushima’s attacks. However, Ieyasu already made plans with the Kobayakawa. Instead of defecting immediately, Kobayakawa was actually neutral and hesitant in the battle. Only after Ieyasu’s men besieged Mount Matsuo (where he was stationed) did he finally defected to the Eastern Army.

 

    This sudden betrayal exposed Otani Yoshitsugu’s rear flank. Fukushima Masanori took advantage of this and charged onwards. Kobayakawa attacked Otani’s troops, but was held back by Yoshitsugu’s leadership. Yoshitsugu ordered his men to fire their rifles at the traitor, pushing them back. However, he was attacked from all sides by Todo Takatora, Kyogoku Takatsugu and Oda Yuraku, leading to his retreat. Seeing that the Eastern Army had the advantage, several more Daimyos defected to the Eastern Army.

 

    Otani’s retreat left Ishida’s right flank undefended, so Fukushima Masanori was able to charge in. The central forces and also the right flank charged as well, with Date Masamune, the fierce warrior and Honda Tadakatsu, the unscathed fighter, joining the fight. The Mori Army, led by Kikkawa Hiroie, refused to aid Ishida Mitsunari, holding their position. As a result, the Chosokabe Army was unable to deploy, because they marched before the Mori (with the Mori Clan blocking their advance).

 

In the end, the Eastern Army defeated the Western Army, and with Tokugawa Ieyasu as the most powerful warlord in Japan, many flocked to his side. But the battle was far from over. There were still many who opposed the rule of the Tokugawa Clan. Ieyasu still needed to march against notable factions in order to unify the land. However, he had powerful allies as well, including, but not limited to, Date Masamune and his forces.

 

    Later on, the Tokugawa reestablished the Shogunate, with Ieyasu as the Shogun, warchief of all samurai warriors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 15: SIEGE OF OSAKA CASTLE

 

    1614 AD, the remaining remnants of both the Toyotomi and the Ishida grouped up at Osaka Castle, one of the three largest castles in Japan (the other two being Azuchi and Odawara). At the fortifications built by the late Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the Toyotomi made their last stand against the advancing Tokugawa army.

 

    The Tokugawa Shogunate launched a powerful assault, but were repelled numerous times by Sanada Yukimura and his men. Sanadamaru, the defensive fortification protected by Yukimura, stood fast in defense against the never-ending wave of the Tokugawa Shogunate’s forces. Yukimura launched three assaults that broke through the Tokugawa’s defenses, establishing fear in the hearts of Tokugawa soldiers.

 

    Date Masamune fought against Sanada Yukimura, repelling the finest warrior of Japan. Yukimura, however, refused to back down, and comes back stronger than ever. He was the only reason why the Tokugawa soldiers were scared to charge in.

 

   However, the castle was bombarded by modern European Artillery mustered by Tokugawa Ieyasu, sending the entire castle to chaos. With Sanada Yukimura killed in battle, the morale of the Toyotomi plummeted. With the castle burning, Hideyori, the Toyotomi Daimyo, committed Seppuku, and thus losing the battle. The Toyotomi were defeated, and the Tokugawa unified the land with its powerful Shogunate, going unchallenged for approximately 250 years. Thus, the Edo period begins. 250 years later, the Tokugawa were overpowered by the Meiji Clan, who took control (Reed).

 

   Several hundred years later, modern Japan was formed. The Warring States Period of Japan’s history is highly significant, because without the effort started by Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu, modern Japan would not be formed. The Legendary Three Unifiers are referred in a Japanese saying:  

 

   “Oda Nobunaga prepared all the ingredients and tools, Toyotomi Hideyoshi kneaded it, and Tokugawa Ieyasu sits down and eat it”.