Seiro, Oda, Kanegasaki—The Shadows of Historical Fact Scattered Throughout Episode 12 of the TV Anime 'Nihon Sangoku'

With the 12th episode, the first season of this series has concluded with Yamato destroying Sei. I have already touched upon this work in my article, 'Reflections on the TV Anime "Nihon Sangoku": The "Four Periods of Turmoil in Japanese History" to be Re-enacted in the Future and the Structure of the Work's World,' so here I would like to briefly supplement the place names that appeared in episode 12.

First, regarding Seiro, the capital of Sei. Even today, there is a town called Seiro-machi in Kitakanbara District, Niigata Prefecture, which is adjacent to Niigata City.

The origin of the place name 'Seiro' is linked to the 'Legend of Midorimaru.' Long ago, a young man named Yuriwaka was washed ashore in this area by a storm, and he named a clever hawk he met there 'Midorimaru.' Midorimaru delivered Yuriwaka's letters to the capital and helped him return home, but died from exhaustion. Later, in the early Heian period, a virtuous monk visited this place, built a hall to memorialize Midorimaru, and secluded himself in the mountain. It is said that the mountain came to be called 'Seiro-zan' (Mountain where a saint secludes himself), which eventually gave rise to the place name 'Seiro'.

I do not know how much significance there is in making Seiro the capital of Sei, but I think that using a land with such a legend as the capital is fitting for the story of Nihon Sangoku, which is a 'layering of history'.

Next, regarding Ota, which appears as the stage for the strategy where Strategist Kaku of Yamato's frontier general unit traps the Sei army.

As the place name indicates, this is considered the birthplace of the Oda clan, the ancestors of Oda Nobunaga. The ancestors of the Oda family served for generations as Shinto priests and manor officials at Tsurugi Shrine in Oda, Echizen Province. Later, they served the Shiba clan, the governors of Echizen, and it is said that the Oda family began when they moved to Owari around the end of the 14th century and took the name 'Oda' from their hometown.

In the story, the Yamato army fakes a retreat and lures the Sei army into a narrow valley road in 'Ota.' Then, with a bold strategy of raining down scrapped cars, they drive the Sei army to annihilation. Their fighting style is reminiscent of the battles of Oda Nobunaga, who defeated large armies one after another with a small force and eventually seized hegemony.

Also, this retreat battle is reminiscent of the Battle of Kanegasaki between Oda Nobunaga and the Asakura clan of Echizen.

To attack the Asakura clan, Oda Nobunaga, who was stationed at Kanegasaki Castle in what is now Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture, was forced to retreat after being betrayed by the Azai clan of Northern Omi, with whom he was allied at the time. One of those who served as the rearguard at this time was Kinoshita Tokichiro, the later Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In this battle, said to be Oda Nobunaga's greatest crisis, Tokichiro held off the enemy's pursuit and helped Nobunaga return to Kyoto. Thanks to his military exploits at this time, Kinoshita Tokichiro went on to climb the ladder of success.

Yoshitsune Asama, who was entrusted with the major role of rearguard by Mitsuhide Ryumon, sees it as a great opportunity for advancement and is overjoyed. Perhaps he is projecting the success story of Kinoshita Tokichiro onto himself.

Having written this far, it occurred to me belatedly that Mitsuhide 'Ryumon' is likely being compared to Akechi 'Mitsuhide'. Akechi Mitsuhide also participated in the Kanegasaki retreat as part of the rearguard along with Kinoshita Tokichiro.

I think that searching for these overlaps with historical facts is one of the ways to enjoy the work 'Nihon Sangoku'.