Battle that Destroyed Osaka 400 Years Ago

Behind the Scene | 大阪を滅ぼした400年前の戦い

Battle that Destroyed Osaka 400 Years Ago

No matter what the period, those who want to start a war find reasons to justify their cause. A case in point is “Osaka Fuyu no Jin” (the winter campaign for the siege of Osaka); a battle that occurred in October, 1614. Fourteen years before the siege, a great battle between TOYOTOMI’s Osaka-based forces and the TOKUGAWA forces located in Edo (present day Tokyo) took place at Sekigahara in present day Gifu Prefecture. Before that TOYOTOMI Hideyoshi – who had unified Japan – passed away; Hideyoshi’s retainers had wanted his young son Hideyori to be his successor, but TOKUGAWA Ieyasu who was Hideyoshi’s second in command aimed to take over the leadership. The Tokugawa forces won the battle of Sekigahara and Ieyasu became ruler of Japan. However, because Hideyori still lived, Ieyasu feared that the Toyotomi forces would rise up again. The winter siege of Osaka started with an accusation Ieyasu made about the text engraved on a gong in a temple that the Toyotomi clan had been rebuilding. “Kokka ankou” (peaceful nation) was written on the gong; a phrase composed of four kanji which contained the two kanji of Ieyasu’s name. Ieyasu’s accusation was that by separating the kanji in the Ieyasu name, the Toyotomi clan was cursing the Tokugawa family. Sensing danger, the Toyotomi clan recruited rounin (wandering samurai without a master to serve). Ieyasu, who’d been waiting for this to happen, used it as a pretext for battle. As the Toyotomi gathered their forces, Ieyasu sent out a rallying cry to daimyo (feudal lords) and advanced on Osaka. In order to consolidate and enlarge their territories, many daimyo joined the Tokugawa side, which had the advantage in terms of military might. Many rounin – who had lost their positions at the battle of Sekigahara and saw this as a chance for advancement – gathered by Toyotomi’s side, swelling his force to 100,000. Among them was SANADA Yukimura, a military commander who was fiercely loyal to the Toyotomi clan. Yukimura was an exceptional strategist, who had caused the Tokugawa forces to suffer much in previous battles. Ieyasu told Yukimura that he would grant him a domain of his own if he allied himself with the Tokugawa side, but Yukimura turned him down. Eventually, Ieyasu proposed a peace treaty to Toyotomi. His terms stipulated that both the Tokugawa and Toyotomi sides would fill in their outer moats. Protected by outer and inner moats, Osaka castle was Japan’s sturdiest castle. The Toyotomi clan, who had also suffered considerable damage, accepted the peace treaty. The Tokugawa military retreated, but filled in not only the outer moat, but also the inner moat within a month. The following year, the Tokugawa clan regrouped its troops, and breaking the treaty, attacked the vulnerable Osaka castle. With this battle – named “Osaka Natsu no Jin” (the summer siege of Osaka) – the Tokugawa clan completely vanquished the Toyotomi clan. It’s surprising that 400 years later, this still continues all over the world, with powerful nations using flimsy pretexts to make accusations against vulnerable nations in order to rob them of territory.

いつの時代じだい
Itsuno jidai mo
no matter what (the) period
たたかいを
tatakai o/wo
(a) war
はじめるがわは、
hajimeru’gawa wa/ha,
those (who) want to start
それを
sore o/wo
their cause <that>
正当化せいとうかするための
seitouka suru tame no
to justify
理由りゆう
riyuu o/wo
reasons
さがします。
sagashimasu.
find
その典型てんけい
Sono tenkei ga
a case in point
1614せんろっぴゃくじゅうよねん
sen roppyaku juu yo/1614 nen
sixteen fourteen [year]
10月じゅうがつ
Juu/10 gatsu
October
ni
in
きた
okita
(that) occurred
たたか
tatakai
(a) battle
大坂おおさかふゆじん
“Oosaka Fuyu no Jin”
(the) winter campaign for the siege of Osaka
です。
desu.
is(the) siege
この
Kono
<this>
14じゅうよんねん
juu yo/14 nen
fourteen years
まえに、
mae ni,
before
大阪おおさか基盤きばんとする
Oosaka o/wo kiban to suru
Osaka-based
豊臣とよとみぜい
Toyotomi’zei
Toyotomi’s forces
と、
to,
and
江戸えど
Edo
Edo
現在げんざい東京とうきょう
(genzai no Toukyou)
present day Tokyo
o/wo
in
拠点きょてんとする
kyoten to suru
located
徳川とくがわぜい
Tokugawa’zei
(the) Tokugawa forces
との
to no
between
おおきな
ookina
great
たたかいが、
tatakai ga,
(a) battle
関ヶ原せきがはら
Sekigahara
Sekigahara
現在げんざい岐阜県ぎふけん
(genzai no Gifu Ken)
(in) present day Gifu Prefecture
de
at
ありました。
arimashita.
took place
それ以前いぜん
Sore izen ni
before that
日本にほん
Nihon o/wo
Japan
統一とういつした
touitsu shita
(who) had unified
豊臣とよとみ秀吉ひでよし
TOYOTOMI Hideyoshi ga
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
くなり、
nakunari,
passed away
秀吉ひでよし家臣かしん
Hideyoshi no kashin wa/ha
Hideyoshi’s retainers
その
sono
his <its>
おさな息子むすこ
osanai musuko,
young son
秀頼ひでより
Hideyori o/wo
Hideyori
後継者こうけいしゃ
koukeisha ni
(his) successor
したいと
shitai to
to be
のぞみました
nozomimashita
had wanted
が、
ga,
but
秀吉ひでよし
Hideyoshi no
Toyotomi’s
ナンバーなんばーツーつー
nanba-tsu-
second in command
だった
datta
(who) was
徳川とくがわ家康いえやす
TOKUGAWA Ieyasu wa/ha
Tokugwa Ieyasu
権力けんりょく
kenryoku o/wo
(the) leadership
うばおうと
ubaouto
to take over
ねらっていました。
neratte imashita.
aimed
徳川とくがわがわ
Tokugawa’gawa ga
the Tokugawa forces
関ヶ原せきがはらたたかい」で
“Sekigahara no tatakai” de
(the) battle of Sekigahara
勝利しょうり
shouri
won
し、
shi,
and
家康いえやす
Ieyasu wa/ha
Ieyasu
日本にほん
Nihon
Japan
no
of
支配者しはいしゃ
shihaisha ni
ruler
なりました。
narimashita.
became
しかし
Shikashi
however
秀頼ひでより
Hideyori ga
Hideyori
きていた
ikite ita
(still) lived
ため、
tame,
because
家康いえやす
Ieyasu wa/ha
Ieyasu
豊臣とよとみ勢力せいりょく
Toyotomi no seiryoku ga
(the) Toyotomi forces
復活ふっかつする
fukkatsu suru
would rise up again
ことを
koto o/wo
that
おそれていました。
osorete imashita.
feared
大坂おおさかふゆじんは、
Oosaka Fuyu no Jin wa/ha,
(The) winter siege of Osaka
豊臣とよとみ
Toyotomi’ke ga
(the) Toyotomi clan
再建さいけんしていた
saiken shite ita
(that) had been rebuilding
てら
tera
(a) temple
no
in
かね
kane
(a) gong
ni
on
きざまれた
kizamareta
engraved
文字もじ
moji
(the) text
ni
about
家康いえやす
Ieyasu ga
Ieyasu
いがかりを
iigakari o/wo
(an) accusation
つけた
tsuketa
made
ことから
koto kara
with
はじまりました。
hajimari mashita.
started
そのかね
Sono kane
the gong
には、
niwa/ha,
on
国家こっか安康あんこう」と
“Kokka’ankou” to
peaceful nation
きざまれ、
kizamare,
was written <engraved>
4よっつの漢字かんじ
yo/4 ttsu no kanji
four kanji
de
of
構成こうせいされる
kousei sareru
composed
文字もじには
moji niwa/ha
(a) phrase <characters>
家康いえやす名前なまえ
Ieyasu no namae
Ieyasu’s name
no
of
漢字かんじふたつが
kanji futatsu ga
(the) two kanji
ふくまれていました。
fukumarete imashita.
(which) contained
家康いえやすいがかりは、
Ieyasu no iigakari wa/ha,
accusation
家康いえやす」の名前なまえ
“Ieyasu” no namae
(the) Ieyasu name
no
in
漢字かんじ
kanji o/wo
(the) kanji
はなし、
kirihanashi,
by separating
豊臣とよとみ
Toyotomi’ke ga
(the) Toyotomi clan
徳川とくがわ
Tokugawa’ke o/wo
(the) Tokugawa family
のろっている
norotte iru
was cursing
というもの
to iu mono
that
です。
desu.
was
豊臣とよとみ
Toyotomi’ke wa/ha
(the )Toyotomi clan
危機きき
kiki o/wo
danger
かんじ、
kanji,
sensing
浪人ろうにん
rounin o/wo
wandering samurai without (a) master to serve
あつめます。
atsumemasu.
recruited
そうなることを
Sou naru koto o/wo
for this to happen
っていた
matte ita
(who)’d been waiting
家康いえやすは、
Ieyasu wa/ha,
Ieyasu
それを
sore o/wo
it
いくさ
ikusa
for battle
no
as
口実こうじつ
koujitsu ni
(a) pretext
します。
shimasu.
used
豊臣とよとみ
Toyotomi ga
(the) Toyotomi
へい
hei o/wo
(their) forces
あつめた
atsumeta
gathered
として、
to shite,
as
家康いえやす
Ieyasu wa/ha
Ieyasu
大名だいみょう
daimyou
feudal lords
ni
to
びかけ
yobikake
(a) rallying cry and
大阪おおさか
Oosaka
Osaka
ni
on
かうよう
mukau you
advanced
つたえます。
tsutaemasu.
sent out
おおくの
Ooku no
many
大名だいみょう
daimyou wa/ha
daimyo
みずからの
mizukara no
(their)
領土りょうど
ryoudo
territories
保全ほぜん
hozen
consolidate
to
and
拡大かくだい
kakudai
enlarge
のため、
no tame,
in order to
戦力せんりょくてき
senryokutekini
in terms of military might
有利ゆうり
yuurina
(which) had (the) advantage
徳川とくがわがわ
Tokugawa’gawa ni
(the) Tokugawa side
くわわります。
kuwawarimasu.
joined
関ヶ原せきがはらたたか
Sekigahara no tatakai
(the) battle of Sekigahara
de
at
しょくうしない、
shoku o/wo ushinai,
(who)had lost (their) positions and
これを
kore o/wo
this
出世しゅっせ
shusse no
for advancement
チャンスちゃんす
chansu
(a) chance
to
as
mita
saw
おおくの
ooku no
many
浪人ろうにんたちは
rounintachi wa/ha
ronin
豊臣とよとみがわ
Toyotomi’gawa
Toyotomi’s side
ni
by
あつまり、
atsumari,
gathered
戦力せんりょく
senryoku wa/ha
(his) force
10万じゅうまんにん
juu/10 man nin
(a) hundred thousand [people]
ni
to
なりました。
narimashita.
swelling
そのなかに、
Sono naka ni,
among them
豊臣とよとみ
Toyotomi’ke
(the) Toyotomi clan
ni
to
なみはずれて
namihazurete
fiercely
忠義ちゅうぎ
chuugina
(who) was loyal
武将ぶしょう
bushou,
(a) military commander
真田さなだ幸村ゆきむら
SANADA Yukimura ga
Sanada Yukimura
いました。
imashita.
was
幸村ゆきむらは、
Yukimura wa/ha,
Yukimura
以前いぜん
izen no
previous
たたか
tatakai
battles
de
in
徳川とくがわぜい
Tokugawa’zei o/wo
(the) Tokugawa forces
くるしめた
kurushimeta
(who) had caused to suffer much
有能ゆうのう
yuunouna
exceptional
戦略家せんりゃくか
senryakuka
a(n) strategist
です。
desu.
was
20万にじゅうまん
Nijuu/20 man no
two hundred thousand
強力きょうりょく
kyouryokuna
strong
徳川とくがわぐん
Tokugawa’gun wa/ha
(the) Tokugawa force
大阪城おおさかじょう
Oosakajou o/wo
Osaka castle
かこみます
kakomimasu
besieged
が、
ga,
but
幸村ゆきむら
Yukimura no
Yukimura’s
戦略せんりゃく
senryaku
strategizing
により
ni yori
because of
たくさんの
takusan no
many
犠牲者ぎせいしゃ
giseisha ga
casualties
でました。
demashita.
suffered
家康いえやす
Ieyasu wa/ha
Ieyasu
幸村ゆきむらに、
Yukimura ni,
Yukimura
徳川とくがわがわ
Tokugawa’gawa ni
(the) Tokugawa side
つけば
tsukeba
if (he) allied (himself) with
1国いっこく
i/1 kkoku o/wo
(a) domain (of his own)
あたえる
ataeru
(he would) grant (him)
to
that
います
iimasu
told
が、
ga,
but
幸村ゆきむら
Yukimura wa/ha
Yukimura
おうじません。
oujimasen.
turned (him) down
結局けっきょく
Kekkyoku,
eventually
家康いえやす
Ieyasu wa/ha
Ieyasu
豊臣とよとみがわ
Toyotomi’gawa
Toyotomi
ni
to
和議わぎ
wagi o/wo
(a) peace treaty
もうます。
moushidemasu.
proposed
その条件じょうけんは、
Sono jouken wa/ha,
his <its> terms
徳川とくがわがわ
Tokugawa’gawa
(both the) Tokugawa [side]
to
and
豊臣とよとみがわ
Toyotomi’gawa de
Toyotomi sides
そとぼり
sotobori o/wo
(their) outer moats
める
umeru
would fill in
という
to iu
that
ものでした。
mono deshita.
stipulated
外堀そとぼり
Sotobori
outer [moats]
to
and
内堀うちぼり
uchibori
inner moats
とで
to de
by
まもられている
mamorarete iru
protected
大阪城おおさかじょうは、
Oosakajou wa/ha,
Osaka castle
日本にほん
Nihon de
Japan’s
もっと強固きょうこ
mottomo kyoukona
sturdiest
しろ
shiro
castle
です。
desu.
was
豊臣とよとみがわ
Toyotomi’gawa
(the) Tokugawa clan
mo
also
すくなからず
sukunakarazu
considerable
被害ひがい
higai ga
damage
ていたため、
dete ita tame,
(who) had suffered
和議わぎ
wagi o/wo
(the) peace treaty
れました。
ukeiremashita.
accepted
徳川とくがわぜい
Tokugawa’zei wa/ha
(the) Tokugawa military
撤退てったいします
tettai shimasu
retreated
が、
ga,
but
1いっヵ月かげつたらずで
i/1 kkagetsu tarazu de
within a month
外堀そとぼり
sotobori
(the) outer moat
だけでなく
dake de naku
not only but
内堀うちぼり
uchibori
the inner moat
mo
also
めてしまいます。
umete shimaimasu.
filled in
翌年よくねん
Yokutoshi,
(the) following year
徳川とくがわぜい
Tokugawa’zei wa/ha
(the) Tokugawa clan
態勢たいせいととのえ、
taisei o/wo totonoe,
regrouped its troops and
和議わぎ
wagi o/wo
(the) treaty
やぶり、
yaburi,
breaking
丸裸まるはだかとなった
maruhadaka to natta
vulnerable <bared>
大阪城おおさかじょう
Oosakajou o/wo
(the) Osaka castle
めました。
sememashita.
attacked
大坂おおさかなつじん」と
“Oosaka Natsu no Jin” to
(the) summer siege of Osaka
ばれる
yobareru
named
この
kono
this
たたか
tatakai
battle
で、
de,
with
徳川とくがわぜい
Tokugawa’zei wa/ha
(the) Tokugawa clan
豊臣とよとみ
Toyotomi’ke o/wo
(the) Toyotomi clan
完全かんぜん
kanzennni
completely
ほろぼしてしまいました。
horoboshite shimaimashita.
vanquished
軍事ぐんじ大国たいこく
Gunji’taikoku ga
powerful nations
領土りょうどうば
ryoudo o/wo ubau
rob them of territory
ために
tameni
in order to
弱小じゃくしょうこく
jakushoukoku
vulnerable nations
ni
against
いがかりをつけることは、
iigakari o/wo tsukeru koto wa/ha,
with using flimsy pretexts to make accusations
おどろくことに、
odorokukotoni,
it’s surprising that
400よんひゃくねん
yonhyaku/400 nengo no
four hundred years later
いま
ima mo
this still
世界せかい各地かくち
sekai’kakuchi de
all over the world
つづいています。
tsuzu/duite imasu.
continues

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