Stories of the Japanese 00767 [Late Kamakura Period] Battle of Upper Akasaka Castle: Three Warriors Die in Battle

The Rokuhara Tandai, having reinforced their troops, immediately decided to launch an attack on:
・Upper Akasaka Castle (Chihayaakasaka Village, Osaka Prefecture), where Shigeyoshi Hirano (?: -1333) and Masasue Kusunoki were holed up.
・Yoshino Castle (Yoshino Town, Nara Prefecture), where Prince Morinaga was holed up.
・Chihaya Castle (Chihayaakasaka Village, Osaka Prefecture), where Masashige Kusunoki was holed up.
The name Upper Akasaka Castle appears here for the first time. It is close to Lower Akasaka Castle, where Masashige Kusunoki had previously holed up, but it is a different castle. Perhaps the Kusunoki army chose a different castle because the internal structure of Lower Akasaka Castle, which had once been taken by the shogunate forces, was already known.
On February 2, Genko 3 / Shokei 2 (1333), the shogunate army led by Harutoki Aso began preparations for an attack on Upper Akasaka Castle. However, there were already those within the Aso army who were convinced of the shogunate's defeat. Sukesada Honma (1297-1333) and Mitsuyuki Hitomi (1261-1333) discussed the matter:
"There is no doubt that the shogunate will fall. I cannot bear to see the luck of the samurai run out, so let us die honorably in battle."
They decided to break away from the main force and announced their names in front of the castle. They sought a head-on confrontation against the rebel army, which had only fought in guerrilla warfare until then.
However, there was no response from Upper Akasaka Castle. The two had no choice but to try to climb the wall, but they were shot to death by arrows fired from the castle.
Suketada Honma (1316-1333), the son of Sukesada, buried his father's head and then knocked on the castle gate, requesting:
"I am prepared to die in battle and wish to fight."
This time, the gate opened, and Suketada was allowed to enter and fight, but he was killed in action.
Afterwards, the commander, Harutoki Aso, found death poems posted on the pillars of a torii gate at a nearby shrine. Mitsuyuki Hitomi's death poem was:
"Even if the old cherry tree that does not bloom should rot away, its name shall not be hidden beneath the moss."
(Even if the old cherry tree that does not bloom has rotted away, its fame will surely not be hidden beneath the moss.)
And Suketada Honma's death poem was:
"Wait a moment. You must be lost in the darkness of thinking of your child. I shall be your guide on the path through the six realms."
(Father, please wait. Are you not lost on the path in the afterlife, thinking of me? I will now guide you on the path to the land of the dead.)
Harutoki Aso mourned the deaths of the three warriors and finally challenged the Hirano and Kusunoki armies to a decisive battle, but the shogunate side would once again suffer heavy casualties.