After his defeat by Nitta Yoshisada in 1336, Ashikaga Takauji completely restored his forces and secured the support of three powerful clans in Kyushu: the Sōni, Shimazu, and Otomo. In addition, he received significant reinforcements from Shikoku Island under the command of Hosokawa. Having thus strengthened his army, Ashikaga Takauji marched on Kyoto.
The battle unfolded as Takauji advanced along the coast of the Inland Sea. In Tomo, halfway to Kyoto, a military council was held, at which it was decided to attack with two detachments. One unit, commanded by Takauji himself, moved by sea, while the other, led by Ashikaga Tadayoshi, advanced along the coast. The vanguard was commanded by Sonii Yorihisa, who had arrived from Kyushu.
As the two armies advanced eastward, they received significant reinforcements arriving by sea from Shikoku, commanded by Hosokawa. On June 24, Takauji reached Kojima in Bizen, and on July 4, he dropped anchor at Akashi. At the same time, the second army, moving overland, reached Ichi-no-tani, the site of Yoshitsune's glorious victory over the Taira clan in 1184. It was symbolic to spend the night before the battle here.
Unrest in Kyoto
News of Ashikaga's vigorous advance caused alarm among loyalists in Kyoto, as Nitta Yoshisada was forced to retreat under his pressure. Emperor Go-Daigo sent for Kusunoki Masashige and ordered him to support Nitta.
Kusunoki, as an experienced military man, objected to this decision, remembering the Hogen Disturbance. However, his arguments were rejected. He believed that engaging the enemy in open battle was too risky. Instead, he advised Go-Daigo to take refuge on Mount Hiei: Takauji would not be able to resist the temptation to enter the capital, where he could be attacked by the combined forces of monks and samurai, and Nitta would be able to cut off his retreat.
But Kusunoki's wise advice was ignored. He was forced to agree with the emperor's decision. Following the ideals of samurai loyalty, Kusunoki decided to die in battle. Setting off, he was convinced that he would not return. As he left, he told his son Masatsura that he would give his life for the emperor and did so willingly, knowing that one day Masatsura, who was then ten years old, would continue his work.
Troop deployment
The loyalists, threatened by attack from both land and sea, took up their positions. Commander-in-chief Nitta Yoshisada covered the coast between the Minato and Ikuta rivers. Kusunoki stood opposite Ashikaga Tadayoshi's army, with his back to the Minato River.
Tadayoshi divided his army into three parts. He himself took the center, Sonii moved along the coast, maintaining contact with the fleet, and Shiba climbed a hill, threatening Kusunoki's right flank.
First clashes
The first skirmish occurred when Hosokawa's army attempted to land. The loyalists put up fierce resistance: Hosokawa's samurai were thrown back to their boats and forced to sail further east along the shore.
Meanwhile, Nitta was attacked by Soni. Hosokawa soon managed to land his troops at the mouth of the Ikuta River, and Nitta was forced to retreat to repel a new attack. As a result, Kusunoki found himself alone on the opposite bank of Minato.
He could still hold out against Tadayoshi and Shiba, but the landing of Takauji's army put him in an extremely difficult position. Hosokawa, meanwhile, forced Nitta to retreat.
The death of Kusunoki Masashige
On the hot afternoon of July 5, 1336, Kusunoki found himself attacked on all sides. In a fierce battle, he fought to the end, until, covered in wounds, he committed harakiri.
Thus ended the life of Kusunoki Masashige, a samurai who, faithful to his ideals of duty and loyalty, chose death over surrender. With his death, the cause of the loyalists was lost.
See also
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The Siege of Unokuchi Castle
One of the important steps in the career of every Japanese commander was the uijin, the first military campaign in which he took part. For the legendary Takeda Shingen, according to some sources, this campaign was the siege of Unokuchi Castle.
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Battle of Arita-Nakai
By 1517, Takeda Motoshige, lord of Kanyama Castle, was probably the most influential daimyo in Aki Province. Ten years earlier, he had served as a vassal of the Ōuchi clan and participated in Ōuchi Yoshiyuki's campaign in Kyoto. This campaign was part of an effort to support the deposed shogun Ashikaga Yoshitane.
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The Siege of Arai Castle
Hojo Nagauji (Soun) (1432–1519) went down in Japanese history as one of the most notable figures of his time. He is considered a prime example of a gokoku-jo daimyo. The process of gokoku-jo literally means “the lower classes defeat the upper classes” and in Japanese history was expressed, among other things, in the elevation of minor samurai to the status of owners of entire provinces.
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Battle of Sakai
Ōuchi Yoshihiro was an influential shugo of the provinces of Suō and Nagato and played an important role as a supporter of the Ashikaga clan during the war with the Southern Court. His greatest achievement was forcing the Southern Court emperor to surrender in 1392, which brought an end to the Nanboku-chō period. This victory strengthened the Ashikaga clan's position and marked the end of the long-standing rivalry between the two imperial lines.
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Battle of Shijonawate
After Kusunoki Masashige's death in the Battle of Minatogawa, his son, Kusunoki Masatsura, continued his work supporting the Southern Imperial Court in the Nanboku-chō period war. He took on his father's legacy not only as a duty, but also as a way to remain faithful to the ideals for which Masashige had given his life.
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The Siege of Tihaya Castle
Tihaya Castle was built by Kusunoki Masashige on top of Mount Kongo, separated from the neighboring hills by a deep ravine. The terrain itself provided natural protection, making the position extremely convenient for defense.
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The Siege of Akasaka Fort
Kusunoki Masashige, hero of the Genko Rebellion (1331–1333), was a talented commander and inventive strategist. The two sieges of castles where he acted as defender are inscribed in gold letters in the history of Japanese military art.
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The Battle of Itinotani
After the death of Minamoto no Yoshinaka, the Genpei War entered its final phase, which is closely associated with the name of Minamoto no Yoshitsune. On March 13, 1184, he and his brother Noriyori set out to accomplish what their cousin had failed to do: deliver a final defeat to the Taira.
