• • Period: Azuchi-Momoyama Period
  • Date: 1578
  • Location: Kyushu
  • Outcome: Defeat of Ōtomo Sōrin’s forces

Battle of Mimikawa

The Battle of Mimikawa occurred in 1578 on the island of Kyushu.

The battle involving the forces of daimyō  Ōtomo Sōrin and his vassal Tsunokumo Sekiso. Sekiso warned again this battle, saying they would lose. However, Ōtomo having converted to Christianity said the Lord would ensure they prevailed. Records say between 3 to 20 thousand people died just on Ōtomo’s side. His vassal Sekiso died, but Ōtomo made it out alive and lived for another 9 years.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
	Find the website useful? Please consider donating to help up keep the website running.

The post Battle of Mimikawa appeared first on . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史.

• See also: List of Provinces

Bungo Province

Bungo Province (豊後国) was an old Province of Japan, located in what is now Ōita Prefecture.¹

Azuchi-Momoyama Period

During this period it was ruled over by the daimyō Ōtomo Sōrin, who led his warriors into a battle later known as the Battle of Mimikawa, as he wished to create a Christian state in Kyushu. ²

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.

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

	Check out the Japan Archives, our Japanese History Podcast. Instagram (Japan): @japan_archives
	Check out our Gaming Channel on Youtube. Instagram (Minecraft): @mycenria
	Find the website useful? Please consider donating to help up keep the website running.

The post Bungo Province appeared first on . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史.

Hear about Otomo Sorin on Episode 4 of our Podcast, the Japan Archives.

• Period: Azuchi-Momoyama Period
• Occupation: Daimyō (Feudal Lord)
• Family: ?
• Birth: ?
• Death: 1587

Ōtomo Sōrin

Ōtomo Sōrin (大友 宗麟) was a daimyō (Feudal Lord) in the Province of Bungo in Kyushu. He had as his vassal the Samurai Tsunokuma Sekiso who was famed for his supernatural abilities to control weather.

His location made him have a great deal of interactions with the Jesuit Missionaries who came to Japan and wanted to stay here and spread Christianity. He was one of the first warlords to receive flintlock rifles from the missionaries.

He converted to Christianity in 1578 when he was 49 saying that he would make Kyushu a Christian domain, and then all of Japan.

Due to this, in 1578 it culminated in the Battle of Mimikawa. The battle involved the forces of Ōtomo Sōrin and his vassal Tsunokumo Sekiso.

Sekiso warned again this battle, saying they would lose. However, Ōtomo having converted to Christianity believed the Lord would make them prevail. Records say between 3 to 20 thousand people died just on Ōtomo’s side. Sekiso remained loyal and still followed him into battle where he died. Ōtomo however survived, and lived another 9 years.

Dying of illness in 1587 nothing had come of his dream for a Catholic Empire.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
	Find the website useful? Please consider donating to help up keep the website running.

The post Ōtomo Sōrin appeared first on . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史.

Hear about Tsunokuma Sekiso on Episode 4 of our Podcast, the Japan Archives.

• Period: Azuchi-Momoyama Period
• Occupation: Gunbaisha (Military Strategist)
• Family: ?
• Birth: ?
• Death: 1578AD

Tsunokuma Sekiso

Tsunokuma Sekiso (角隈 石宗) was a Gunbaisha (Military Strategist) and Vassal during the Azuchi-Momoyama Period for the Warlord Ōtomo Sōrin. He died during the Battle of Mimikawa in 1578.

Records from his life state that he was a man who held supernatural abilities. For example, he could conjure up a whirlwind full of wakizashi (short swords) which would cut apart his foes. In addition, he could also call down passing ravens, as well as snap a branch from a tree with a sparrow upon it without disturbing the sparrow.

During his time he was called a ‘master of moral teachings and martial arts,’ and even Catholic missionaries had respect for him. The Portugese Missionary Luis Frois wrote about him in his book ‘History of Japan’ in 1593 where he actively praised his weather predicting abilities. Though they did fail to convert him to Christianity. He would even teach other how they could predict and forecast the weather. Due to this ability there are meteorologists to this day who class him as an honored ancestor.

He eventually was killed during the Battle of Mimikawa, following Lord Otomo into battle; though Sekiso had advised against it. He predicted the battle would go badly for them using his supernatural abilities. However, by this point Lord Otomo had converted to Christian and would no longer listen to his ‘pagan’ beliefs. And so Sekiso, remaining loyal to his master, followed him into battle, where he died.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
	Find the website useful? Please consider donating to help up keep the website running.

The post Tsunokuma Sekiso appeared first on . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史.