What then follows is an account of a rather more localised Kyushu conflict, initially between Hideyoshi’s forces and the Satsuma Shimazu prior to the Higo Rebellion, the final part of which was their last heroic stand at the siege of Tanaka Castle.
The account of the transition from the Warring States period to the gradual reunification of Japan under first Oda Nobunaga then Toyotomi Hideyoshi and finally Tokugawa Ieyasu (who, according to legend, in sequential order boiled the water, made the tea and drank it) are quite detailed yet probably much clearer and easier to understand than many explanations seen in previous publications. The historical context leading up to the siege of Tanaka Castle, along with the complex and seemingly ever changing alliances and conflicts in the region, is explained with great clarity. It is reproduced during the festival in order to convey the event to posterity, although the author rather mockingly describes it as ‘a noisy, enthusiastic and highly inaccurate recreation of the battle’. The part of this history which is referred to as the Battle of Tanaka Castle ( Tanaka-jo no eki) is described locally as one of Japan’s most important historical events, ‘a grand battle’ between Toyotomi samurai and Wani kunishu (local troops). The conflict coincided with Hideyoshi becoming Kampaku (Imperial Regent) and is remembered every year on the 2 nd Sunday of February with the Sengoku Higo Kunishu Festival at Mikawa Sogo Shishatonari in Kumamoto. The book’s narrative revolves around the Higo-kunishu Ikki (Higo People’s Revolt), the conflict which helped trigger the katanagari sword hunt in 1588, commonly referred to as the Taiko’s Sword Hunt, to deny swords to Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s enemies and the peasantry. There is however, prior to this publication, a dearth of information in English relating to this specific conflagration. However this is clarified early on in the text when the author explains that the ‘unknown’ factor relates, predominantly, to the rest of the world. The cover title though is rather misleading. His generally enjoyable romps through Japanese history, mainly focused on the samurai, ninja and historical battles, are always well laid out, easy to read and, even though containing much historical detail, are aimed at the non-academic.
#Review tanaka new samurai hd series#
Tanaka 1587: Japan’s Greatest Unknown Samurai Battle is part two of the ‘From Retinue to Regiment’ series which is currently limited to four books and covers the period 1453 to 1618 connecting the High Medieval Period to the Early Modern Era.įor those who are familiar with Stephen Turnbull’s many publications not much of an introduction is needed.
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