麻豆APP

Top 10 Astonishing Facts About Akechi Mitsuhide

Akechi Mitsuhide- Wikimedia Commons             

Akechi Mitsuhide鈥檚 history cannot be dissected without looking at that of Oda Nobunaga, one of the great men of the Japanese Sengoku period, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of his successors. Akechi Mitsuhide was one of the three Samurai鈥檚 highly valued by Hideyoshi, making his mark in Japanese history, in which his leader, Hideyoshi was credited for the unification of Japan in the 1560s.

Akechi Mitsuhide is a Japanese noble. He was born in 1528 to the Akechi clan. He is held in contempt in many settings as far as Japanese history but also attracts awe. Here are the top 10 astonishing facts about Akechi Mitsuhide.

 1. Samurai Responsible For Oda Nobunaga鈥檚 Death

Akechi Mitsuhide was one of the three Samurai highly regarded by Oda Nobunaga, a Japanese warrior and official in the government famed for the unification of half of the provinces in Japan thus ending decade-long feudal wars. Akechi on the other hand is remembered as the traitor who betrayed his master by way of a coup that led to his ultimate death.

It is said that Akechi鈥檚 treason was due to ill-treatment and embarrassment from Nobunaga. While Mitsuhide did not personally kill Nobunaga, he took responsibility for it. Nobunaga carried out ritual suicide when he was cornered in a temple during an attack sanctioned by Akechi.

2. Akechi鈥檚 Prime Reason For Treason Is Fictitious!

Akechi Mitsuhide painting- Wikimedia Commons

Mitsuhide鈥檚 betrayal of Nobunaga was as shocking as it was frowned upon. Reasons for this have been given and one is said to have perhaps been the major one- that鈥檚 the death of his mother, as collateral damage to a deal Akechi brokered in a war, which wasn鈥檛 honored by Nobunaga. This is referred to as the 鈥楬atano incident鈥�.

Mitsuhide attacked the Hatano of Tamba province on Nobunaga鈥檚 instruction. He ended up in negotiations with the Hatano to avoid bloodshed by convincing them to surrender, and presented the Hatano Lord- mother and family to Nobunaga as goodwill for the peace agreement brokered. The deal fell through.  Nobunaga had the Hatano captives executed! In retaliation, the Hatano found and executed Mitsuhide鈥檚 mother.

It鈥檚 quite astonishing, however, that such an elaborate and convincing reason for Mitsuhide鈥檚 treason is considered fictitious!

3. Akechi Mitsuhide Was Killed By A Peasant

                   Akechi Mitsihude’s grave- Wikimedia

Akechi Mitsuhide vs Toyotomi Hideyoshi culminated in the famous battle of Yamazaki which took place right after Akechi Mitsuhide had assassinated Oda Nobunaga and took over the city of Kyoto. Toyotomi Hideyoshi was one of slain Nobunaga鈥檚 generals, who had specifically caught Nobunaga鈥檚 attention and rose through the ranks.

At this battle, Mitsuhide鈥檚 army was outnumbered- his plan to use his castles and natural cover out in the wild and away from his enemies鈥� eyes was outsmarted by Hideyoshi who boxed them in. Mitsuhide鈥檚 attempt to flee wasn鈥檛 successful; astonishing that this samurai was killed by a bamboo spear-wielding peasant. A death considered rather dishonorable/ undistinguished for a man of his Mitsuhide鈥檚 stature!

4. Akechi Mitsuhide鈥檚 Reign Lasted Only Thirteen Days

Mitsuhide鈥檚 alias was 鈥渢he Thirteen-day Ruler鈥�. This is because his supposed takeover lasted all of thirteen days!

Mitsuhide had a well-planned coup (or so he thought) but may have underestimated his opponent. His game plan was largely dependent on the distraction and chaos of the war which Hideyoshi was waging against the Mori at another location at the time. This was a prolonged war, but Hideyoshi handled it quickly and peacefully. In four days, though exhausted, he had his army back home, surprising Mitsuhide and overpowering him, bringing his 鈥榬eign鈥� to an abrupt end.

5. His Treacherous Action Was Frowned Upon By Family

Akechi Mitsuhide鈥檚 story is a perfect example of a family that doesn鈥檛 necessarily have your back at all times. Perhaps understandably so in his case. In his grand plan for the coup, Mitsuhide soon realized that he was overpowered and would fail, as Hideyoshi and his army, outnumbering Mitsuhide鈥檚 by far, got to him much sooner than he had anticipated.

He asked for assistance from warriors known to him, and close to him; his son-in-law Tadaoki, and from Tadaoki鈥檚 father. They both declined- this attack on Nobunaga was surprising to many and unexpected. The two were actually disgusted at Mitsuhide鈥檚 action.

This was also the point at which many of Mitsuhide鈥檚 men also abandoned the cause, sinking his mission further into distress.

6. Akechi Mitsuhide鈥檚 Act Actually Saved The Emperor And His Family

Mitsuhide鈥檚 closeness to Nobunaga meant that he got to hear of his plans and aspirations, which included his ambition to surpass every ruler and become Tenka Fubu, the one ruler under the heavens. For this to happen, Nobunaga had to oust the Emperor.

This is said to have been yet another reason for Mitsuhide鈥檚 betrayal of Nobunaga- he was scared of the possible outcomes should Nobunaga have carried on with his plan and succeeded. The Imperial family and Emperor, therefore, had Mitsuhide to thank for their lives! Mitsuhide can therefore be viewed as a good or bad person, depending on how one views this. Astonishing that this fact isn’t what determined how Mitsuhide was viewed. Loyalty to the Emperor is quite a prize.

7. Akechi Mitsuhide鈥檚 Story Lives On

                                 Japan- Wikimedia

Mitsuhide鈥檚 story features in pop culture to date. He features in Literature, theatre, movies, TV drama, comic books, and popular songs among other avenues. So popular is Akechi Mitsuhide that he features in over 15 TV drama鈥檚!

8. Akechi Mitsuhide Is A Case Of History Repeating Itself

Akechi Mitsuhide鈥檚 action carries forward his 鈥榝amily tradition鈥�. His ancestors were responsible for destroying the Taira clan. His family has its roots in the Toki and Minamoto clans, and the Minamoto clan is one-half of the clans that brought absolute destruction to the Taira clan.

Nobunaga鈥檚 ancestry stems from the Taira clan, and he died at the hand of Mitsuhide. Almost as if it was destiny!

9. Akechi Mitsuhide Was An Established Noble

Akechi Mitsuhide believed himself to be 鈥楽hogun鈥�, a figurehead/ military dictator, hence wanted to really establish himself as such. This is reflected in the family he was born into, to the start and duration of his career.

Akechi Mitsuhide held governmental duties early on in Kyoto. His peers recognized his greatness. When he was a lower warrior to the Asakura clan, his abilities caused quite the envy from the Asakura vassals. This cost him promotions to higher positions.

As a rifleman, Mitsuhide was quite skillful. An excellent gunman. One of his best records was hitting a 3cm square target from a 45.5 meters distance! This was no mean feat at the time.

On the softer side, it was endearing that Mitsuhide would be considered quite the gentleman and pretty outstanding at that. His fianc茅e, Hiroko suffered chickenpox and got some scarring from it. Her sister鈥檚 hand was offered to him in her place but he was adamant about marrying Hiroko regardless of her scarred face.

10. Akechi Mitsuhide Is Honored In History

                      Bronze Statue of Akechi Mitsuhide

There are several  historical places and monuments littered around the places Akechi Mitsuhide lived and worked. For a man mostly seen as the villain, this is meaningful.

The present-day hiking course called Akechigoe from Kameoka Basin to Mt. Atago at Atago- Hyakuin is the path along which Mitsuhide walked.

Mitsuhide also made multiple trips for mine inspection- his horse slipped and made quite the footprints from kicking the boulder. This spot, that may however be presently buried was aptly named 鈥榯he boulder where Mitsuhide AKECHI鈥檚 horse slipped鈥�.

Mitsuhide鈥檚 grave is situated in Okunoin of Mt. Koya- san- legend has it that the frequent cracks that make it need constant repair are from Nobunaga鈥檚 curse! Additionally, there is a grave for Mitsuhide AKECHI’s head in Kokusho-ji Temple in Miyamae-Cho, Kameoka City.

Akechi Mitsuhide, despite how one chooses to look at his actions made space for himself in Japanese history by doing the unthinkable or the noble. Most recently, a ceremony was held in his honor in Kyoto in 2018.