photo #2187100

Sakuma Morishige was Killed in Action defending Marune Castle on this day, June 11, 1560.Sakuma Morishige was an important samurai in Oda Nobunaga's forces, and is mentioned in the Shincho-Koki, the Chronicles of Lord Nobunaga.Prior to the Battle of Okehazama in 1560, Morishige was appointed castellan of Marune Castle, (located in Nagoya City's Midori Ward) at the time, one of the front line border posts in the defence against the invading Imagawa forces.The castle came under an attack led by Matsudaira Motoyasu (later to become known as Tokugawa Ieyasu) who was still a hostage of the powerful warlord Imagawa Yoshimoto. Motoyasu / Ieyasu made effective use of the matchlock guns that had been introduced just 18 years prior, and had already become a favoured weapon of the samurai class. The small castle was repeatedly fired upon, and on June 11, 1560, a bullet struck Morishige, killing him instantly. The castle fell to Motoyasu / Ieyasu and the attacking Imagawa forces shortly afterwards. Just days later, Imagawa Yoshimoto would be felled by Oda Nobunaga and his men, and Motoyasu / Ieyasu would at last be free to return to his native Okazaki.Pictured, Sakuma Morishige drinking the blood of his enemy!