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The Battle of Okehazama The first major strategic victory in the career of Nobunaga Oda was fought against Yoshimoto Imagawa in 1560, during the Warring State Period. In those days many feudal lords had been filled with ambition to expand their own territory and to come into power. Yoshimoto Imagawa, who held very strong power over Mikawa (now a part of Aichi Pref.), Suruga and Totomi (now Shizuoka Pref.), was one such lord. He tried to go to Kyoto and meet the Emperor who would proclaim him the top lord. On the way to Kyoto, Yoshimoto had to break through the Nobunaga's territory. Yoshimoto had 25,000 soldiers. Nobunaga had only 2000-3000. Luckily for Nobunaga, under the cover of a violent rainstorm, his troops succeeded in surrrounding and surprising Yoshimoto's troops encamped at the place called Dengaku-hazama, 2 kilometers north of Okehazama. (as now we know it as the battle in Okehazama) In the ensuing rout Yoshimoto was killed by Hattori Koheita, a petty soldier. |
