Posted by Part 5 (Kyushu Sangokushi)
Relative peace came to Hizen over the next few years. Otomo Sorin’s reputation took a hit after being defeated by Takanobu. Whereas ‘The Bear of Hizen’ continued to subdue his weaker neighbours. Between 1576 to 78 Ryuzoji forces successfully fought against the Arima, Harada and Matsuura which just about gave Takanobu full control of Hizen province. The Shimazu clan from Kagoshima had slowly expanded their own power from the south of Kyushu and by 1578 the borders of the Ryuzoji, Otomo and Shimazu were connected. The famous Kyushu Sangokushi had arrived. The first major battle in Kyushu was between the Otomo and Shimazu at Mimigawa in November of 1578. The result of this battle was to have huge implications for the Bear of Hizen and the Kamachi clan of Yanagawa.
Up to now the Shimazu had expanded their territory but not shown any of their full battle potential. The year before the battle of Mimigawa, Yoshisuke Ito of Hyuga Province (now Miyazaki Prefecture) was defeated by the Shimazu in their move north to siege territory away from Otomo influence. Ito turned to Otomo Sorin for support and finally Sorin agrees to assist Yoshisuke in his desire to regain Hyuga. Sorin was under pressure from both the Ryuzoji and now the Shimazu. Skirmishes between the Ryuzoji were frequent but the Shimazu were an unknown army and Sorin feared further Shimazu expansion to the north, bringing him closer to his own homelands. Not only that, but messengers had told Sorin about smaller vassals who were being pressured by the Shimazu to join them. Furthermore, Sorin was furious that Chikashige Tsuchimochi from the northern part of Hyuga Province, which borders the Otomo homelands, joined Shimazu as a result of political cunning by the Shimazu clan. This particular betrayal seems to have been a major factor in Sorin’s decision to march into Hyuga with is army and face the Shimazu at once.
I’m getting a little off topic now, so I’ll just do a review of the battle. Otomo mobilised about 50,000 samurai led by Tawara Chikataka, Sorin’s brother in law and Sorin set up camp in a small town named Mushika (modern day Nobeoka city). The main army headed south a further 30km to the Mimi River. The Shimazu arrived with 30,000 led by Yoshihisa. After a number of skirmishes, the two armies met at either side of the river. During the battle, Shimazu use their famous ‘fishing’ tactics. It is a similar tactic the Mongols famously used with their cavalry. Feign a centre retreat then lure the attackers into a pocket, then attack from the sides with hidden troops and archers. The Otomo samurai were lured into the mudflats where they became stuck then the Shimazu archers opened up on helplessly stuck Otomo forces. The Otomo were decimated.
Reading various accounts, I also came across some information that would have had a considerable effect for the loss of the Otomo troops. Firstly, it appears there was a considerable amount of opposition and dissent resulting in low morale among the Otomo forces. The Otomo army was made up with combined Christian and Buddhist samurai and ashigaru. Most of the Christian vassals lived in Bungo, the Otomo homelands, but vassals outside of the region were traditionally Buddhist. Reports say that the Christian vassals who marched through Hyuga were ordered to destroy temples and Buddhist monuments from Sorin himself. Otomo vassals who were Buddhist, of course, were quite angry at the destruction of their temples and monuments. Another major factor were the vassals who had come all the way from places like Chikuzen (northwest Fukuoka Prefecture) and Chikugo (southern Fukuoka Prefecture). These samurai were on the border of Ryuzoji and Otomo lands but sent to war on the other side of Kyushu which was a one week walk. They virtually arrived and were sent straight into battle without any rest. Lastly, source documents suggest that anti Otomo Buddhist lords were already trying to make secret deals with the Shimazu. Not only did Sorin miscalculate the cunning of the Shimazu but also the effect his Christian belief had amongst his Buddhist vassals.
As the battle began to fall to pieces, Otomo Sorin, who was in Mushika, received news of his army’s defeat from several messengers. Panic set in and he immediately packed up camp and fled with only the clothes on his back. The weather was cold with the onset of winter, but Otomo and his subordinates managed to escape to Bungo. An interesting tidbit popped up during my research although I cannot confirm whether it is true or not. While retreating back to his homelands of Bungo, the group had asked for lodgings and food from various temples and shrines, the same ones he destroyed, but the monks happily refused any help. I don’t think he thought through that scenario so well. One other terrible loss for the Otomo clan and, personally for Takanobu was the loss of Kamachi Akimori, and his son, the heir of the Kamachi clan. If you remember, Akimori was the man who had helped both Takanobu and Iekane. His loss as well as his son, is to have a profound impact on the region in a couple of years’ time.
While all this was playing out in the east of Kyushu, Takanobu took advantage of his friendly relations with Mori Terumoto and Akizuki Tanemi to win over Buddhist vassals dissatisfied with the Otomo clan. He subsequently expanded his power and was, for a time, more powerful than the Shimazu who had now become a true threat for the Ryuzoji. At his peak, Ryuzoji Takanobu was ruler of five of the nine provinces of Kyushu, and the Ryuzoji clan was known as the “Grand Governor of Goshu and Futashima”. However, administration of the Ryuzoji lands, politics and war was beginning to take a toll on Takanobu, he began drinking heavily and started to distrust his subordinates and vassals which would be the start of some questionable decisions he will make very soon.
Part 6 coming soon.
Stu.
Japanese History and Culture 
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