The Winter Siege of Osaka
Concluded January 22, 1614
The Siege of Osaka was a battle between the Edo Shogunate and the Toyotomi clan, and consisted of the Winter Siege of Osaka of 1614, and the Summer Siege of Osaka of 1615.
After winning the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Ieyasu became Shogun, but even then, he didn’t have full control over all of Japan. Not while there were many daimyo remaining loyal to the Toyotomi clan, and certainly not while Hideyoshi’s son and heir, Toyotomi Hideyori was still alive. The Toyotomi had to be destroyed!
Tokugawa Ieyasu had been planning an attack on Osaka for some time, and this was one of the reasons why Nagoya Castle was built. It was to be the launching pad for the attack. Many of Ieyasu’s allies gathered first at Nagoya Castle. Ieyasu then led 164,000 troops towards Osaka.
Ieyasu's political goal was to create a long-lasting, stable and peaceful government with the Tokugawa clan at the apex, and he began to consider either forcing the Toyotomi, who were now vassals of the Tokugawa, to submit to him or, if they refused, disposing of them.
In July of 1603, Tokugawa Hidetada’s daughter Senhime, married Toyotomi Hideyori, in accordance with Hideyoshi's will.
Ieyasu had resigned from the position of Shogun that April and handed it over to Hidetada, whose succession to the position of Shogun demonstrated to all that national control was now the hereditary right of the Tokugawa. When Ieyasu was appointed shogun, Hideyori was still ranked higher, and as Hideyoshi's son, there was still the possibility of him becoming regent before his coming-of-age ceremony.
In March 1611, Ieyasu went to Kyoto to celebrate the accession of Emperor Go-Mizunoo to the throne, and also requested a meeting with Hideyori at Nijo Castle. There was opposition from Osaka to Ieyasu’s request, but through the mediation of daimyo such as Kato Kiyomasa and Asano Yukinaga, the meeting was realized. Ieyasu had expected to meet a spoiled dullard of a youth, but was surprised to find the son of Hideyoshi an intelligent, well-educated, well-spoken young man. This made Hideyori dangerous, and Ieyasu was determined to control or destroy him. All he needed was a “legitimate” reason.
The following April, Ieyasu summoned 22 daimyo in Kyoto to Nijo Castle and had them submit an oath to not disobey the orders of the shogunate. In 1612, similar oaths were collected from 65 Tohoku and Kanto regional feudal lords who had not travelled to Kyoto the previous year. Interestingly, he did not ask Toyotomi Hideyori to submit an oath.
In the years after the Battle of Sekigahara, Hideyoshi's few remaining relatives died, including Hideyoshi's adopted son and Hideyori's brother-in-law, Kobayakawa Hideaki, in 1602; Yuki Hideyasu, another of Hideyoshi's adopted sons and Hideyori's brother-in-law, in 1607; Kinoshita Iesada, the brother of Kodai-in (Hideyoshi’s wife, Nene), in 1608;, Hideyoshi's maternal cousin, Kato Kiyomasa in 1611; and another cousin, Koide Yoshimasa, in 1613. The Toyotomi clan's losses grew as their former loyal daimyo, Yamauchi Kazutoyo, Horio Yoshiharu, Ikeda Terumasa, Asano Yukinaga, and Sengoku Hidehisa, all had died one after another by 1614.
In the meantime, the Toyotomi clan had been awarded official positions by the Imperial Court without the shogunate's permission. Encouraged, Hideyori began to gather military supplies and hire ronin and even attempted to build a relationship with the Maeda clan, and generally taking a more confrontational stance against the shogunate.
Hoko-ji Temple Bell Incident
As Osaka was preparing for war, Hideyori sponsored the rebuilding of the Hoko-ji Temple in Kyoto, a project started by his late father. This included casting a great bronze bell, with an inscription that read "May the country be peaceful and prosperous" (国家安康, kokka anko). The shogunate were indignant that the wording of kokka ankō rendered Ieyasu's name (家康) suggesting cleaving him would bring peace and prosperity.Another section of the inscription read "May noble lords and servants be rich and cheerful" (君臣豊楽, kunshin houraku), read in reverse meant "Toyotomi (豊臣) influence will rise again," suggesting treachery against the shogunate. This was reason enough for war.
While the Tokugawa kept wary watch on the Toyotomi, they ordered the gunsmiths of Kunitomo to manufacture large guns and cannons as siege weapons, casting arson arrows, and ordering cannons, gunpowder, and lead from England and the Netherlands. Both sides had contact with overseas traders and Christian forces. Indeed, many Christians and even foreign missionaries had barricaded themselves in Osaka Castle.
When regent Katagiri Katsumoto, who had been sent to Sunpu to explain the Bell Inscription Incident, returned to Osaka Castle, he was suspected by Ono Harufusa and Watanabe Tadasu of having secretly allied with Ieyasu. Oda Nobukatsu (Nobunaga’s son) plotted to assassinate Katsumoto, who barricaded himself in his residence. Hideyori and Yodo-dono mediated, and ordered Katsumoto to disarm, but since neighbouring residences such as Oda Nagamasu had begun to arm themselves, Katsumoto refused to comply. On September 27, Hideyori relieved him of his duties as regent. Katsumoto and his troops retreated to Ibaraki Castle. While Osaka explained that they had no intention of opposing the shogunate, Ieyasu was furious upon hearing the news of Katsumoto's dismissal. It was now clear to all that war would break out, and many Oda clan and senior vassals, including Oda Nobukatsu, Oda Nobunori, and Ishikawa Sadamasa, left Osaka Castle.
Fuyu no Jin, The Winter Siege.
The following day, October 2nd, with the loss of Oda troops, the Toyotomi issued a call to arms to the daimyo and ronin who had served them in the past and began preparations for war. They confiscated rice from the Tokugawa storehouses and other daimyo in Osaka. The enormous amount of gold and silver left by Hideyoshi were used to purchase weapons and military supplies, repair the general structure, build extra turrets, and employ ronin from all over the country. Despite promises of reward, none of the daimyo responded to Hideyori's request for reinforcements as had been expected. The reason being that the Tokugawa strategically took hostages from Shimazu Iehisa, focused on controlling Kuroda Nagamasa and others, and forced the western daimyo to submit pledges of loyalty to Shogun Hidetada.
Counting ronin, the Toyotomi troops numbered about 100,000, including famed warriors as Akashi Mototo, Goto Matabei, Sanada Nobushige (Yukimura), Chosokabe Morichika, Mori Katsunaga, Hanawa Naoyuki and Otani Yoshiharu. All had different ideologies; some had suffered the annihilation of their clans in and after the Battle of Sekigahara and sought revenge on the Tokugawa. Others hoped for the Toyotomi clans’ revival. Some wanted to make a name for themselves in battle. Most were veteran warriors and their morale was high. However, being a ragtag group of veterans with various reasons for fighting, it was difficult to control them, and this led to disruptions in operations and in action.
The Toyotomi forces divided into two factions, the Besieged Faction, led by Toyotomi retainer Ono Harunaga, who planned to barricade themselves within Osaka Castle’s two moats and other defensive facilities, hoping to exhaust the Tokugawa forces and bring about a favourable peace agreement. In response, Sanada Nobushige of the Ronin Faction, advocated a two-stage strategy in which they would first take control of the Kinai region and advance his troops to the Seta River in Omi Province (Shiga Pref.), where he would intercept the Tokugawa forces’ approach and while holding them back, try to win the opposition daimyo back to the Toyotomi side. Only when that prospect was no longer viable would he barricade himself in the castle and fight. Based on this plan Goto Matabei and Mori Katsunaga suggested sending troops to Iga Province and northwest of Otsu to hold off the enemy, but in the end, the plan proposed by Ono Harunaga’s faction were adopted: Forts were constructed in the surrounding area to ensure vigilance and communication lines, and the main force ensconced themselves within the sturdy confines of Osaka Castle.
The Toyotomi forces attempted to redirect the Yodo River, turning Osaka Castle into a floating castle. However, they were thwarted by Honda Tadamasa, Inaba Masashige and other shogunate supporters.
On October 11, Ieyasu left Sunpu Castle at the head of his troops, arriving at Kyoto’s Nijo Castle on the 23rd. That day his son, Shogun Hidetada departed Edo in command of 60,000 troops. On the 25th, Ieyasu summoned Todo Takatora and Katagiri Katsumoto and ordered them to lead the vanguard against Osaka.
The shogunate mobilized approximately 200,000 troops. Numerous daimyo formerly under Toyotomi patronage, including Fukushima Masanori, Kuroda Nagamasa, Kato Yoshiaki, and the hatamoto Hirano Nagayasu, were ordered to remain in Edo Castle. These men had fought to ensure Tokugawa victory in the Battle of Sekigahara, but their purpose then was to defeat Ishida Mitsunari, whom most disliked. This time the Tokugawa faced the Toyotomi directly, and so there was a possibility that these men would again defect, back to the Toyotomi clan. In their place, their sons participated in the Osaka campaign.
The various feudal lords gathered at designated assembly points. With the troops in position, Ieyasu departed Nijo Castle on November 15 and headed for Osaka via Nara. Three days later, on the 18th, Ieyasu held a military council with his son, Hidetada at Osaka’s Chausuyama Jinjo fortifications.
First Battles
On November 19, the Battle of Kizugawaguchi took place. On the 26th, the Battle of Shigino-Imabuku was fought, and on the 29th, battle took place at Bakurobuchi and Noda-Fukushima. Several forts fell, and the Toyotomi abandoned the remaining forts on the 30th and all troops retreated into Osaka Castle.
The Siege Begins
The Tokugawa forces then completely surrounded Osaka Castle, and the Toyotomi’ s 200,000 men. On December 2, Ieyasu inspected Chausuyama and each general’s camps, ordering the construction of siege facilities. Each unit began constructing take-tate, bundled bamboo shields, digging trenches, and forming earthworks, while slowly moving troops closer to Osaka Castle.
The Battle of Sanada-maru took place on December 3rd and 4th, resulting in the Toyotomi forces repelling the Tokugawa. Upon learning that Ieyasu was considering offering peace terms, Shogun Hidetada proposed an all-out attack, but Ieyasu rejected this, saying, "Do not underestimate the enemy, and think about winning without fighting." Hidetada is said to have openly expressed his dissatisfaction at this.
On the 6th, Ieyasu ordered his troops to shout and fire their guns three times every night, at certain hours to prevent the enemy from sleeping well. Around this time, artillery fire on Osaka Castle’s main structure began in earnest from the south, as Matsudaira Tadaaki's troops approached as close as 20 to 30 meters, and Todo's troops advanced even closer, within 10 meters of the main gates.
On the 10th, a message sent by arrow into Osaka urged them to surrender. While the Toyotomi generals mulled this over, Ieyasu mobilized miners from Kai and Sado and began digging tunnels under the southern earthworks and stone walls. On the 13th, Ieyasu distributed 50 rake-ladders to each daimyo, and ordered the Senba moat filled. Ieyasu then attempted to bribe Osaka's military commanders. This appears to have backfired on him, as those being bribed openly announced that Ieyasu was having to turn to bribery to win this battle, making him a laughingstock within the besieged castle.
By the 15th, the peace negotiations stalled, and so the entire Tokugawa forces commenced simultaneous bombardment the following day. One hundred cannon and various gauge matchlock guns were fired at the inner palace from the north side of the main citadel. From the Tenno-ji-guchi entrance in the south, artillery fire continued until a peace agreement was concluded. The target changed from the keep to the Omote Palace south of the main citadel. This bombardment involved cannons made by the Kunitomo gunsmiths and iron cannons forged by Shibatsuji Riemon. The Shibatsuji cannon are on display in Tokyo’s Yushukan Museum at Yasukuni Shrine.
It is believed the bombardment included 4 culverins and 1 saker purchased from the English, and 12 Dutch cannons that arrived in Hyogo seven days earlier. The chief gunner, Tatsuki Kagezumi, was stationed on Bizenjima north of the castle scored a direct hit on Osaka’s tower, hastening the peace accord. Due to his achievements, his descendants took the name "Shirobei" and for generations served as gun specialists for the Edo Shogunate.
The defenders of Osaka countered the attacks with matchlock guns, and each attack caused some 300 to 500 casualties. Toyotomi Hideyori’s mother, Yodo-dono, is said to have donned armour and accompanied by three or four armed ladies-in-waiting, visited the samurai troops to encourage them.
Peace Agreement
The Tokugawa forces were running low on provisions due to the Toyotomi's previous hoarding, and it being mid-winter. As such, they began peace negotiations with the Toyotomi through Oda Nobunaga’s younger brother, the tea master Oda Urakusai. On the 8th and 12th, Urakusai and Ono Harunaga exchanged letters of peace with Honda Masazumi and Goto Mitsutsugu. On the 15th, the Toyotomi presented a peace proposal, which called for Yodo-dono to go to Edo as a hostage in exchange for an increase in the stipends of the ronin who were besieged in the castle. Ieyasu rejected this.
By now supplies of food and ammunition were running low in Osaka Castle too, and the defenders were exhausted by the continuous barrage of artillery fire and psychological warfare waged by the Tokugawa. Yodo-dono had believed that Osaka Castle could hold out for 10 years, until cannon fire on the main keep killed eight of her maids. She soon suggested accepting the peace proposal.
With Osaka showing signs of cracking, the Imperial Court, by order of retired Emperor Go-Yozei, sent the military envoys Hirohashi Kanekatsu and Sanjonishi Sanejo to advise Ieyasu to make peace. Angered at the intervention, Ieyasu refused, and continued negotiations under Tokugawa leadership.
Negotiations began on the 18th at Tokugawa allied Kyogoku Tadataka’s command post, between Ieyasu's trusted Honda Masazumi, Ieyasu's concubine Acha no Tsubone, and Tadataka's mother-in-law, Joko-in, the younger sister of the Toyotomi envoy, Yodo-dono. The terms were agreed upon and signed on the 20th, and peace was established. Ieyasu and Hidetada then ordered their generals to stop firing artillery.
The Toyotomi terms included: Osaka’s Honmaru be left intact, but the Ninomaru and Sannomaru would be demolished, and the South, West, and East outer moats filled in. In exchange for not taking Yodo-dono as a hostage, Ono Harunaga and Oda Urakusai would provide hostages.
In response, the Tokugawa agreed to Hideyori's personal safety and assurance of his territory. No questions would be asked about the samurai in Osaka Castle, and that Hideyori and Yodo-dono would not have to travel to Edo.
With peace established, Ieyasu returned to Sunpu and Hidetada went to nearby Fushimi, but continued to prepare for war by ordering the Kunitomo gunsmiths to manufacture more cannons.
Peace would not last long. Two months later On March 15, 1615, news reached Sunpu from Kyoto Shoshidai(governor) Itakura Katsushige regarding disturbing developments in Osaka, including violent and unruly acts by ronin, and the restoration of Osaka Castle’s moats and walls.
The Summer Siege of Osaka was to follow soon after.
Thank you very much for your`s opinions. My name is Kris, I live in Poland, Europe. For a dozen or so years I have been a collector of swords and other weapons from old Japan. The history of Japan has become my passion, especially the time of the Koto sword, until the end of the Sengoku Jidaji era. For several years I have been building a website "The tale of Japan and the samurai sword", a collection of basic knowledge about the history of the sword and the history of Japan. This is a project aimed at beginner collectors of Nihonto and people interested in old Japan. I am constantly looking for materials, stories about the fates of interesting characters, less known in historical studies. That's how I came across Samurai History & Culture. For me, Heike Monogatari perfectly shows those times.
In my opinion, the word "Brutal" cannot be used here, rather the word "Destiny". Toyotomi Hideyoi's destiny was death. Since the times of the legendary Emperor Jinmu, a descendant of the goddess Amaterasu, Japan has been a world ruled by dictators, despots. Let's remember that these are terms created by our civilization, describing a system of government in which violence is a tool. It was normal, neither bad nor good. Our civilization opened the doors to democracy, a system unknown in the world at that time. In order to learn and understand the history of the Yamato state, the history of Japan in the times of the Koto sword (the real sword of war), the history of Japan in the times of the Tokugawa shoguns - the times of the Shinto and Shinshinto swords (the "jewelry" sword), one cannot look from the perspective of our civilization, our understanding of good and evil. This is of course my own opinion. Moving back to those times, I try to free myself from our system of values. Only the strongest could provide Japan with peace after hundreds of years of civil wars, a strong central authority. The fate of the weaker ones who stood on the other side was death.
"The Jetavana Temple bells ring the passing of all things. Twinned sal trees, white in full flower, declare the great man's certain fall. The arrogant do not long endure: They are like a dream one night in spring. The bold and brave perish in the end: They are as dust before the wind." [Heike Monogatari]