Oda Nobunaga

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Oda Nobunaga (织田信长)
Alias(es)	“Great Fool of Owari”; “Owari’s Great Fool” 2 44
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Oda clan of Kiyosu Castle
Occupation/Role	Daimyō; leader of the Oda clan; commander of its forces
Status	Active 50
First Appearance	Chapter 2: “We Lost!”

Background / History

Oda Nobunaga succeeded his father, Oda Nobuhide, whose Shobata Oda branch had held relatively low standing within Owari’s hierarchy. Rather than retain Nobuhide’s gradual, alliance-based approach, Nobunaga pursued internal centralization and direct resistance against Imagawa Yoshimoto. This shift provoked widespread opposition, compounded by the deaths of his political ally Saitō Dōsan and Dōsan’s son. Nobunaga nevertheless eliminated his younger brother Oda Nobukatsu and nominal lord Oda Nobutomo, consolidating Owari’s lower four districts. 5

His next target was the Iwakura Oda clan, the remaining hostile power in Owari. At the Battle of Ukino in 1558, Nobunaga led 2,000 men against Oda Nobukata’s 3,000. He allowed the Iwakura army to advance before committing Oda Nobukiyo’s 1,000 reinforcements in a flank and rear attack, routing Nobukata’s force. 2

Following Ukino, Nobunaga rapidly overran the forts around Iwakura Castle and besieged the clan’s last stronghold. He traveled to Kyoto to confirm that Saitō Yoshitatsu would not intervene, then loosened the siege rather than immediately storming the castle, reasoning that the defenders’ remaining hope of relief would collapse on its own. 4 5

After Iwakura Castle surrendered, Nobunaga absorbed its territories and allowed its former retainers to seek service under him, while exiling Oda Nobukata from Owari for life. This secured his first major step toward unifying the province. 11 12

Personality

Nobunaga is intensely ambitious and focused on consolidating authority. He treats familial ties as subordinate to political necessity, defeating relatives and branch families when they obstruct his unification of Owari. 5 8

He is also pragmatic in choosing where to apply force. Although angered by Oda Nobukiyo’s role in Nobukata’s escape, he declines to attack Inuyama because a campaign near Mino could drive Nobukiyo and the Maeno clan toward Saitō Yoshitatsu. 11 Similarly, he ignores the Ogawa Band’s disruption of Kiso River tolls because it harms Nobukiyo rather than his own territory, while he concentrates on the more urgent Imagawa-held castles of Narumi and Odaka. 44

Nobunaga can be brusque and intolerant of hesitation from his retainers. When questioned over his handling of Iwakura Castle, he dismisses his senior commanders’ objections and expects them to act without constant instruction. 5

Abilities & Skills

Military Command

Nobunaga directs battlefield operations personally and uses timing and reinforcements to reverse unfavorable engagements.

• Drew the Iwakura Oda army deeper into the field at Ukino before launching his counterattack. 2
• Coordinated with Oda Nobukiyo’s reinforcements to strike the Iwakura force from the flank and rear. 2
• Led his commanders in the final charge once the enemy formation collapsed. 2
• Ordered the tightening of the sieges around Narumi Castle and Odaka Castle to reclaim eastern Owari before Imagawa Yoshimoto could act. 44

Political Strategy

Nobunaga combines military pressure with political intelligence and administrative control.

• Traveled to Kyoto to determine Saitō Yoshitatsu’s intentions and seek shogunate recognition while preparing to unify Owari. 5
• Delayed a direct assault on Iwakura Castle after learning Saitō would not intervene, expecting the defenders’ morale to fail once their hoped-for relief proved impossible. 5
• Exiled Oda Nobukata while pardoning former Iwakura retainers, prioritizing control over land, local warriors, and ashigaru mobilization. 11
• Declined to escalate against Inuyama Castle to avoid fighting on two fronts against both Mino and the Imagawa. 11

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Spear — wielded while directing the decisive counterattack at the Battle of Ukino. 2
• Tea whisk — thrown at Kawajiri Hidetaka when informed of Maeda Toshiie’s request for an audience. 44

Relationships

• Oda Nobukata — cousin and head of the rival Iwakura Oda clan; Nobunaga defeated his forces, seized his lands, and exiled him from Owari. 5 11 12
• Oda Nobukiyo — brother-in-law and lord of Inuyama Castle; assisted Nobunaga at Ukino but later clashed with him over Iwakura lands and sheltered Nobukata’s faction. 2 8 11
• Saitō Yoshitatsu — brother-in-law whose possible intervention constrained Nobunaga’s actions around Iwakura and Inuyama. 5 11
• Kichō — lawful wife; their marriage has produced no children so far, a concern for Nobunaga because a son by her could strengthen his claim in Mino. 11
• Ikoma Kitsuno — concubine and mother of Nobunaga’s eldest son Kimmomaru and second son Chasenmaru. 11
• Oda Nobukatsu — younger brother whom Nobunaga eliminated while consolidating Owari’s lower four districts. 2 5
• Hayashi Hidesada — senior retainer who advises Nobunaga on the Iwakura siege and reports on the Ogawa Band. 5 44
• Murai Sadakatsu — magistrate of Kiyosu Castle who informs Nobunaga of the Ogawa Band’s apparent ties to Nagashima Ganshō-ji. 44
• Kawajiri Hidetaka — leader of Nobunaga’s horo guards; pursued Oda Nobukata after Iwakura’s fall. 10 11
• Mori Yoshinari — leading general who pursued Nobukata alongside Kawajiri and later pleaded for Maeda Toshiie’s life. 10 11 50
• Maeda Toshiie — former horo guard expelled from Kiyosu Castle after killing Nobunaga’s favored tea master Jūami. 2 50

Story Role / Major Arcs

Conquest of the Iwakura Oda Clan

Nobunaga serves as the opposing commander at Ukino, where his victory destroys the Iwakura Oda clan’s field army. His subsequent siege forces the Yamauchi family and other Iwakura retainers into flight, directly shaping Yamauchi Kazutoyo’s loss of status and later ambition to enter Oda service. 2 4 12 13

Consolidation of Owari

After Iwakura’s collapse, Nobunaga replaces the defeated clan’s control with his own retainers and recruitment system. He neutralizes Nobukata through exile rather than continued pursuit and avoids immediate war with Inuyama to preserve a buffer against Mino. 11 12

Conflict with Imagawa and the Kiso River Situation

Nobunaga prioritizes retaking Narumi and Odaka Castles from Imagawa Yoshimoto. He refuses to intervene against the Ogawa Band on the Kiso River, considering it primarily Oda Nobukiyo’s problem, though he suspects Nagashima Ganshō-ji’s involvement due to the band’s Jōdo Shinshū banners. 44 48

Notable Quotes

“The reinforcements have arrived. Victory will be decided now!” 2

“If I have to personally handle every matter, then what use are you?” 5

“As long as the land and the people belong to our clan, I want to see what waves a mere Oda Nobukata can possibly stir!” 11

“The Ogawa Band is collecting tolls, not plundering ships on the Kiso River. Why should I care?” 44