Nobunaga's Ninja: Anegawa/Ishiyama Arc - Episode 67-68 Thoughts: The Ishiyama battle begins. Oda's army is in the biggest trouble!

The third season of "Nobunaga's Ninja " is a short anime based on a four-frame manga of the same name (created by Naoki Shigeno) serialized in Young Animal (Hakusensha), and it has many hidden fans due to its excellence as a gag anime about the Warring States period, The third season will finally depict the "Battle of Anegawa" and the "Battle of Ishiyama," two of the most important battles on Nobunaga's road to unifying the country. If you are a history fan, you absolutely have to watch it! This time, the "Battle of Ishiyama" is depicted.


In this issue, I will share my impressions of episodes 67 and 68, the early stages of the "Ishiyama Battle.

Episode 67 "Bring more guns than arrows

In order to defeat the forces led by the three Miyoshi warriors and Tatsuoki Saito, the Oda forces construct a large number of turrets around Noda and Fukushima, where the enemy forces are building forts. The aim was to fire a large number of cannonballs from these turrets toward the fort. In response, the Zoga Shu, led by Magokazu Zoga, who had joined the Miyoshi forces, fired back with guns. This battle became one of the few battles in the Warring States in which guns were introduced in large numbers. The Saiga Shu were a group of mercenaries famous for their gun tactics, and they were a troublesome presence that caused trouble for Nobunaga.


Regardless, the situation of the war favored the Oda forces. After defeating Miyoshi's forces, Nobunaga was planning to return to Ishiyama Honganji to put pressure on it and force it to evacuate. However, within Honganji, the head of the sect, Kennyo, was not sure whether to leave or fight a full-scale war. In the teachings of the Ikkyu sect, there is a principle called "Oubou Ihon," which means to support the ruler of the time. If Nobunaga was nominally a representative of the Ashikaga shogunate, the ruler of the time, he would have no choice but to follow this principle. If not, however, it was quite possible that he could have the members of the Ikkyu sect in various parts of Japan revolt and destroy the Oda family.


Then Shimotsuma Yoryu returned from his trip to Kyoto. Yoriryu brought news that the Shogun, Yoshiaki, was not happy with Nobunaga. In other words, he would not violate the teaching of "O-ho tamehon" even if he fought Nobunaga thoroughly. Therefore, Kennyo made a decision. He sent out a proclamation to the lords and followers in various regions, urging them to "defeat Nobunaga, the enemy of Buddhism. In response to this, students gathered at Ishiyama Honganji Temple from all over the country.


The Miyoshi forces, on the other hand, were clearly outnumbered and made a peace offer to Nobunaga. However, Nobunaga refused. Just when it looked as if the war was about to tip the balance of power to the Oda forces, the bell of Ishiyama Honganji temple was rung. This was the signal for the armed members of the Ikkyu sect to go into battle. Yorinen Shimoma, the leader of this army, issued a proclamation.


The advance will be to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss!　If you retreat, you will go to hell!　Attack and destroy Nobunaga, our Buddhist enemy!


This was the beginning of what is known as the "Ishiyama Battle," which is said to have delayed Nobunaga's unification of Japan for 10 years.


There were almost no gags in this episode (although there were some minor ones).

Episode 67 "Bring More Guns Than Arrows" Synopsis
The Oda forces build a fence and a turret around Miyoshi's fortress, and start bombarding it with a large number of guns. Nobunaga, who is gaining the upper hand in the battle, next advances his troops to Ishiyama Honganji temple, which is just a stone's throw away, with the intention of forcing them to retreat once again... ......



Episode 68 "The March of the Believers

The Honganji forces finally stood up to overthrow Nobunaga. After this, the Oda forces were caught in a number of negative chains.


Chain #1: "Miyoshi Sanininshu invasion → Honganji army


The forces from Honganji attacked Maeda Toshiie's forces, which were positioned across the river. Chanting "Namu amidabutsu" (Amida Buddha), the Honganji forces were coming toward them, willing to die. Chidori, seeing this, joins the attack and rushes into the army from the flank, trying to crush the enemy's advance, but the Ichikyoku sect members, who believe that they can go to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss if they die, do not flinch at all. Chidori is immediately in trouble, but then Maeda Toshiie rushes in and saves Chidori. Toshiie is always a dejected character, but as one would expect from a master spear fighter, he is extremely strong when he gets serious. What's that serious look in your eyes? He replies, "I only have serious eyes when I am fighting seriously and when I am confirming my love with Matsumatsu! Toshiie replies. Chidori blushes and says, "I heard such graphic information." ......


Chain #2: "Zoka Shu fully cooperate with Honganji's army.


In fact, many of the Zoga-shu were followers of the Ikkyu sect of Buddhism. When Honganji's Kennyo issued a proclamation to overthrow Nobunaga, not only Zoka Magokazu's faction but also other Zoga-shu began to join Honganji's side and attack Oda's army. Oda's army was unable to respond to the Zoga's serious gun attacks. Moreover, taking advantage of this opportunity, the Honganji side broke the embankment of the Yodo River. The Noda and Fukushima areas, which had always been low and marshy, were submerged in water at once. Oda's army was devastated. And naturally, Chidori, who could not swim, almost drowned. ...... ( "There it is, such a setting~!" by Sukezo).


The tempo was so fast and so many things were happening that we were on the edge of our seats. Oda's army is in a big pinch. What will happen now?


Episode 68 "March of the Believers
Kennyo sent out a proclamation to "defeat Nobunaga" in various parts of Japan, and the followers began to gather at Ishiyama Honganji one after another in response to the proclamation. Meanwhile, Nobunaga, convinced of his victory, rejected the peace offered by Miyoshi's army. Immediately thereafter, the bell was rung to announce the raising of the Honganji army!


(Editorial Department, Kamata)

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