Once regional lords got word about the deceitful killing of Shigenami many began to doubt the integrity of Takanobu.  The Kyushu Jiranki of 1582 mentions – Kuroki Munehide (Sanehisa) lord of Nekoo castle rebelled against the Ryuzoji.  Nekoo castle sits on an important boundary region between the Ryuzoji and Shimazu.  For the most, holding these boundary regions was important, both politically and militarily. Takanobu ordered Nabeshima to attack the castle. Nabeshima’s army surrounded the castle but he refused to attack and waited for food supplies to run out while negotiating...…Once regional lords got word about the deceitful killing of Shigenami many began to doubt the integrity of Takanobu.  The Kyushu Jiranki of 1582 mentions – Kuroki Munehide (Sanehisa) lord of Nekoo castle rebelled against the Ryuzoji.  Nekoo castle sits on an important boundary region between the Ryuzoji and Shimazu.  For the most, holding these boundary regions was important, both politically and militarily. Takanobu ordered Nabeshima to attack the castle. Nabeshima’s army surrounded the castle but he refused to attack and waited for food supplies to run out while negotiating...WW…

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...…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...WW…

Part 3 Baba Yorichika was a staunch Shoni loyalist and although the Baba clan and Ryuzoji clan had fought alongside each other for many years, made a surprise attack on the stronghold of Ryuzoji Iekane in 1545.  No-one at Mizugae castle was prepared for any kind of attack, especially by a long-time ally and to put it bluntly, it was an extremely cowardly move which ended up in a bloody massacre.  Just about every person in the castle including Iekane’s two sons, four grandsons, many retainers and townsfolk were slaughtered.  90 year old Iekane, however, survived.  Some...…Part 3 Baba Yorichika was a staunch Shoni loyalist and although the Baba clan and Ryuzoji clan had fought alongside each other for many years, made a surprise attack on the stronghold of Ryuzoji Iekane in 1545.  No-one at Mizugae castle was prepared for any kind of attack, especially by a long-time ally and to put it bluntly, it was an extremely cowardly move which ended up in a bloody massacre.  Just about every person in the castle including Iekane’s two sons, four grandsons, many retainers and townsfolk were slaughtered.  90 year old Iekane, however, survived.  Some...WW…

Arita Town is located in the western part of Saga Prefecture. It borders Nagasaki Prefecture from the south-west to the south of the town. Forests and mountains cover approximately 70% of the town’s land, which is flanked by the Arita River, which divides the town and flows into Imari Bay. The town covers an area of 65.8 sq km and has a population of approximately 21,000.On 1 March 2006, the town was merged with Arita, a pottery town, and Nishi-Arita, an agricultural town, to form the new town of Arita. Arita is known for Arita-yaki porcelain, one of Japan’s traditional crafts, which was...…Arita Town is located in the western part of Saga Prefecture. It borders Nagasaki Prefecture from the south-west to the south of the town. Forests and mountains cover approximately 70% of the town’s land, which is flanked by the Arita River, which divides the town and flows into Imari Bay. The town covers an area of 65.8 sq km and has a population of approximately 21,000.On 1 March 2006, the town was merged with Arita, a pottery town, and Nishi-Arita, an agricultural town, to form the new town of Arita. Arita is known for Arita-yaki porcelain, one of Japan’s traditional crafts, which was...WW…

Part 4. Final. So, we finished off part 3 with a Buddhist priest named Anshin on a trade mission to Joseon, claiming to be an ambassador of a daimyo.  According to Japanese sources, Anshin belonged to the Hanchu sect of Buddhism, which is also known as the Genju sect of Zen Buddhism in Japanese.  The founder of the sect was Zhongfeng Mingben (1263-1323), who lived at the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty, China.  Several Japanese monks studied and trained under him and later, formed the Genju sect back in Japan.  The sect was a part of Rinka Zen Buddhism and were supported...…Part 4. Final. So, we finished off part 3 with a Buddhist priest named Anshin on a trade mission to Joseon, claiming to be an ambassador of a daimyo.  According to Japanese sources, Anshin belonged to the Hanchu sect of Buddhism, which is also known as the Genju sect of Zen Buddhism in Japanese.  The founder of the sect was Zhongfeng Mingben (1263-1323), who lived at the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty, China.  Several Japanese monks studied and trained under him and later, formed the Genju sect back in Japan.  The sect was a part of Rinka Zen Buddhism and were supported...WW…