Posted by Part 6 – Takanobu the tyrant.
The loss of Kamachi Akimori and one of his sons at Mimigawa left Shigenami the next in line of the Kamachi clan. Shigenami had also participated in the battle of Mimigawa but left before the final battle claiming illness. Some say he fell from his horse and injured himself, others say he faked illness as he was not as loyal as his father was to Otomo Sorin and desired independence from Otomo. Either way, he escaped certain death by the retreat along with 2000 of his troops.
Soon after the loss at Mimigawa, the Otomo clan suffered from several internal rebellions which weakened Sorin’s control further. Once news reached Shigenami about his father and brother’s fate he immediately pursued an alliance with Takanobu. The Kamachi clan had always supported the Ryuzoji, both Takanobu and his great grandfather Iekane were both helped by the Kamachi, so this official alliance seemed like a good deal and to sweeten the alliance even more Takanobu offered Shigenami his daughter in marriage.
At time to time, skirmishes broke out against Takanobu and Otomo loyalist Tachibana Dosetsu, but these were intervened by Sorin. Eventually, Takanobu held talks with Sorin himself and sought a three-way alliance with himself and Kamachi Shigenami. Sorin agreed to let Shigenami back into the Otomo realm, but the alliance was tenuous at best. Overall, Takanobu gained the most out of the alliance and gained control of a further nine counties in Chikuzen. This was to be the peak of Ryuzoji power. Up until about 1580 Takanobu had gradually passed on official duties to his son, Masaie who was more of a politician than his father, became lord of Saga castle and Takanobu semi-retired to Suko castle in western Hizen.
However, retired life seems to have been detrimental to Takanobu’s behaviour, who gradually indulged himself in food and sake. Rumours also started to spread that Takanobu was behind the murder of several retainers whom he perceived as a threat to his rule. Ryuzoji power was at its peak, but Takanobu was unable to deal with the politics of administration and often neglected his responsibilities, instead he began to suffer paranoia and became suspicious of everyone, even his most loyal retainers.
Takanobu’s retainers and vassals were at breaking point and two years later, the first crack opened up between Takanobu and Shigenami. Their relationship became sour, both claiming disloyalty. Shigenami had become very vocal about Takanobu’s continued push into Kamachi homelands and meddling in Yanagawa affairs. Eventually, Takanobu decided to lead his 20,000 strong army and take Yanagawa castle for himself. A few sources have hinted at Takanobu’s erratic and impulsive actions which had become increasingly brutal began to lay the foundations to the Ryuzoji demise, most that were against the wishes of his senior retainers.
The siege of Yanagawa castle was a miserable failure. The Ryuzoji army were not able to break through solid defences which makes this whole incident a little comical if it wasn’t true. Yanagawa castle was a flatland castle, but it had a wide range of canals, moats and creeks protecting it. After a hundred day siege, morale on the decline and running out of food, Takanobu gave up and retreated back to Suko castle. Shortly after a messenger was sent from Takanobu to Yanagawa requesting peace, and he offered up his daughter in marriage to Shigenami, who accepted, believing that peace would once more be restored, but unfortunately this is not the end of the story.
A year after the siege of November 1580, Shigenami who had had enough of Takanobu, secretly sent an envoy to the Shimazu and began talks with them. As a matter of terrible luck, the messenger Nishimuta of Mizuma castle, a Kamachi vassal, gave the job of delivering the message to the Shimazu. The vassal was Mukai who was a staunch supporter of the Ryuzoji. This secret communication was told to Takanobu’s uncle, Kanetake Taijiri and he informed Takanobu about Shigenami’s plans to join the Shimazu. Takanobu was furious and decided that action needed to be taken out against Shigenami’s disloyalty, but as he had failed against a direct attack on Yanagawa castle a year earlier, another plan had to made to lure Shigenami out of the castle.
Takanobu sent the local governor with a message which goes along the lines of – His Lordship Ryuzoji Takanobu has retired to Suko castle to forget hardships of the recent past which he deeply regrets. We are planning a retirement celebration at Suko castle and as your Lordship is a master of poetry, string, and wind instruments, it would be a great honour if you could perform on behalf of the Kamachi clan in front of all our loyal retainers.
Well, despite the flattering invitation, Shigenami wasn’t stupid and politely declined. However, the governor, probably scared of his own welfare, sought a meeting with Shigenami’s mother and uncle. The same flattery continued and went like this – With all due respect to Lord Shigenami and the Kamachi clan, it is of vital importance that Lord Shigenami attend the banquet at Suko castle to celebrate Lord Takanobu’s retirement. If Lord Shigenami was to refuse, it will be a terrible look for the Kamachi clan and be negatively viewed by all Ryuzoji retainers and allies. I say this with warm heart and open conscience.
Shigenami’s mother and uncle believed the sincerity of the governor and suggested that Shigenami attend the banquet in the hope that the Ryuzoji and Kamachi clans will once again be as strong as they once were. They also hoped that the event would be a great success for the future of the Ryuzoji and all the retainers. Shigenami’s mother prepared a letter, some sake and local snacks as gifts to be presented to Takanobu. In the texts of the Ryuzoji clan it is written – we are the masters of persuasion!
After a couple of days, Shigenami assembled an entourage of about 700. This included 130 of his closest senior retainers, musicians, comedians, poets, and servants along with foot samurai. As the group began their journey Oki Tsunemitsu, senior retainer, who was given the job to look after Yanagawa castle in Shigenami’s absence, galloped on horseback, at full speed to catch up with the group. Oki had information and demanded that Shigenami return to Yanagawa and that they were heading into a trap. Shigenami replied that it was too late, and that he would be disgraced to turn back now. The group headed west, crossed the Chikugo river and by nightfall had arrived at Suko castle.
Apon arrival, Shigenami exchanged greetings with Takanobu, Nabeshima and other guests. Takanobu put on a fabulous banquet with plays, poetry readings and music which lasted for days. Shigenami and his entourage stayed at the Hongyoji just to the north of Suko castle. Everyday Takanobu served sake, food and sweets. And the entertainment continued. Shigenami had requested an audience with Nabeshima but he always declined explaining that he was too busy with organising the event and too tired to talk. Eventually, Ryuzoji retainers began to return home with happy memories and full bellies. Shigenami had also sent unnecessary staff home over the course of the event. About a hundred were left. The group once again departed Hongyoji early in the morning, on their way to Suko castle. On this day as they walked through Honenin temple on the outskirts of Suko castle they were met by two Ryuzoji senior retainers Ogawa Nobunuki and Tokushima Nagafusa. Shigenami jumped off his horse and approached the two men. One of the men said ‘It is what we had in mind at Yanagawa, did you fall for the words of Onbe’s (the Governor) request?’ Shigenami replied ‘I have nothing to say at this time, except that I will never have a problem with hypocrisy nor double mindedness. He jumped back onto his horse and yelled out to the pair, ‘I have no words to say to those dirty Ryuzoji’.
Suddenly Ryuzoji samurai appeared on the rooftops of the temple and surrounding buildings. The two Ryuzoji retainers ran out of the way as the archers rained arrows down upon the Kamachi. Volley after volley of arrows hit their targets. Some Kamachi samurai were quick enough to take the fight to the Ryuzoji samurai, and fierce hand to hand skirmishes broke out, but it was futile. Shigenami was hit with an arrow and the story goes that he said to his guards ‘that’s all for now’ but managed to escape to a cottage along with three retainers and a servant. He ordered the cottage owner to make him a bath, but Ryuzoji samurai quickly found him and killed him along with the servant and guards. Back at the temple, most of the entourage were killed but some were taken prisoner. Those killed were not only samurai, but also servants, maids and Shigenami’s son was among the dead. Soon after Takanobu ordered all prisoners to be executed, everyone was killed. Shigenami was 35 years old.
Written and researched by Stuart Iles.
Note – I recently got hold of a fantastic book, written and researched by famous Kyushu historian Kawasoe Yoshiatsu. I have included some of his research into this part which cleared up a few questions I had in a couple of points. I am still updating the series so it is still a WIP, but with this book I can look at things in more detail which is great.
Please enjoy!
Japanese History and Culture 
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