Okehazama Battle Re-enactment

We found out about this festival through kikuko's website. We use her website regularly to find festivals in our area. Thanks kikuko l

Battle of Okehazama

The Battle of Okehazama was a famous battle that occurred on 19 June, 1560. Oda Nobunaga's small force of around 2,000 - 3,000 men defeated Imagawa Yoshimoto's army of 10,000 - 20,000 men in a surprise attack in the rain. It was the start of the Oda Nobunaga's sensational rise to national power and to the unification of Japan.

Who was Oda Nobunaga

Oda Nobunaga was the first of the three "Unifiers of Japan".

Oda Nobunaga– 1534-1582 came from Kiyosu Castle in Owari province near Toyoyama (the western part of modern Aichi prefecture) . With brutality, strong allies and good generals, he began the process of conquest and unification, but he died because of treachery before he could complete the task.

Re-enactment Festival

The re-enactment took place in the Kotoku-in temple car park. This should have warned us what to expect. This was not to be a huge battle re-enactment by hundreds of people (what I was hoping for) rather it was a smaller local event which although it may not have had the scale of the original battle, nevertheless had a charm of it's own.

Gardens leading to the park

Festival sign

We arrived late and missed the main parade. But we did arrive just in time (3:30) to see the re-enactment. The re-enactment site was the car park of the local temple. Things did not bode well. I had imagined that we were going to see hundreds of series enthusiasts dressed in their best armour, faithfully recreating what happened. But no, it was a motley crew of locals and children.

I really enjoyed the drama. Half the time I had no idea what was going on as the narrator explained the series of events with jokes (all in Japanese) and then people would rush out and recreate a moment then sit down again. But it was a small fun event and well worth the visit.

The horns sound

The good guy, Oda Nobunaga, hears of the invasion by 40,000 men. His advisors recommend surrender without fighting, or running away, he tells them there cannot be more than 25,000 and leads his 2,000 to 3,000 men out to fight. - Ref (Not sure what was said at the re-enactment though)

Oh, no.. the bad guy, Imagawa Yoshimoto. Always overconfident he will get his just deserts.

Soldiers ready for battle.....well, sort of.

The Narrator, told jokes and the story. Wish I knew what he was saying.

Our hero with his tessen (iron war fan). I think he danced the Atsumori (sort of a battle hymn) . He is said to have sung it on the eve of the battle. - ref