In the site where the Osaka Castle is now, there was " the Head Temple of Ikkoosyuu Sect
一向宗 (Jyoodo Shinsyuu 浄土真宗 ) of Buddhism, before the construction of the Osaka
Castle by Toyotomi Hideyoshi 豊臣秀吉 . Here, the saint Ren-nyo 蓮如 constructed
the Ishiyama -Honganji Temple 石山本願寺. After the Honganji Temple at Yamashina,
Kyoto had been burned down, this temple became the Great Head Temple which controlled
all other temples of the Ikkoosyuu Sect in Japan.. This place was not only the site of
the Head Temple , but it was a religious fortress city - Jinai-Machi 寺内町, surrounded by
the high earthen walls and moats, prosperous, autonomous and independent from any
war lords.
From this religious headquarters which was at the same time their military headquarters,
they assumed command of " IKKOO IKKI " 一向一揆. ( IKKOO Revolts ) all over Japan.
The word "IKKI" reminds us of a revolt of poverty-stricken and tax burdened peasants against
the cruel governors and the Daimyos, holding high the straw banners with their slogans
written in the Edo period. But, the " IKKOO IKKI " were the revolts to defend their faith, and
their religious, economic and political independence, with the buddhist priests ready to fight
at the head of their troops.
Many warlords had a hard time suppressing the IKKOO IKKI. The Kaga Ikkoo Ikki shows us
how powerful and devoted to their faith the IKKOO people in Kaga ( Now Ishikawa Prefecture).
In 1488, IKKOO buddhists in Kaga 加賀 province revolted and destroyed the family of
the Daimyo Togashi 守護大名 富樫, and ruled over the Kaga province about 100 years until
they were surpressed by Nobunaga in 1580.
Oda Nobunaga 織田信長 persecuted many groups of Buddhists, and burned many
Buddhist temples. But, he had the hardest time suppressing the IKKOO Buddhists. He fought
against the IKKOO Buddhists in Echizen, in Nagashina, etc. and his forces sometimes were
defeated, and sometimes, were held back, and were repelled, and his victories were hard
fought and taxing. Finally, Nobunaga signed the Peace Treaty with Ishiyama Honganji Temple
through the mediations of the Imperial Court.
But, he broked the treaty, and attacked the Temple , and the IKKOO SYUU buddhists signed
the peace treaty with Nobunaga. But, it was actually a surrender of the Ikkoshyuu people.
They were forced tp leave the Ishiyama-Honganji, and the saint Ren-nyo and his followerd
went to Kisyuu. Thus 10 years of the war of Nobunaga against the IKKOOSYUU Buddhists
ended in 1580.
From that time on, they would never recover military power again. But, the torches of their
faith have be handed down through the generations to them up to today. The IKKOO-SYUU
was divided into 2 sects, NISHI-HONGANJI-HA ( JYOODO - SHINSYUU NISHI-
HONGANJIーHA 浄土真宗 西本願寺派 ）and HIGASHI-HONGANJI-HA (浄土真宗
東本願寺派 JYODO-SHINSYUU HIGASHI-HONGABJI-HA) known also as ( SHINSYUU
OOTANIーHA 真宗大谷派). The West and the East Honganji.
They have the common founder of Shingon-Syuu Sect 親鸞 ー SHINRAN(1173-1262).
Therefore, their teachings are basically the same. He was one of the great reformers of
Buddhism, making it understable for the masses.
In the central part of Kyoto, you can see now the 2 huge cathedrals " NISHI-HONGANJI "
西本願寺and " HIGASHI HONGANJI 東本願寺 ",which are the head quarters temples of
these 2 Buddhist sects. These are the most important Buddhist sects with many believers
in Japan.
Nobunaga was interested in the Christian belief and Iberic culture. he gave Christians many
favours. He wanted that the Christians should be used as a force against the Buddhists.
Nobunaga had some friends who were Buddhist priests. He did not disliked Buddhism in itself,
but he did not like that the Buddhist priersts have wordly power.
In 1583, Hideyoshi ( 1536 - 1598 ) started the Construction of Osaka Castle in the site of
the Ishiyama Honganji" destroyed by his master Nobunaga. Hideyoshi was born in a poor
peasant family. In his childhood, he was called " Hiyoshimaru " He wanted to be
a full-fledged samurai. He was sent to some samurai families when he was a small child,
and worked presumably as their servant and not as a worrior. When he was 23 years old,
the big chance came for him.
He could became a retainer of Oda Nobunaga who was one of the most powerful war lords
of the time and was unifying Japan, subjugating one by one other rival lords.
His name Hiyoshimaru was changed to Kinoshita Tookichiroo 木下籐吉郎, more appropriate
name for a samurai . His first job was to put ZOORIS ( straw sandals) in place for his master,
when his master wanted to go out. One day, Nobunaga found his pair of Zooris very warm.
He thought that SARU ( Monkey) - the nickname of Tookichiroo - must have sat on his Zoori.
He scolded Tookichiroo, who replied " No Sir, I did not sit on your Zooris. It is very cold today.
So, I warmed them up in my bosom. " This is one of the famous stories which every Japanese
are familiar with.
He was promoted to be an Ashigaru - Daisyou 足軽大将 (the head of low class foot
soldiers ) and continued to rise through the ranks to become finally one of Nobunaga's leading
generals, and became a war-lord of some territory which Nobunaga conquered. His name was
changed again to Hashiba Hideyoshi 羽柴秀吉 more appropriate for a war lord. He was trusted
by Nobunaga, and many difficult tasks were assigned to him, and he performed them perfectly,
not only in the military tasks, but also in the administrations of the civil affairs.
In 1582, his master ordered him to go to the Cyuugoku region to attack the powerful Moori
Clan 毛利. But, he stopped fighting at the news that his master was attacked by one of the
Nobunaga's general Akechi Mitsuhide 明智光秀,and comitted " SEPPUKU" in the burning
HON-NOOJI temple 本能寺 in Kyoto. He returned to Kyoto to take his revenge on his
olleague.
He defeated Akechi clan, and became the successor to his master. He continued his efforts
to unify Japan, the dream half accomblished by his master.
In 1583, he defeated Shibata Katsuie 柴田勝家 in Echizen, and started the construction of
Osaka Castle. In 1585, he subjugated Cyoosokabe Motochika 長曾我部元親 , and put all
Shikoku Island under his control.
In this year, the Imperial Court nominated him as KANPAKU 関白 ( Imperial Regent).
He was 45 years old. All previous Imperial regents had been of noble descent, almost
always of Fujiwara family. The title of "KANPAKU" was the highest distintion that
peasant-born Hideyoshi could hardly claim.
In 1586, the Imperial Court made him DAJYOO-DAIJIN 太政大臣 ( Prime minister ), and
bestowed on him the surname of TOYOTOMI " 豊臣 - Prosperous subject of the
Emperor "
His name now was glorious TOYOTOMI HIDEYOSHI 豊臣秀吉. He rose to the highest
distinction,but the ambitious plan to unify Japan was not completed yet. He must continued
to battle.
In 1587,. he conquered all Kyuusyuu island. In 1590. he defeated the Hoo-jyoos 北条, and
put Tohoku region under his subjugation. Thus, the unification of all Japan was completed
by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
There was one title he hoped to obtain, but in vain. The title of "SHOOGUN", the greatest
honor for a warrior We can not know for certain why he could not obtain it, with his
economical, poltical and military power. But, possibly because of his humble birth, and was
not of the appropriate bloodlines of worriors like the Minamotos. But, he was de facto
a Shogun. He was a ruller of all Japan. Some westerners write that the title of the Shogun
was higher than other titles that Hideyoshi obtained. But, they are wrong. The Titles for
noblility can not be compared with the titles for the worriors.
He could not have any sons with his legitimate wife Nene( Lady Kita-no-Mandokoro
北政所 ). But, he had his first-born son Ttsurumatsu by Lady Yodo, when he was 53 years
old.
The birth of his son gave him a great joy. He was never so happy in his life. But, his son died
2 years later. His death gave him an unbearable sadness. From that time on, he was
a little bit feeble-minded, probably because the death of his son gave him too much distress.
He lost his sound sense of judgement which he had in his younger days. In this year,
he ordered his great master of the tea ceremony Sen-no Rikyuu to commit Seppuku.
He became hopeless, and transfered the title of Kanpaku ( Imperial Regent) to his nephew
HIDETSUGU 秀次.
He wanted to show that the title of KANPAKU was kept for ever for the Toyotomi family.
He retired and was named TAIKOO 太閤 ( The retired Imperial Regent). But, in 1593,
lady Yodo gave birth to another son HIDEYORI 秀頼. He was so happy again. He was
like an old fuddy-duddy who loves his grandsons,.
He ordered his nephew KANPAKU HIDETSUGU to commit SEPPUKU. In 1594, he moved
to the castle constructed for his retired life, at Shizuki, Fushimi in Kyoto. The castle was
representative of the culture of the Azuchi Momoyama Period, gorgeous, extravagant and
opulent, grand, and dynamic.
But, in 1596, the Great Earthquake of KEICHOO which damaged a large area of
the western part of Japan destroyed completely the FUSHIMI-SHIZUKI Castle. He ordered
the construction of a new earthquake - proof castle at Kobata, Fushima, He was a retired
ruler in name, but displayed his power from his retirement castle, splendid and gorgeous.
In 1598, he held the Cherry Blossom Viewing Party at Daigoji Temple 醍醐寺 ( the World
Heritage designated by UNESCO), Kyoto. He invited all of his family members, and 1,300
warlords and dignitaries. This big event will be reproduced every year on the second sunday
of April.
Five months after this grand event, he died in the Fushimi Castle at the age of 62 years old.
Upon his deathbed, he composed his farewell poem , as was the custom of the samurai.
A drop of dew falls and vanishes
like my life
The Glory of Naniwa (Osaka) I founded
was a mere dream in my dreams.
Hideyoshi, even at the height of his power was worried and concerned about something.
He suspected that his power might not have a solid and stable foundation. He took charge
of the forces of his master Nobunaga. Many of his retainers were the retainers of his
master, and of the families who supported the father and the grand father of Nobunaga.
But, Hideyoshi who rose from a peasant son did not have such generation -to-generation
retainers.
There are also some retainers who were subjugated by Hideyoshi by force and became
unwillingly the retainers of Hideyoshi. They may betray him at any moments, when
the situation turns out unfavourable for them. He could not trust especially in shrewd
IEYATSU of whom he was most afraid.
Hideyoshi married his sister Princess ASAHI HIME to IEYASU, as a gesture to show his
feigned friendship to IEYASU Nowadays, we are living in a different modern society of
human rights and women's right, but in in those turbulent Ages of War, women
were victims of hving to help the family survive. The survival of a family of a samurai
is more important than the individual happiness of some members of the family, men
and momen alike. Women were the victims of "SEIRYAKU KEKKON" ( political and
strategical marriage). Once married, it was expected of a wife of a samurai to be more
faithful to his husbund and the family of his husband than to her father and brothers,
when two families had a conflict.
There are many tragical stories of the daughters of samurai. Some writers, almost
of them, lady writers, of our times wrote several novels about the wives of worriors, in
which the wife of a samurai was a protagonist, and the famous worriors are treated as
a secondary character in the stories.
" The political and strategical marriage 政略結婚 − Seiryaku Kekkon ー", can not be a
guaranty of 100 % of security. Hideyoshi was so worried about the future of his regime ,
as his son Hideyori was a child yet. To relieve himself from any anxieties, he established
before dying, the Council of 5 Elder Ministers (5 Tairoos 五大老） who were the most
powerful warlords, to take care of the reins of the government until Hideyori would come
of age and to make to the most important political decisions. He also established
the Council of 5 governors ( Go Bugyoo 五奉行 ) for the adminisrations for his young
son.
One of the 5 Elder Ministers was ambitious Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was almost on
the same footing with Hideyoshi in his power, but he made pledge of allegiance,
concealing his amibition, because he thought that it would be a good tactic while
Hideyoshi was alive. 5 Elder Ministers and 5 governors signed the pledge of loyalty
to Hideyori. The written pledge was, however, a scrap of paper for Ieyasu who would
break it soon in later years.
After the death of his son Tsurumatsu, and the death of his most reliable and able brother
Hidenaga who was his most prudent staff officer and confidant, he became mentally
unstable, and his growing irrationality made him to start one of his largest improprieties,
the conquest of China of the Great Ming Dynasty, and he wanted to succumb Korea to
make it as the bridgehead, and to make Koreans to guide the Japanese troops to China.
For more solid foundation of the Toyotomi regime, he wanted and needed more territories
to give to his Daimyo, but after unifying Japan, and having distributed the Japanese
territories to his daimyo, he had no more territories to be distributed to his daimyo and
vassals.
He wanted that Korea would succumb to his demand without any military action and only
with pressures Hideyoshi made a diplomatic negotiation with Korea, through a daimyo in
Tsushima Island, an island between Korea and Kyuusyuu. Korea, however, had been
comfortably and traditionarily a tributary kingodom of the Great China, and did no preferred
to cooperate with Japan in invading China. The negotiation, inevitably, broke down.
In 1592, he sent the troops of 150,000 worriors to Korea. ( This war is called Bunroku-no-Eki
文禄の役 /Battles of Bunroku ) Many daimyo might have believed that the war to conquer
China of the Great Ming Dynastry was a reckless and absurd attemp, but they obeyed the order
of the powerful dictator, probably many of them, unwillingly. The Japanese troops advanced
rapidly, and ocuppied Seul and Pyongyang in a short time. But, the Japanese fleets were
scattered in many battles by the Korean navy of Admiral Yi Su Shin 李舜臣( Ri Shun Shin in
japanese ) which had many "turtle-ships", the first iron clad wae-ships in the hisyotory of the
word, with large spikes and blades, rams and cannons. It became very difficult for the Japanese
troops to receive the logistical supports from the Headquaters in Kyuusyuu in Japan..
亀甲船（きっこうせん）
Kobukson
The first iron-clad warships
in the world.
李舜臣提督
（ りしゅんしん ていとく ）
イ スン シン
Admiral Yi Sun-Shin
In due course of time, the Chinese rescue troops arrived to
fight againt the Japanese troops. There were also many popular uprisings of Korean people in many places of Korea against the Japanese invaders. In 1593, the general Konishi Yukinaga entered into a truce negotiation with the Chinese troops, and concluded the armistice agreement with the Ming Dynasty Troops. Hideyoshi demanded the southern privinces of Korea as a condition of a formal peace treaty. He could not think clearly that Japan could not demand too much, because his military forces were not dominating over the Korean and Chinese troops before the cease-fire.
The reply letter of the Emperor of Ming said " The emperor of China would accept Hideyoshi as a king of a tributary country of China. He got so indignant at the letter of the emperor of Ming, and decided to open fire again. In 1597, he sent the new troops to Korea (Keichoo-no-Eiki/ Battles of Keichoo 慶長の役 ). This time, from the beginning of the war, Japanese armies and navies had a hard time in many battles. In 1598, Hideyoshi, dictator who ordered the reckless and crazy invasion died at the age of 62 years old, he Japanese troops were withdrawn from the Korean territories. This Japanese invasion devastated the Korean land. The cultivated land was reduced to one third. Many buildings were destroyed, and the population decreased Japan also suffered heavy losses. Many soliders were died, and caused an enormous amount of economic losses to Japan.
Hideyoshi started this reckless invasion to icnrease his power, but he ended in making
the foundation of his government more week. He was not aware of the loss of his power well,
because he was not already a clever and briliant stragegist as he had been in his younger
days. Those daimyo who sent more soldiers to Korea were the daimyo who received more
favours from Hideyoshi and more faithful to Hideyoshi. These most trusted daimyo of Hideyoshi suffered most loss. Those daimyo, in the Easternprovinces of Japan, who
would turn soon against Hideyoshi lost less or none. Ieyasu sent some troops only to
the Headquarters of Nagoya in Kyuusyuu, but he delayed sending his troops to Korea.
In the meanwhile, Hideyoshi died, and the war ended. His worriros never set foot in Korean
land, and the most powerful daimyo in the North-eastern parts of Japan also did not send
any soldierｓ to Korea.
Hideyoshi, despite some follies towards the end of his life, is considered as one of the greatest
leaders Japan ever had. Aside from many successes in many battles which shows his military
talent as a general and a warlord, he made several significant political achievements as
a brilliant ruler.
One of the remarkable policy Hideyoshi conducted is " SOO-KENCHI " 総検地 ( General
Land Survey). The similar survey had been conducted in 646 based on the Taika no Kaishin
大化の改新 ( "Taika Reform") in 645. According to the law based on the survey " HANDEN
SYUUJYU NO HOO " 班田収受の法 ( The State Land Lease Law ), all land belonged to
the State, and it was prohibited to own privately any land. The law was enacted, apparently,
to reduce the power of several clans who had come to own a large land and a economic power
which was menacing the power and the prestige of the Imperial House. But, this system
soon began collapsing in the mid Nara Period. Before the Survey by Hideyoshi, many families
of nobility owned privately large land, and the samurai class was emerging and gaining land
which had been owned by the nobility.
Hideyoshi uniformed the methods of measuring the production of rice, and with the rigorous
Suevey, the land was measured more pricisely, and the hidden farm lands not delclared
officially were confiscated. This policy enabled Toyotomi government to tax on the production
of rice on a more fair, equitable and uniform basis.
In later years, TOKUGAWA Shogun Government performed the same survey which Hideyoshi
did. The Survey paved the road for Ieyasu to build up the solid and stable feudal systems.
The peasants were prohibited to leave their cultivating land , and were prohibited to become
samurai. When Hideyoshi was young, there was no clear line between farmers and worriors.
The low class samurai "foot men" were working as farmers in peace times. Hideyoshi himself
came from the amibiguous class and rose to be a full fledged samurai. But, he drew a clear
line between the classes, and destroyed the social mobility.
Thereafter, there would be nobody who would realize the dream of Hideyoshi of "from the bottom
to the top". Only in the merchant class, a poor merchant could become a rich mechant with his
hard work and enterprising spirit, who would start many new business and industries in the new
era of Meiji Restoration at the end of 19th Century.
He put in nation -wide circulation large and small gold coins of " TENSYOO OOBAN " and
" TENSYOO KOBAN "
In 1588, he started " KATANA GARI " 刀狩 ( SWORD HUNT ). This banned any farmers from
possessing any sorts of weapon, and allowed only the worrior class of samurai to possess
weapons.
" 7 samurai " of Kurosawa is an excellent film. I saw it many times. But, the story of this film is a
" Historical" lie. In this story, 7 samurai defend the farmers who have no weapon from
the attacks of the rampant bandits. But, in the Ages of SENGOKU JIDAI ( The Age of Civil
Wars ), the farmers possessed weapons and knew how to use them, as they could be worriors
of low class ASHIGARU at any moment. But,after the unification of Japan by Hideyoshi and
Ieyasu, the farmers were prohibited to possess weapons but there were not bandits. But,
anyway, forget this "historical" detail and believe that it happed really, to enjoy the film better.
He performed " TENKA FUSHIN " 天下普請 ( NATION WIDE CONSTRUCTIONS ). He ordered
to destroy some useless castles but he oredered many daimyo to participate in the constructions
of the new castles in some strategic places of Japan. The largest one is the construction of
Osaka Castle.
In 1598, after the death of Hideyoshi, Ieyasu began revealing his amibitions. In name, he was yet
only a member of the Council of 5 Elder ministers of the Toyotomi regime. But, he began to act
arbitrarily without consulting the other 4 member of the Council and the Council of 5 governors.
He ignored some agreements previously made in the Council.
But, he tried to held off the total and final confrontation. In the government of Toyotomi, another
conflict between the group of the head of the 5 governors Ishida Mitsunari 石田光成 and
the group of other members of the government went growing. Iyeyatsu made the most of this
internal conflict, and made some complots.
Ishida Mitsunari wanted to destroy arrogant Ieyasu. Ieyasu made some political maneuverings
and prepared for the war. The most important minister of the Council Maeda Toshiie 前田利家
died in 1599.
He was a best friend of Hideyoshi and and hated most Ieyasu. After the death of TOSHIIE,
important minister of the Council of the 5 Elder Ministers, the Maeda family changed the policy
of Toshiie, due to the manueverings of Ieyasu and stopped to be unfriedly towards Ieyasu.
The time has become ripe for the war for Ieyasu. The antagonisms between them finally would
lead to the war.
In 1600, 2 years after the death of Hideyoshi, the battle of Sekigahara 関が原の合戦 broke out
at the battlefield of Sekigahara, the Forces of the West of Ishida Mitsunari, and his allies of
84,000 soldiers and the Forces of the East led by Ieyasu of 74,000 worriors were ready
fot the battle before 8.00 AM, but the forces of the West decreased in a few hours to 35,000
because a couple of the important daimyo decided not to take part in the battle, and some of
them changed their attitude and took part with Ieyasu through the shrewd diplomacies of Ieyasu,
whose forces increased to 100,4000. The battle ended iｎ a day before 5.00 PM. This battle is
called " TENKA WAKEME NO KASSEN" - the battle which decided the future of Japan, puting
an end to the internal strifes in Japan. After this battle, the power of Ieyatsu became so strong
and there was no doubt that it was imposible and unthinkable that his power could be
overthrown.
But, he waited incredibly 15 years more to scatter completely the Toyotomi family. Ieyasu
confiscated the lands of mainly the daimyo in the West who fought against him in the battle
of Sekigahara and awarded much the Tozama Daimyo (outsider daimyo), and daimyo who
had been once very faithful to his enemies Toyotomi family but joined his camp in the battle.
Some of his direct vassals of the family who had been always faithful to Tokugawa for
generations from the hard times of Mikawa where Tokugawa had a small domain - the Fudai
Daimyoo 譜代大名 were not enough awarded. He knew that Mikawa Bushi ( Samurai of
Mikawa ) would be faithful to him and never betray him even with a small award. He
confiscated the territories of 6,320,000 koku of rice production in total. After awarding
lavishingly to his daimyo and vassals, he had much terrotories to spare to increase his own
territories.
He increased his territories of 2,420,000 koku to the territories of 4,000,000 koku.
The territories of the Toyotomis of 4 millions of koku were decreased to the territories of
the provinces of Settsu, Kawachi and Izumi (now in Osaka prefecture) with the rice
production of 650,000 koku.
In 1603, Ieyasu was designated " SEII-DAI-SHOGUN" 征夷大将軍 ー the Great General
the Conqueror of the Barbarians - the name dating from the Nara Period. Ieyasu was of
the warrior descent of the glorious worriors Minamoto. So, he could have his claim to the title
of Shogun more easily than Hideyoshi of a ambiguous descent.
Now, the power of the Toyotomis eclipsed , and the Toyotomis was not a ruler of
Japan in fact. But, the mother of Hideyori Lady Yodo, out of her love towards his son,
continued living under an illusion that the Toyotomis is the most dominant family in Japan,
and she could not or did not like to recognize that the ages of the the Toyotomis was over
already.
She loved too much his son, and became blind-minded and she thought that Ieyasu was
yet one of the 5 councillors of Toyotomi government, he must and would return the power
to the Toyotomi family, when her young son Hideyori would become mature, and the title
of " Shogun " bestowed on Ieyatu was limited to only one generation, and the dynasty of
Toyotomi should continue and could continue.
Ieyasu did not want to make the Toyotomis indignant until the time would become ripe for
crushing and destroying them at once and quite easily. He was very cautious and he sent
to them his grand-daughter Princess Sen 千姫 − Sen Hime - to marry her with the heir of
Hideyoshi, Toyotomi Hideyori. He knew well that there were many resentful daimyo
in the West with their estates reduced by Ieyasu. He declared.finally, however, to the whole
nation in 1605 that the new era of his dynasty of Tokugawa began, by tranferring the title
of Shogun to his son Hidetada. This meant that the dominance of the Toyotomis ended.
and the new era of the Tokugawas began.
Lady Yodo was very indignant at this news. The tensions between the 2 families went
growing.
"Wait-and-see" is one of the important policies of Ieyasu.The chance for the war came finally. In 1611, the family of Toyotomis donated the huge Temple Bell to the Great Buddha Hall of the Hookooji Temple 方広寺 which Hideyoshi had contructed. In the temple bell, there were 2 sets of 4 chinese characters inscribed "KO -KKA AN-KOU" 国家安康 and " KUN-SHIN HOO-RAKU" 君臣豊楽. .
One of the scholars and the advisers of Ieyasu found 2 sets of these 4 chinese characters and told Ieyasu that these 2 sets of the chinese characters could be interpreted as calling down a curse on the Tokugawas by the Toyotomis.
In the 1st set of 4 chinese characters which means literally "Nation in peace ", two chinese characters of " IE" and "YASU" are written apart with another Chinese character "AN" is inserted. This means that the Toyotomis are praying for the internal feuds in the Tokugawas. In the second set of the 4 chinese characters, which means literally " The ruler and the people alike can enjoy prosperity ", after 2 chinesecharacters " TOMI " and "TOYO", comes the chinese character " RAKU " which means " Joy " and " happiness ". The 8 chinese characters, therefore, mean that after the destructions of the Tokugawas, will come the prosperous ages of the Toyotomis.
The 400th Anniversary
of the Edo Shogunate
2003
花色日の丸威
胴丸具足
はないろひのまる
おどしどうまるぐそく
徳川家康の遺産帳
「駿府御分物御道具帳」
記載 桃山時代製作
徳川美術館 蔵
記念切手 第一集
武家の美
２００３年５月発行
Thus, in November, 1611, with the good excuse to attack the Toyotomis, Ieyasu attacked the Castle of Osaka. This battle is called " the Winter Battle of Osaka - ( Osaka Fuyu No Jin 大阪冬の陣 ) The powers of the Tokugawas were overwhelming in the battle, but the shrewd Ieyasu accepted the cease-fire agreement. He did not want to suffer more heavy casualties that he would have , if he he would continue attacking the castle. He wanted to deceive the Toyotomis to reduce caualities in the next and the final battle to smash them completely. One of the important condition for the peace treaty proposed by Ieyasu was the destruction of the outer fortresses and the outer moats
as a sign to show their trust which Lady Yodo accepted.
But, the workers employed by the Tokugawas began destroying also the inner moats after destroying the outer moats. The Toyotomis were astonished, and protested against this violation of the agreements.
The Tokugawas did not reply to the Toyotomis in earnest. While the new negotiation was under way, the innner moats were destroyed completely. The Osaka Castle was stripped from any defenses. The Castle lost its function of a castle.
In 1615, the Summer Battle of Osaka 大阪夏の陣 began, with the troops of 55,000 of the Toyotomis, and the troops of 150,000 of the Tokugawas. The Castle was burned down. Lady Yodo and Hideyori commited " Seppuku ". Hideyori was not a little child whom Hideyoshi loved so much. He was 22 years old already but was not wise enough as his father Hideyoshi had been at his age, and could not manage the situation cleverly. Lady Yodo decided on many affairs. Thus, the dynasty of the Toyotomis perished.
Ieyasu waited and waited for the best chance to come always, and remained clear-minded even in his old ages differently from Hideyoshi. The following paragraphs are the Commandments of Tokugawa Ieyasu which will let us know about his philosophy
Our lives are like a long path on which we must go on with a heavy burden on
our shoulders.
Make not haste. Persuade thyself that inconvenience is usual, and then there wilt be
no room for thy discontent.
If it occurs to thee to obtain more, recall the hardest times in thy life when
you had naught.
Forbearance is the basis of long standing security. Reckon wrath as thy enemy.
If thou knowest only victory in the battle and not defeat,
thou wilt be doomed to be ruined.
Find fault with thyself and not with others.
To be insufficient is better than to be excessiively superfluous.
The Tokugawa Shoguante Government continued 260 years, and it had 15 shoguns. Any other
major countries were so isolated than Japan from the foreign influences more than 2 hundred
years in 17-19th centuriies. The unique cultures free from the foreign influeces flourished, until
1868. But, Japan had been left far behind the technogical advancements of the western powers.
She needed enormous efforts in the following years to catch up with the Wstern powers
in a few decades.
The Metropolitan Government of Tokyo and the citizens of Tokyo are celebrating in this year
2003 the 400th Anniversary of the Foundation of Edo( Tokyo) by the Tokugawa Shogunate
( 江戸開府 ４００ 年）.
This year, 2003 is the 150th year of the opening of our country to the whole world.
Commodore
Matthew Galbraith
Perry
arrived in Japan
on July 8th 1853
and succeeded in his second visit in 1854 in
forcing Japan to open
her door to the
whole world after more than 200 years of the nation-wide seclusion
policy.
Commodore Matthew Perry
talking with a Japanese
official
Commodore Perry entering the
meeting place in Kanagawa
Commodore Perry's Squadron
of 4 "black ships" which appeared
off the shore of Uraga on July
8th in 1853
In July 8th 1853, . 4 giant " black ships" ー Kurobune ー 黒船 suddenly appeared off the coast
of Uraga 浦賀 at the entrance of Edo Bay. It was the East India Squadron led by Commodore
Matthew Calbraith Perry, who came to Japan to knock the door of the isolated country to make it
open to the whole world.
In the 1850s, San Francisco-based whale fishing industry became very active in the Pacfic
Ocean near the Japanese Archipelago, and the trading of the United States with the Orient was
becoming more and more important. Although the trading with Japan was not considered as
much profitable,it was an important stepping stone to other Asian countries, mostly China.
Hawaii served as a depot for such requirements in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, but it was
not sufficient enough.
American fishing boats, and merchant ships needed refilling water, food, supplies and needed
to be refitted to continue vayage. Sometimes, unfortunate shipwrecked American vessels
needed help and support. But,every foreign ships enterring the Japanese sea terrotories for
any reasons were gunned off. Sometimes, shipwrecked American seamen were treated
harshly as spies.
The 3rd Isolation Law - Dai Sanji Sakoku-Rei 第３次鎖国令 established in 1635 banned all
Japanese people from going abroad and those living abroad from returning to Japan. At that
time, there were several "Japanese" towns of Japanese people, mpstly merchants in Viet Nam, Siam
( now Thailand ), Cambodia, Indonesia. and the Philippine Islands. They were not only merchants. Some of them were catholics, and so, some of them could be called " religious refugees." Some of them could be called political refugees. They were samurai in Japan and fought in many battles, mostly for the Toyotomis and were defeated and escaped from Japan. These "Japanese towns " 日本町 − Nihon Machi - were taking shape in late 16th century in several places of the East Asia. The Isolation Laws scattered any hopes of many Japanese people who were living abroad to go back
日本橋 （来遠橋）
The Bridge of Japan
built by Japanese in 1593.
Hoi An, Viet Nam, which
connected the Chinese
town and the Japanese town
to Japan. They lost their home land.
The story of " Jagatara Oharu じゃがたら お春 " is very well-known among Japanese people. We are also familiar with the beautiful song " Nagasaki Monogatari - the story in Nagasaki " about " Oharu" ( Her Christian name was Geronima ) Jakarta was called Jagatara" by Japanese people in old days. " Jagaimo - potato " comes from the word " Jagatara". The Europeans brought potato to the Dutch East Indies, and It was brought from there to Japan.
Oharu was a pretty and clever girl living in Hirado 平戸. She learned how to write and read, and
liked to read novels. Her father was an Italian, and her mother was Japanese The Italian father
left her in the hands of a rich merchant, and returned to Italy,. Rizaemon loved her so much
and brought her up like his own daughter. But, the Tokugawa government issued a law to expel
the mix-blooded people - half Japanese and half European ( mostly Portuguese, Spanish).
287 people living in Nagasaki were expelled to Macao in 1635.
,
The Shogunate government decided futher in 1539 to expell 32 mix-blooded ( mostly half
Japanese and half Dutch ) living in Nagasaki to Batavia (called Jakarta in later years), in
the Dutch West Indies .Oharu was one of those expelled. She was 15 years old, and expelled
with her mother Maria 37 years old, her sister Magdalena 18 years old, and a son of her sister.
Oharu got married in Batavia, in 1646, when 21 years old , with a Dutch man, Hirato-borned ,
named Simon Simonsen who was working as a clerk in the Dutch East Indies Company in
Batavia. His dutch husbund was an able person. He rose up to the position of the supervisor
of the Custom House, and he took charge of other important public positions. After retiring from
the public life, he engaged himself in trading business.
She was living in the high society residential quarters of Batavia in a large house like a palace
with several servants and slaves. She had 4 sons and 3 daughters. . She may have led
a happy life econimically in Batavia. Many women expelled to Batavia sent many luxurious presents to their families and friends with the letters. Their lives might be called sad, as they could not go back
home to Japan which they loved so much.
In the dramas and novels, she is treated as a tragical woman, weeping day by day, longing
to go back home to Japan which she loved so much. She died at the age of about 78, leaving
the will saying that all her slaves and sevants should be liberated after her death.
In 1952, the stone monument for Jagatara Oharu were erected in the grounds of Shoofukuji Temple. 聖福寺. This is a Zen Buddhist temple. You may wonder why the monument of Oharu, expelled from Japan for being supposedly Christian, was erected in the grounds of a Zen Buddhist temple. But, in Nagasaki, and Hirado, Chinese temples, Christian churches, and Japanese Buddhist and Shintoist temples coexist and found side by side.Strangely, it is a harmonious and splendidly beautiful sight. There, people are generous religiously. Fortunately, in 2003, any persons will not be expelled from Japan, nor treated badly, nor discriminated for their religious belief.
Christian Church and
Zen Buddhist Temple
side by side
Hirado City,
Nagasaki Prefecture.
They were allowed to send letters to Japan, if they had nothing to do with Chritianism, Oharu and other girls in Batavia, sent many letters to Japan, and some of them have been preserved up to present day. These letters are called Jagatara-Bumi - letters from Jakarta じゃがたら文. They are full of the repeated phrases of their love of their mother land, Japan. In Hirado Kanko Museum 平戸観光資料館, we can see 3 of the Jagatara Fumi.
Hirata is a beautiful city in Nagasaki prefecture. It is a small city with a population of 23,000, of 8,200 farmers, and 1,600 fishermen. Surprisingly, in this small city, In 1998, the Chorus Club in this city decided to create a Chorus Opera based on the story of pitiful Jagatara Oharu, and the performance was a great success.
One of the "Jakarta letters " written by a girl " reads as follows :
I love Japan, I love Japan
I just left Japan for a short time, believing
to be able to come back soon to Japan,
But, i know now that i can never come back
to my beautiful country,
The heart I have does not seem to be mine
I am almost blind filled with tears,
I dont know whether I am living in a dream
or not,,
I can not think of any other better presents
for you,
I will send you only a pack of tea,
Alas ! I really miss Japan, I love Japan,
I miss so much Japan, I love Japan
To my dear granma,
From your grand daughter
During the Meiji Period, many poor Japanese women in the Amakusa Peninsula and other
prefectures (Mostly the prefectures in Kyuusyuu ) went to the Dutch East Indies. Many of
these were engaged in prostitution. They were mainly for Japanese fishermen, adventurous
merchants, and owners of plantations, who were forming new Japanese towns. Many Japanese
towns which had exixted in the 17th century had long disappeared. The Japanese people also
had disappeared through many generations of marriges with local people.
Those poor women were called Karayuki-san 唐ゆきさん. In old days, Kara meant "China", but
China meant " Foreign coutries " in old days.. "Kara-yukisan" meant, therefore, " women who
went to foreign countries. Yamazaki Tomoko 山崎朋子,a lady reportage writer, met in
the Amakusa Peninsula, a woman called Osaki San identified as one of former Kara-yuki san,
and she gathered from her much information about Karayuki San. Yo obtain more information,
she also went to Sandagan, Borneo, where Japanese people lived and where Osaki San worked
as a prostutute.
She wrote a rebortage titled " Sandagan Brothel No,.8 " - サンダガン八番娼館 − Sandagan
Hachiban Syookan、which was made into a movie.
Their lives of "Karayuki-San" were more miserable economically than the lives of women expelled
in 17th century, but they were free to come back to Japan. Actually, many of Karayu San came
back to Japan. On the contrary, many Japanese women who went to Jakarta in 17th century
could live a luxurious life, but they could not come back to Japan.
Just before the Second World War, many women followed the Japanese troops, and they
"comforted " Japanese soldiers. They were called " Comfort Women ". 慰安婦 After
the anexation of Korea to Japan and Taiwan, many poor Koreans and Taiwanese women
also followed the Japanese troops.
In recent years, a big controversy arose regarding whether the Korean women were forced
to follow the Japanese troops, or they followed them voluntarily. Some old korean former
comfort women brought law-suits against the Japanese government, alleging that they
were forced by the Japanese military authorities to go to the war fronts.
The Japanese government alleges that Japan, as a nation, never forced them to work as
comfort women, and there is no evidence found proving that the Japanese government
decided to send women in the Korean Peninsula to the war fronts as comfort girls., although
there might be some misconducts of the Japanese military authorities in Korea. Many poor
Japanese women bacame " comfort women "and so were Korean and Taiwanese women.
Many Japanese do not know well about Japanese people who were living in the foreign
countries in the second half of the 16th century and in the 17th centuty. But, Yamada
Nagamasa 山田長政 is very well-known among us.
It is said that he was a palanquin bearer for some Daimyo in the province of Suruga 駿河
（ Now, Shuzuoka prefecture 静岡県) He learned there several martial arts. He did not like to
succeed to his family business that was dyeing. He went on borad some merchant ship to
Taiwan when he was 23 years old, and from there went to Ayutthaya, Siam ( Now Thailand)
around 1610,.
.
He soon became the leader in the Japanese town. Before his arrival to Ayutthaya, according
to the Thai records, in 1593, when the Thai King Naresuan defeated the the troops led by
Burmese Crown Prince Phra Maha Uparaja, the army of the Thai king had 500 courageous
Japanese soldiers.
When Yamada Nagamasa came to Ayuttaya, about 3,000 japanese people are said to have been
living there. They were traders, seamen, and worriors ready to fight as mercenaries. After
the Summer Battle of Osaka, there would be no war, as the the Ages of the Great Peace -
Taihei No Yo 太平の世 would start in Japan and it would continue about 260 years..
The soldiers were not wanted anymore in Japan.
They were adventurous-minded people anyway, like Europeans who came to the Orient at
the same period. Yamada Nagamasa, commanding the Japanese troop, fought to defend
the Kingdom during the reign of the king Songtham ( 1610 - 1628 ). He was a loyal and most
trusted solidier of the king Songtham, and was given the high rank title by the king. He also
fought, as his majesty wanted, to enthrone the king's brother. But, we was too much involved
in the internal strifes between Thailanders, and the succession to the throne and was killed by
poisoning when he was 41 years old.
After 1635, no Japanese could come to Ayuttaya legally, and no Japanese could return to
Japan due to the complete Isolation policy and law of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Through
many generstions of the inter-marriage, the small japanese comminuty disappeared among
the the native people and buried in the history.
Other Japanese towns in other Asian countries followed the similar destiny. But, in Hoi An,
Viet Nam, the Japan Bridge constructed by the Japanese people remains even now.
The Japan Bridge is called Rai En bashi 来遠橋. The name of the bridge on the plate was written by the Vietnamese emperor himself in his own hand. This fact tells us that just like in Thailand, the Japanese immigrants were hightly valued even by the Royal family. " RAI EN BASHI " means " The bridge constructed by the people who came from far-away land." In the Spice Islands in the East Indies, the British and Dutch peoples wanted Japanese mostly as soldiers. They knew that the Japanese were best worriors who could bear any hardship with a little rice and some salted fish.
A Japanese style merchant
house with some Chinese and
Vietnamese influence in Hoi An
Viet Nam. The interior of the
house is like that of the
Japanese merchant house
in the Edo Period.
日本の商家を思わせる家
ホイ アン ベトナム
Now, I will come back to the ages at the end of the Edo Period. Whale fisheries in the United States began to grow at New Bedford in the state of Massachusetts in 1815 by spreading into the seven seas. After the United States obtained California after the war with Mexico, San Francisco based whale fishing in the Pacific Ocean became active peaking in the late 1850s, and many American merchant ships were travelling far and wide. These ships needed refilling water, food, supplies and coals, and refitting their ships to continue their voyages. Sometimes support needed for unfortunate shipwrecks they had in the Ocean. Hawai became a depot for such requirements, but it was not good enough.
In 1845, a resolution was introduced and was passed in Congress of the United States
recommending that commercial arrangements should be made with Japan. The United State government started its attemp to make Japan open her door in 1846, despatching Commodore
James Biddle with 2 ships.
He entered the Edo Bay in July1846. The Tokugawa government had no intention yet to change
their ancestral law of Isolation, although the ships were not gunned off, and the rejection was not
so flat. Since 1842, the Japanese government was slightly softening its tight regulation allowing
the foreign ships to obtain water, food, and fuel. They began to treat better the shipwrecked
American sailors , and helped them to go back home, securing their properties. But, the policy
of the Japanese government was to keep them off, and never wanted foreigners except the
Dutch people to set foot on the Divine Land.
After the failed attempt by the fleet of Commodore Briddle, the Captain James Glynn entered
the Nagasaki Habour in 1949. Nagasaki was the only place where foreigners can have
commercial or diplomatic contacts with the Japanese Government, according to the Seclusion
Policy of Japan. It is far away from Edo where the Central Government was located. Captain
could not have the direct negotiation with the Shogunate government.
In 1853, the United States government wanted definately to break through the stalemate in
diplomatic negotiations. In fact, any attemps to negotiate with the high rank officials had been
rejected. The United State government decided to impress more the Japanese government
with some explicit menaces and pomp. It decided to send 4 ships commanded by Commodore
Matthew Calbraith Perry.
In July 8th, 1853, the 4 " giant black ships" appeared suddenly off the coast of Uraga 浦賀 at
the entrance of Edo Bay. At the end of Edo period, Japan already had several Western style
war-ships, owned by the Shogunate government and some important domains ーHan 藩
like Satsuma, but people never had seen such huge ships.
.The 4 " Giant black ships " Kurobune 黒船 threw the whole city of Edo into a state of panic
and terror. Somebody composed a "Kyooka" 狂歌 − humorous poem which became
well-known soon among people.
Merely 4 cups of Jyookisen tea,
awaken us, from a long sleep of
the ever lasting peace,
and keep us sleepless all night
Zyookisen 上喜撰 is the top class tea which is so stimulating and keeps people awaken
all night, but it means also Steam ships". Therefore, 4 cups of tea " Zyookisen " meant 4
ships.
The local government officials, as was expected, instructed Commodore Perry to go to
Nagasaki. But, he insisted that he would not go to Nagasaki, and the letter of president
Fillmore addressed to the emperor of Japan should be duly received by the top officials
of the government. His squadron of 4 ships entered the Edo Bay, saluting with several
volleys of gunfire from his flagshop, Susquehanna that made people of Edo terrified.
The Shogunate government could not reject them flatly, and the letter of the American
president was accepted. Commodore Perry left Japan confirming that he would come
back next year to receive the reply of the Japanese government to the president's letter.
After Perry left, there were lots of turmoil and contrversy all over Japan. The cabinet of
the ministers asked many opinions even from people outside of the government. There
were also ultra-nationalists who were trying to influence the Imperial Court in Kyoto, so
that the imperial consent to open the country should not be given. They were called
" ZYOOI-HA", 攘夷派 those who wanted to drive away the foreign barbarians. There
were also "KAIKOKU-HA", those who believed that Japan should open the door to
the world.
Commodore Perry came back to Japan, in January 1854, this with increased fleet of 7
ships, with 1,600 crewmen, 2 navy musical bands and with many gifts of the American
products of high techonology of the time. After difficult negotiations, the Treaty of Kanagawa
( Kanagawa Jyooyaku - 神奈川条約/ Nichibei Washin Jooyaku 日米和親条約 ）was signed
on march 31, 1954. Japan could nor resist anymore the tide of the times.
Only 2 ports, Shimoda 下田 in the Izu Peninsula and Hakodate 函館 in Hokkaido were
open to the American ships.but it was a big stepping stone toward more close commercial
and diplomatic relations between the 2 countries. The American ships could not enter
the Tokyo Bay, nor the Seto Inland Sea, but the conditions of the Treaty were the best possible
that Japan could accept. It was so difficult to change the ancestral law in a short time which
had lasted more than 200 years. Moreover, there were groups of the ultra-nationalists who
still believe that the foreignersw should be kept off from Japan.
The government started supressing cruelly and harshly
Sakurada-mon gate
Edo Castle where the
prime minister II was
assassinated by
ultra-nationalist samurais
江戸城 桜田門
井伊大老 暗殺の場所
the ultra-nationalist samurai in the following years.
In 1860, the Prime Minister II - II TAIROO - 井伊大老
was assassinated by the ultra-nationalist samurai near
the Sakurada-mon gate of the Edo Castle on his way
to his office in the Castle. After the treaty of Kanagawa,
he went on with his policy to open Japan more widely
to the foreign countries. He dicided on some matters
without obtaining previously the Imperial consents.
Some of the samurai opposed to his policies and
critisized him for having signed the agreements
of the unequal conditions withoutobtaining the Imperial
consent.
He conducted the Great Purge called "the Great
Imprisonments of Ansei - Ansei No Taigoku
安政の大獄. Many anti-government scholasrs
and samurai of the movements with slogan of
SON-NOO-ZYOOI 尊王攘夷 ” - " Revere the Emperor and expell the barbarians " were executed.
1868, 8 years later after his assassination, the Tokugawa Shogunate regime collapased. The new Meiji government with the policy of "Revere the Emperor but accepteing the foreigners " was established.
The city of Edo changed its name to Tokyo about 140 years ago.. Tokyo has become the capital of
one of the most advanced and modern countries, but the culture of Edo has survived up to
the present days. People all over Japan are enjoying the dramas of the stories of the Edo period
which we are so familar with on T.V., in movies and on stage.
The Tokyo has a population of 12 millions. But, it is a part of the huge Metropolitan areas of
about 30 millones of people, because 15 milliones of people come to Tokyo everyday to do their
shopping, to work, and to enjoy music,dramas in Tokyo, and they will come back home to other
adjoining prefectures.
To the Chiyoda Ward only, 855,000 people come everyday, but at night, it will become like
a deserted town with only 36,000 residents living there.
Tokyo is now a cosmopolitan city open to the world. 350,000 foreign residents, from more than
180 countries in the World are living there, including 18,000 Americans and 8,000 British people.
Besides those foreign residents, there are many Japanese citizens of foreign origin.
In Osaka, Ieyasu is not a popular figure among Osakans. He is
called " TANUKI OYAJI" - Old deceitful Tanuki. In Japanese
folk tales, and fairy tales, Tanuki appears more often than
foxes.
These two animals were considered to be shrewd and to
deceive persons. We have a popular saying " The deceiving game
between foxes and tanukis. " We, Osakans, believe that Ieyasu was a character who was deceitful, shrewd, unfaithful, dishonest, cunning old fox, who deceived the Toyotomis, by destroying the moats
Osakans began to have this image of Ieyatsu at the Mid Edo Period, influenced by
the Osakan " KOODAN ", which is a genre of the popular arts of story telling. Usually,
the story is about heroes and great men in the Japanese history, mostly of the feudal
ages. But, nowadays, there are "modern stories" or even humorous stories.
In the first half of the Edo Period, the Osakans were grateful to the Tokugawas for
their policies which built up the infrastructures to make Osaka the great center
of Commerce..
In the story of "Naniwa Senki" 難波戦記 - Chronicle of the Battles in Osaka -, the troops
of the courageous warlord Sanada Yukimura 真田幸村 of Hideyoshi camp attacked
bravely at the headquarters of Ieyasu in the Summer Battle of Osaka.
This is a historical fact so far, but the fiction continues more. Timid and chicken-hearted
Ieyasu escaped. and escaped. Yukimura run after him and finally reached him. Yukimura said
" I am very honoured to meet you again, my lord " " I will be honoured to take your honorable
life ". Thus, Yukimura killed Ieyasu. The verified historical records tell us that Sanada
Yukimura died in the Summer Battle of Osaka, and Toyotomi Hideyori committed
"Seppuku". But, in the fiction story, they did not died and Yukimura guarded Hidedyori
and they fled to Satsuma, a province in Kyuusyuu. Osakan knew the verified historical
facts, but they enjoyed this invented story, and we are enjoying it even now, although
" KOODAN "- 講談 Story telling is not so popular now, as there are many forms of
arts and many forms of entertainments which we can enjoy now. The great story teller
of Osaka, Kyokudoo Nanryuu after the Second World War presided the Society
of Cursing Ieyasu.
Hideyoshi, on the contrary, has been loved and respected by Osakans. He embodied the
dreams of the poor masses of people, rising from the bottom to the top. We love him less
for his faults, defects and weekness in his old days. He was a great man, but nevertheless,
he was one of us. The mayority of people are not well-educated, not of noble ancestry, and
sometimes not so good-looking. His master Nobunaga used to call him "SARU" - Monkey.
He is called in Osaka affectionately " TAIKOO-SAN " or " TAIKOO-HAN ". In this case, "SAN"
is not a honorific but express our affection. "SAN" is not used usually for the high ranking
dignitaries.
The dramas about Hideyoshi are repeated in the Kabuki theater, in the Movie films. on T.V.,
but we will no get fed up with the story more or less the same , but with the different actors,
actresses, and directors. His character is described sometimes comically, and as dogmatic
and a lustful man. We love him not less for all these defects. We know that anybody can
not be perfect. He was a great man, and yet was one of us.
There is a famous episode which Japanese know very well, which describes well the
characters of 3 famous warlords of Japan. " What do you do when Hototogisu ( a Japanese cuckoo ) does not sing ? " asked someone to 3 famous warlords, Nobunaga, Hideyoshi,
and Ieyasu. Nobunaga said " Kill the bird, if it does not sing ". This answer describes
very well the impetuous character of Nobunaga. Hideyoshi answered " If the bird does not
sing, make it sing ". The answer explains well the arbitrary character of Hideyoshi.
The answer of Ieyasu was " Wait, until the bird sings. " I suppose that this is an invented
story, but it describes very well the characters of 3 warlords, which could not be explained
more cleverly in other ways..
Matsushita Koonosuke, called " the God of Business " was called also "IMA TAIKOO " -
TAIKOO of the present day. He also realized the Japanese dream as an entrepreuneur,
although not as a warlord like Hideyoshi.
He was born in a small mountaineous village in Wakayama prefecture in 1894,( 27th year
of Meiji era ). At that time, only less than 30 years had passed after the collapse of the
Tokugawa Regime, and most of people were very poor. But, Japan, as a nation, was
advancing at an astonishing speed to catch up with the level of the Western powers,
and was at war with China which Japan would defeat in 1895. Koonosuke was of a small
land-owner family which dated back to Edo Period. His family was not poor, when he
was born, but when he was 4 years old, his father lost all of his fortune in the speculation
in the Rice Exchange Market. His family became poverty-stricken.
His father went to Osaka to work there, leaving his family at home. Koonosuke also went
to Osaka to work there in a merchant's house as an apprentice of merchants,
leaving her mother at home, when he was only 9 years old. He was just completing his
primary school course of 4 years, but could not finish it.
At the age of 23, he started his own business of manufacturing the plugs for electric lamps
which he invented. After many ups and downs in his business, his compnay became one
of the largest electronic company in the world. He was not only an eminent entrepreuer,
but also a good educator. In 1979, when he was 84 years old, he founded " Matsushita
School of Economics and Politics for the post-graduate students. Now, there are many
young brilliant politicians and business men graduated from this school. He was awarded
at the age of 86, the First Order of Grand Cordon of the Sun Rising. In his old days, he
gave many useful and clever proposals and advice to the Japanese people, government,
and the business circles. He wrote several books, and was also a great thinker.
The Matsushita group has develoved to 104 companies in Japan and 200 overseas.
He was physically delicate in health almost all the time, but maintained his keen judgment
in his old days, not like Hideyoshi, and he died at the age of 94.
The Castle of Osaka was burned to ashes after the Summer Battle of Osaka in 1615.
The site came under the direct administration of the Tokugawa Shogun government in 1619.
At the order of the second Shogun HIDETADA 秀忠, the reconstruction of the Castle of
Osaka started , which was completed after 3 stages of the construction in 1620, in the
times of the third Shogun Iemitsu 家光 in 1620. The Tokugawas wanted to display that
they were more powerful than the Toyotomis at their height with the Castle newly built.
The Castle built by the Tokugawas was 58.5 meters tall, while the Castle of Osaka, built
by Hideyoshi, which astonished the Jesuit misionaries had been only 40 meters tall.
The Tokugawas ordered 64 daimyo mostly in the West of Japan to cooperate in
the construction of the Castle. Many huges rocks bears the the family crests of
the daimyo who donated and transported them to the construction site.
In 1665, a thunderbolt fell on the top of the castle and it burned down. About 266 years
thereafter, the castle was not re-built. But, in the 3rd year of Syowa, in 1928, the famous
and able mayor of Osaka, Seki Hajime 関一 proposed the reconstruction of the Osaka
Castle. He was a brilliant mayor who constructed the main sub-subway of Osaka, and
Midoosuji Avenue of Osaka. He achieved the city planning to make Osaka more modern.
He wanted to have the castle built not with the public funds of Osaka City. He expected
that the Construction would be paid by the voluntary donations of the citizens of Osaka.
Osakans are popularly considered as misers, and money grabbing ( Gametsui ) by
people of other regions. But, that is a myth. We, Osakans, do not waste money uselessly,
but pay generously when we think that the money to be spent is worth while. In half a year,
there were donations of a huge amount of more than ￥1,500,000. At the yen value of
that time, this is an enormous amount. The Castle was completed in 1931. The building
methods most advanced of the times were employed and designed as a museum of
ferro-concrete.
In 1997, the castle was repaired, re-painted, and the damaged parts of decorations were
repaired and re-newed, and now, the Castle of Osaka is shining.
This article was written for the tourists and the advanced students of Japanese
language and culture. The author holds the copyright of this text, but you are free to use
this text for educational purpose in your class rooms.
Any comments and suggestions are welcome, but we can not afford to answer to the
questions of beginners' level and intermediate level students. Yor are requested to ask
easy questions to your teachers. We would like to answer to the questions of the advanced
students only. My aim is help the advanced students of Japanese language break through
the most difficult walls of the Japanese language.
Suggestions and Questions
Hiroaki Sasaki - Tourist guide licenced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure & Transport Member of Japan Guide Association
Copyright - All rights are reserved.
