In the year 1560, Imagawa Yoshimoto, a formidable warlord who held dominion over the provinces of Suruga, Totomi, and Mikawa, gathered a mighty army of 25,000 men. His objective was to march upon Kyoto, challenging the increasingly feeble and ineffectual Ashikaga shogunate for control of Japan. The army traced its path along the Tokaido highway, crossing from Mikawa into Owari province, recently unified by the local warlord, Oda Nobunaga.
Before the battle.
The Imagawa forces swiftly overran Oda's border fortresses, including Washizu, while the Matsudaira forces, led by Matsudaira Motoyasu, captured Marune fortress. Meanwhile, Yoshimoto established his camp at Dengakuhazama, situated in the village of Okehazama, just outside the present-day city of Nagoya. In contrast, Oda Nobunaga could muster only about 2,000-3,000 men, a mere fraction of the Imagawa army's strength. Despite some of his advisors recommending withdrawal to the Oda stronghold of Kiyosu Castle, Nobunaga recognized that Kiyosu was ill-equipped to withstand a siege. He asserted that only a resolute offensive strategy could compensate for the enemy's overwhelming numbers and thus ordered a counterattack. The geography of the area where the Imagawa camped was well-known to Nobunaga and his scouts, as they had often used the terrain for military exercises during falconry hunts.
On the evening preceding the battle, Nobunaga addressed his troops, emphasizing that waiting would lead to their demise. He urged them to confront the enemy head-on and then sent them home to rest. Early the following morning, Nobunaga, after dressing and reciting a passage from the song "Atsumori," which emphasized the transitory nature of life, donned his armor. He hastily consumed a bowl of rice porridge while standing and departed for the battlefield.
The Battle
Nobunaga personally led his troops from Kiyosu, passing through Atsuta Shrine, to reach a fortified temple known as Zensho-ji. This temple was located a short distance from Okehazama, on the opposite side of the Tokaido road. To deceive any Imagawa scouts, Nobunaga ordered his men to erect numerous flags and banners around Zensho-ji, creating the illusion of a much larger force.
The precise sequence of events during the Battle of Okehazama remains obscured by legend and historical uncertainty. Conventionally, it was believed that on June 12, due to the vast numerical disadvantage, Nobunaga and his forces concealed themselves in an area known as Kamagatani, situated on the other side of the Imagawa's main camp. The Oda forces then executed a flanking maneuver, attacking the Imagawa army from the north. However, owing to the Oda forces' familiarity with the terrain and Nobunaga's inclination for aggressive tactics, many modern historians theorize that the attack was, in fact, a frontal assault on Yoshimoto's camp, whether intentional or accidental.
Regardless of the specific tactics employed, the Imagawa army was caught completely off guard. They had been celebrating their recent victories, and due to the scorching afternoon heat, many warriors had removed their armor. Exploiting a sudden thunderstorm to mask their approach, Oda's troops launched a ferocious attack at the heart of the Imagawa camp, nestled in a narrow valley. This surprise assault induced panic among the Imagawa ranks, with many attempting to flee.
Imagawa Yoshimoto, initially unaware of the unfolding catastrophe, eventually heard the commotion and emerged from his tent, shouting at his men to abandon their revelry and return to their posts. However, within moments, he realized that the samurai before him were not his own, but it was too late to organize a defense. Contrary to popular belief, Yoshimoto was not killed in his war camp. He and his men hastily abandoned their camp and rushed toward the ongoing battle.
Yoshimoto found himself under attack by Mori Shinsuke and Hattori Koheita. In a desperate melee, Yoshimoto, along with his followers Munenobu and Naomori, engaged these assailants. Yoshimoto managed to fend off an initial strike from Mori Shinsuke, who wielded a spear, by cutting through the Oda samurai's weapon and into the man’s knee. However, he was soon tackled by another Oda samurai, Hattori Koheita, who swiftly decapitated the general.
With their leader and nearly all senior officers slain, the remaining Imagawa troops either surrendered or fled.
Aftermath
The Battle of Okehazama stands as one of the pivotal turning points in Japanese history. The Imagawa clan suffered severe weakening and would subsequently be obliterated by neighboring rivals. Oda Nobunaga's prestige soared, and many samurai and minor warlords, including Imagawa's former retainer, Matsudaira Motoyasu, who would later become Tokugawa Ieyasu, pledged their loyalty.
This battle marked the first instance in which Nobunaga recognized the talents of Kinoshita Tokichiro, the sandal-bearer, who would eventually rise to prominence as Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
See also
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The Battle of Azukizaka
The Battle of Azukizaka, also known as the Battle of Bato-ga-hara, occurred in 1564, as Tokugawa Ieyasu aimed to quash the emerging threat of the Ikko-ikki, a coalition of monks, samurai, and peasants strongly opposed to samurai rule.
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Battle of Osaka
Upon Toyotomi Hideyoshi's death in 1598, Japan entered a period of governance by the Council of Five Elders, with Tokugawa Ieyasu wielding the most influence. Following his victory over Ishida Mitsunari in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Ieyasu effectively seized control of Japan and disbanded the Council. In 1603, the Tokugawa shogunate was established in Edo, with Hideyoshi's son, Toyotomi Hideyori, and his mother, Yodo-dono, permitted to reside at Osaka Castle. Hideyori was granted a significant fief valued at 657,400 koku but remained confined to the castle for several years. As a means of control, it was arranged for Hideyori to marry Senhime, the daughter of Hidetada, in 1603, who had ties to both clans. Ieyasu aimed to establish a strong and stable regime under his clan's rule, with only the Toyotomi, led by Hideyori and influenced by Yodo-dono, posing a challenge to his ambitions.
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Battle of Shizugatake
The Battle of Shizugatake, occurring during Japan's Sengoku period, unfolded between Toyotomi Hideyoshi (then known as Hashiba Hideyoshi) and Shibata Katsuie in Shizugatake, Omi Province, spanning two days from the 20th day of the fourth month of Tensho 11 (equivalent to June 10-11, 1583, on the Gregorian calendar). Katsuie, supporting Oda Nobutaka's claim as successor of Oda Nobunaga, engaged in a succession dispute within the Oda clan, ultimately favoring Hideyoshi.
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Battles of Kizugawaguchi
The pair of Kizugawaguchi Battles took place during Oda Nobunaga's endeavors to besiege the Ishiyama Hongan-ji in Osaka. Serving as the stronghold of the Ikko-ikki, a coalition of warrior monks, priests, and farmers in opposition to Oda's rule, the Hongan-ji posed a formidable challenge. To counter the Ikko-ikki's attempts to supply the fortress and break the siege, Oda commanded Admiral Kuki Yoshitaka to organize a blockade against their allies' fleets. Among the opposition were influential families, notably the Mori Terumoto from the Mori clan in neighboring provinces.
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The Battle of Komaki and Nagakute
The series of conflicts in 1584 known as the Battle of Komaki and Nagakute unfolded between the armies of Hashiba Hideyoshi (who later assumed the name Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1586) and those of Oda Nobukatsu and Tokugawa Ieyasu. Prior to this, both Hideyoshi and Ieyasu had served under Oda Nobunaga without encountering any clashes, making this their sole period of hostility. While the history predominantly recalls the two major battles, the event is sometimes referred to as the Komaki Campaign.
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The Battle of Mikatagahara
The Battle of Mikatagahara occurred during Japan's Sengoku period and pitted Takeda Shingen against Tokugawa Ieyasu. This clash took place on January 25, 1573, in Mikatagahara, Tōtōmi Province. Shingen launched an assault on Ieyasu's forces in the Mikatagahara plains, north of Hamamatsu. This engagement happened within the context of Shingen's campaign against Oda Nobunaga, as he sought a passage from Kōfu to Kyoto.
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The Battle of Sekigahara: Decisive Shift in Japanese History
Taking place on October 21, 1600, in what is now Gifu prefecture, Japan, the Battle of Sekigahara marked a turning point at the culmination of the Sengoku period. Tokugawa Ieyasu's forces clashed with a coalition led by Ishida Mitsunari, loyal to Toyotomi, with many clans defecting before or during the battle, ultimately leading to Tokugawa's triumph. This battle, the largest in Japanese feudal history, holds paramount significance and paved the way for the Tokugawa shogunate's establishment.
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The Battle of Imayama
On August 20, 1570, the Battle of Imayama unfolded in Kyushu. Similar to the renowned Battles of Okehazama (1560) and Kawagoe (1545), the Imayama clash stands as a remarkable instance of surprise attacks during the Sengoku Period.
