In the First

Oda Nobuhide was a Japanese ''daimyō'' and magistrate of the Sengoku period known as "Tiger of Owari" and also the father of Oda Nobunaga the first "Great Unifier" of Japan. Nobuhide was a deputy ''shugo'' (Shugodai) of lower Owari Province and head of the ...

defeated

Imagawa Yoshimoto was a pre-eminent ''daimyō'' (feudal lord) in the Sengoku period Japan. Based in Suruga Province, he was known as . he was one of the three ''daimyōs'' that dominated the Tōkaidō region. He died in 1560 while marching to Kyoto to become ...

, setting the stage for his son,

Oda Nobunaga was a Japanese ''daimyō'' and one of the leading figures of the Sengoku period. He is regarded as the first "Great Unifier" of Japan. Nobunaga was head of the very powerful Oda clan, and launched a war against other ''daimyō'' to unify ...

, to become one of Japan's greatest warlords. Despite the defeat, later in 1548, Imagawa defeated Nobuhide in the Second Battle of Azukizaka and continued to expand his territory until 1560, when he faced Nobunaga and was killed in the

Battle of Okehazama The took place in June 1560 in Owari Province, located in today's Aichi Prefecture. In this battle, the heavily outnumbered Oda clan troops commanded by Oda Nobunaga defeated Imagawa Yoshimoto and established himself as one of the front-running ...

. In response to Oda moves into Western Mikawa,

moved forces into Ikutahara in the 8th month of 1542.

responded to this by leaving his position at Anjô castle and crossing the

Yahagi river , a historical Japanese occupation equivalent to "fletcher", may refer to: * Yahagi, a former village now part of Rikuzentakata, Iwate, Japan * Yahagi Domain, Shimōsa Province, now in Chiba Prefecture, Japan * , several ships * Rikuzen-Yahagi S ...

taking up a position at Kamiwada, and in the 10th month, engaged in battle at Azukizaka, southeast of

Okazaki castle is a Japanese castle located in Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. At the end of the Edo period, Okazaki Castle was home to the Honda clan, ''daimyō'' of Okazaki Domain, but the castle is better known for its association with Tokugawa Ieyasu and ...

. The Imagawa vanguard was led by a warrior by the name of Yuhara of Suruga, and Nobuhide was joined by his brothers Nobuyasu, Nobumitsu, and Nobuzane. The battle was quickly won by the Oda side, with credit given to seven Samurai, known as the "Seven Spears of Azukizaka".

Oda's "Seven Spears of Azukizaka"

During the First Battle of Azukizaka in 1542, seven of Oda Nobuhide's men so distinguished themselves they became known as the "Seven Spears of Azukizaka" (小豆坂七本槍). The seven Samurai were, * Oda Nobumitsu * Oda Nobufusa *

Okada Shigeyoshi Okada (written: 岡田 literally "hill rice-paddy") is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the name include: * , Japanese painter * Doris Okada Matsui, American politician of the Democratic Party * , Japanese painter in the Edo period * , Japa ...

Sassa Masatsugu Sassa is a frazione in the Province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of Italy. After the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake, it has a population of about 2500 inhabitants considering small villages around this frazione. The frazione of Sassa is com ...

Sassa Magosuke Sassa is a frazione in the Province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of Italy. After the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake, it has a population of about 2500 inhabitants considering small villages around this frazione. The frazione of Sassa is com ...

Nakano Shigeyoshi Nakano may refer to: * Nakano, Tokyo * Nakano, Nagano * Nakano (surname) * Nakano Corporation , is a Japanese multinational general construction contractor engaging in design, construction, civil engineering, technical assistance, and real est ...

* Shimokata Sadakiyo

References

2. The "

Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga A chronicle ( la, chronica, from Greek ''chroniká'', from , ''chrónos'' – "time") is a historical account of events arranged in chronological order, as in a timeline. Typically, equal weight is given for historically important events and lo ...

" book. 1542 in Japan Azukizaka 1542 Azukizaka 1542 {{Japan-battle-stub

Oda's "Seven Spears of Azukizaka"

See also

References