• See also: List of Provinces

Omi Province

Omi Province (近江国) was an old Province of Japan, located in what is now Shiga Prefecture.¹²

Location

Located on the route between the four (later five) capital provinces and eastern provinces its borders came to have three important barrier stations (Seki-sho) called Arachi, Fuwa and Suzuka.

History

Yamanobe no Ohotaka passed through here on his way to catch a swan for the Prince Homutsuwake.⁵

The province was founded in 645 during the Taika Reforms.

During the Heian Period, the temple of Enryaku-ji gained control of many estate lands (shoen) in this province and built itself on Mount Hiei.

By the Kamakura Period, territorial struggles between the Sasaki Family and Enryaku-ji ended up tearing the province apart. The Sasaki had been the hereditary provincal constables (shugo) of this area, posted by the Kamakura Shogunate.

Later, Oda Nobunaga build the castle of Azuchi east of Lake Biwa here in 1576.² An attempt on Nobunaga’s life was made whilst travelling through Omi Province by the assassin Sugitani Zenjubo, however the attempt ended in failure.³

By the Edo Period, many areas here changed to Tenryo (shogunal lands), with several small domains such as Hikone Domain established.²

Yōkai

This Province is known to be associated with the Yōkai known as the Abura akago. A strange creature, perhaps a reincarnation of a man, who used to steal oil to sell to others as well as the Katawa guruma.⁴

Footnotes

1. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
2. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
3. Yoda, H & Alt, M. (2012) “Ninja Attack: True Tales of Assassins, Samurai and Outlaws” Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing.
4. Yoda, H. and Alt, M. (2016) “Japandemonium: Illustrated: The Yokai Encyclopaedia of Toriyama Sekien.”. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.
5. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.

Former Provinces of Japan
Kinai	Izumi * Kawachi * Settsu * Yamashiro * Yamato
Tōsandō	Dewa * Hida * Kōzuke * Mino * Mutsu * Omi * Shimotsuke * Shinano
Hokurikudō	Echigo * Echizen * Etchū * Kaga * Koshi * Wakasa
San’indō	Hōki * Inaba * Izumo * Tajima * Tamba * Tango
Tōkaidō	Ise * Kai * Kazusa * Mikawa * Owari * Sagami * Shimōsa * Suruga * Tōtōmi
Nankaidō	Awa * Iyo * Kii * Sanuki * Tosa
San’yōdō	Aki * Harima * Mimasaka
Saikaidaō	Bungo * Chikuzen * Hizen * Hyūga * Iki * Tsushima
Pre-Taihō Code	Kibi

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• Period: Muromachi Period
• Occupation: Warlord (daimyo)
• Family: Rokkaku Clan
• Birth: 1521
• Death: 1598

Rokkaku Yoshitaka

Rokkaku Yoshitaka (六角 義賢), born in 1521 and dying in 1958, was a Samurai and later Buddhist Monk under the name of Shōtei¹.

He was also a warlord (daimyo) who approached Koga clan, with the idea to assasinate Oda Nobunaga. After deliberations they decided on Sugitani Zenjubo to complete the job.²

Rokkaku also created a school of martial arts called the Sasaki-ryū.¹

Footnotes

1. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
2. Yoda, H & Alt, M. (2012) “Ninja Attack: True Tales of Assassins, Samurai and Outlaws” Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing.

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Hear about Sugitani Zenjubo on Episode 7 of our Podcast, the Japan Archives.

• Period: Muromachi Period
• Occupation: Ninja / Sniper
• Family: Koga Clan
• Birth: –
• Death: 1573

Sugitani Zenjubo

Sugitani Zenjubo (杉谷善住坊) was born to one of the 53 families of the Koga Clan, acting as Ninja and Sniper for them until his death in 1573. He was best known for his use of the matchlock rifle (hinawa-ju).

Initially the Koga Clan was approached by the local lord Rokkaku Yoshitaka who came with the idea to assassinate Oda Nobunaga. The clan chose Sugitani for the job.

Sugitani luckily finds out that Nobunaga will be in Omi Province in the near future, taking the Chigusa Road, in an attempt to avoid the exposed Tokaido Road. And so he goes there and hides in advance, scouting an exit route as his rifle would leave a smoke trail for others to spot him.

Eventually the day in question arrives, the 19th May, 1570. Nobunaga arrives with retinue at the Chigusa Road.

The sniper takes the shot, but his bullet hits Nobunaga’s collar-armor meaning Sugitani is forced to flee and goes into hiding. He finds safety for a while in the temple of Amida-ji, in Omi Province. However, the area is owned by Isono Kazumasa. Isono hears Sugitani is here and wanting to to curry favor with Nobunaga he apprehends him, handing him to Nobunaga.

Nobunaga personally oversees his his execution where he is buried up to neck, with his head slowly removed (some say over a few day, some say hours) with dull-edged blades of bamboo.¹

Footnotes

1. Yoda, H & Alt, M. (2012) “Ninja Attack: True Tales of Assassins, Samurai and Outlaws” Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing.

	Check out the Japan Archives, our Japanese History Podcast. Instagram (Japan): @japan_archives
	Check out our Gaming Channel on Youtube. Instagram (Minecraft): @mycenria
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The post Sugitani Zenjubo appeared first on . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史.