Below the Bar

What I Learned from the Battle of Okehazama

Man’s life is fifty years.

In the universe, what is it but dreams or illusions?

Is there any that is born and does not die?

— Oda Nobunaga

For the longest time, I have had a profound sense of respect for the Japanese warlord Oda Nobunaga. Given that the man basically put an end to decades of civil war single handedly, this shouldn’t be that big of a surprise to those familiar with Japan. Still, despite his nearly unifying all of the country under a single sword, my esteem for Oda Nobunaga actually stems from one of his earliest victories. Known as the Battle of Okehazama, this critical triumph was one of the most momentous turning points in all of Japanese history. Moreover, as we will soon see, this important clash has a vital life lesson to teach us too.

Let’s begin by setting the stage. The year is 1560 and the Imagawa clan has amassed an army that is 25,000 strong. Leading this mighty band of warriors is Imagawa Yoshimoto, a warlord who has his eyes set on capturing Kyoto under the pretext of “aiding” the frail Ashikaga shogunate. There’s just one issue though. To get to Kyoto, Imagawa Yoshimoto is going to need to plow directly…