© Alan Perry

THE BATTLE OF ANEGAWA, 30 JULY 1570 THEME TENKA FUBU The was coming towards its closing years. As slowly realised his goal of setting up a tame shogun, he found that there was an ever-increasing hostil- ity to his expanding power and influence. By 1568 this re- sistance was beginning to coalesce around the rival daimyo (the traditional feudal hereditary landlords) and, ironically, the Ikko-ikki (a loose uprising of religious groups who were op- posed to the traditional feudal hierarchy of Japanese society).

By Eoghan Kelly

n an attempt to break the back of both groups, Nobunaga launched a campaign against the Ikkō-ikki with the strategic goal of breaking their fortified holdings and leav- Iing them without strongholds. Initially Nobunaga had to deal with the Rok- kaku clan, who were prepared to go to war over his choice for shogun – but they were far less prepared than Nobu- naga, who all but destroyed the clan in a lightning war of 1569. He was then further pushed by the Asakura clan, who were attempting to curtail his ris- ing power, and in 1570 he launched an invasion of their lands. To every- one’s surprise, the Azai (or Asai) clan honoured their old alliance with the Asakura clan and broke their more re- cent alliance with to support Asakura Kagetaki. This was not quite so much of a surprise as Nobu- naga portrayed it as, given that the Oda and Azai clans had been involved in a territorial struggle for the control of several provinces for nearly five years at this point. This meant that they effec- tively rebelled behind their erstwhile ally’s back as he advanced against

Kagetaki, and Nobunaga was forced x Sasai Kyuzo Masayasu at the Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy 106 1 Battle of Anegawa. He tries to avoid musket fire while hiding in the smoke.

© Public domain Oda and allied cavalry press forward. Oda's colours are yellow and black, with a five-petaled flower mon. to delay his advance in order to pro- whole battle here, rather than reduce it sources to play the whole battle, then tect his lines. As their combined forces and consequently dilute it. please do. I can imagine the whole joined together, they were bolstered battle in 28 mm on an eighteen-foot- by the addition of Ikkō-ikki forces who With this in mind, I would recom- long table would look spectacular! saw the opportunity to deliver a blow mend breaking the battle into two or to one of their longstanding foes. three segments or tables, ideally only Each unit of troops represents 400 playing part of the battle, or using a or 200 cavalry. If you are Nobunaga advanced deep into Asaku- larger table. This is made easier as the using an approximate ratio of 20:1, ra territory before he was able to force attacking commands were divided then each infantry unit will have the issue. The combined forces of Azai- into two. However, if you have the re- twenty figures and each cavalry

Asakura were deployed to the north of © Alan Perry the River Ane, commanding the roads that crossed their mountainous lands in one of the few valleys that allowed significant farming. Although Asakura Yoshikage was nominally in charge of his own clan, he handed control of his clan forces to Asakura Kagetaki. The scene was now set, and the battle was fought on 30 July, 1570. PLAYING ANEGAWA The Battle of Anegawa saw the forces of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu attempting to break the power of the Azai and Asakura clans. It is a huge battle and would be a challenge to play completely on the average war- games table (6' x 4'), even in 6 mm or Samurai allied to Clan Tokugawa advance to meet the Asakura. They bear a ohgi-mon (a fan shaped mon). 2 mm. I have chosen to represent the

Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy 106 2 © Alan Perry unit will have ten. The map indi- Kinoshita Iesada – third line of right cates which commander is com- wing (at 7) manding which line of troops and • 1 unit of samurai, 3 units of where the different troop types are , and 2 units of cavalry deployed in that line. – fourth line of right wing (at 8) THE BELLIGERENTS • 1 unit of samurai, 2 units of HQ units are samurai units and are ashigaru, and 2 units of cavalry considered unbreakable as they are the retainers of the general – but if he , ‘The Devil’ (rash/ chooses to flee, they will join him. impetuous general) – fifth line of right wing (at 9) – overall command • 1 unit of samurai, 2 units of and command of right wing: ashigaru, and 2 units of cavalry • Oda Nobunaga (excellent general) – rearmost line of right Sakuma Nobumori – sixth line of wing (at 11) right wing (at 10) • HQ – 4 units of ashigaru, 4 • 1 unit of samurai, 2 units of units of cavalry, 1 unit of fire- ashigaru, and 2 units of cavalry arms, and 1 unit of samurai LEFT WING AND Sub-commanders: SECOND-IN-COMMAND: Sakai Masahisa – first line (closest to • Tokugawa Ieyasu (inspirational the river) of the right wing (at 5) leader) – rearmost line of left • 1 unit of samurai, 1 unit of fire- wing (at 4) arms, 3 units of ashigaru, and 1 • HQ – 2 units of ashigaru, 2 unit of cavalry units of cavalry, and 1 unit of • Ikeda Tsuneoki – second line firearms of right wing (at 6) • 1 unit of samurai, 3 units of Sub-commanders: ashigaru, and 2 units of cavalry Sakai Tadatsugu – the Heavenly King © Rocío Espin

3 Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy 106 Clan Oda and allied cavalry press a charge through a river against the enemy. Rule the realm by military force!

Tokugawa-shitennō (excellent gen- • 2 units of samurai, 1 unit of • 2 units of samurai, 4 units of eral). First line (closest to the river) of ashigaru, and 1 unit of cavalry ashigaru, and 1 unit of cavalry the left wing (at 1) • 1 unit of samurai, 1 unit of Asai Masazumi – second line of left Kagenori Asakura – first line of right ashigaru, and 1 unit of cavalry wing (at E) wing (at A) • 1 unit of samurai, 1 unit of • 1 unit of samurai, 4 units of Ishikawa Kazumasa – second line of ashigaru, and 1 unit of cavalry ashigaru, and 2 units of cavalry the left wing (at 2) Atsuji Sadahide – third line of left • 1 unit of samurai, 1 unit of Deployment wing (at F) ashigaru, and 1 unit of cavalry Ieyasu deployed on the left side of • 1 unit of samurai, 1 unit of Nobunaga’s forces, with his army in Ogasawara Ujisuke – third line of ashigaru, and 1 unit of cavalry successive lines facing the Asakura the left wing (at 3) Shinjo Naoyori – fourth line of left forces north of the river, who were • 1 unit of samurai, 1 unit of wing (at G) also deployed in successive lines. ashigaru, and 1 unit of cavalry • 1 unit of samurai, 1 unit of Nobunaga, taking the larger share of ashigaru, and 1 unit of cavalry the army, deployed on the right, AZAI-ASAKURA CLAN ALLIANCE opposite the Azai forces. – overall command and command RIGHT WING AND SECOND-IN- of left wing: COMMAND: Terrain Azai Nagamasa – rearmost line of Asakura Kagetaki – rearmost line of The fields are dry. Crops left wing (at H) the right wing (at C) are ready to be harvested • HQ – 2 units of samurai, 5 • HQ – 3 units of samurai, 2 and will catch fire fairly units of ashigaru, 2 units of units of cavalry, 1 unit of ashi- easily. The weather is dry cavalry, and 1 unit of firearms garu, and 1 unit of firearms and clear and there is no chance of rain. Sub-commanders: Sub-commanders: Isono Kazumasa – first line (closest Shinpachiro Maeba (stubborn gener- The river is shallow to the river) of left wing (at D) al) – second line of right wing (at B) and gentle flowing;

Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy 106 4 © Alan Perry

Samurai allied to Oda and Asai clash for the ford. Note the individual mon symbols and the Buddhist manji symbol.

however, it is deeper in the front op- forces will have a +1 (or equivalent) each side); use a skirmish set of rules posite Nobunaga. To the west of the to any firing to represent their superi- to fight out the assassination attempts. bridge it will take a unit two turns to ority over other forces. This does not cross the river, but to the east it will extend to Azai forces. HISTORICAL OUTCOME take three turns. Firearm units cannot fire for three full turns after they exit The game Although he chose to deploy oppo- the river, and archers cannot fire on The battle starts at 1200. Each turn site what he perceived as the weaker the turn after exiting the river. represents 30 minutes and the ar- forces, Nobunaga quickly found him- mies will cease fighting at sunset self in trouble, with his forces fought to Forces (1830), or when one army breaks a standstill in the river. However, this Ashigaru units are mixed melee weap- from the field or both of their senior meant that the Azai forces were simi- ons and bows. The exception is that leaders are dead. larly static, and it turned into a toe-to- half of the Asakuru ashigaru units are toe fistfight. Meanwhile, to the west, mixed melee and firearm units. All Winning Ieyasu eventually drove off the Asakura mounted units are also bow armed, The Oda have a major victory if they forces and was able to angle his forces and the river rules apply to these. are the only forces on the field at the into the flank of the Azai forces, forcing end of the day. Similarly, the Asakura them to disengage and withdraw. Be- All forces are well trained and disci- and Azai have a major victory if they tween them, the armies lost over 3,000 plined and can be considered more are the sole occupants of the field. men, and of these there were over or less the same in terms of unit 1,000 samurai. The Azai and Asakura The Oda have a marginal victory if quality. The exception is the unit forces withdrew, and after a short time their opponents have fled the field commanded by Atsuji Sadahide, Nobunaga retreated back towards but both their leaders are still alive. which includes Ikkō-ikki forces de- . Tactically the battle had been The Asakura must still hold the river ployed in their own units – so all in- a draw, but strategically it was cata- line or have broken one of the wings fantry units that are not samurai strophic for the Azai alliance, with first of the Oda army for a marginal victory. or cavalry in his command are Nobunaga and then Ieyasu completing Ikkō-ikki. These Any other result is a draw. their goal of uniting Japan under one units are fanatical powerful shogun – an objective that and can be con- Scenario options saw them destroy the Azai and Asakura sidered unbreakable. Assassins: Both sides attempted to as- clans in order to achieve it… WS&S sassinate opposing leaders in this pe- The Asakura had been very riod. If your rules allow it, then you Tenka Fubu, the inscription on Oda early proponents of fire- can allow the use of one assassin in Nobunaga’s seal, means, “Rule the arms, and their firearm each army (in other words, two on realm by military force!”

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