About the Battle of Okehazama
The Battle of Okehazama was fought in 1560 (19th day of the 5th month, Eiroku 3) at Okehazama, Owari Province. A mere 2,000 Oda troops, hidden by a torrential downpour, storm the headquarters of Imagawa Yoshimoto: one of the greatest upsets in Japanese history.
- Year
- 156019th day of the 5th month, Eiroku 3
- Place
- Okehazama, Owari Province
- Era
- Sengoku period
The two armies
Imagawa forces Commander-in-chiefImagawa Yoshimoto 14,0006 units 
Oda forces Commander-in-chiefOda Nobunaga 3,0003 units Troop strengthTotal of the units shown in 3D
Fought 12,500Did not fight 1,500
Fought 3,000
Imagawa forcesBy troop strength
- Imagawa Yoshimoto 今川義元 Commander-in-chief 5,000
-
Matsudaira Motoyasu 松平元康 2,500 - Imagawa Bodyguard 今川旗本衆 2,000
- Asahina Yasutomo 朝比奈泰朝 2,000
- Okabe Motonobu 岡部元信 Did not fight 1,500
- Ii Naomori 井伊直盛 1,000
Oda forcesBy troop strength
- Oda Nobunaga 織田信長 Commander-in-chief 2,000
- Oda Horse Guards 織田馬廻衆 700
- Sassa Hayato & Senshū Shirō 佐々隼人正・千秋四郎 300
Portraits are public-domain images from Wikimedia Commons (some are later imagined depictions).
How the battle unfoldedTimes follow the 3D clock
- 4:00 AMCh. 1
FortsThe Forts Burn
Early morning, the 19th day of the 5th month, Eiroku 3. The vanguard of Imagawa Yoshimoto's 25,000-strong invasion of Owari falls on the Oda forts of Marune and Washizu. Marune is taken by a young Imagawa commander, Matsudaira Motoyasu, the future Tokugawa Ieyasu.
- 7:00 AMCh. 2
SortieNobunaga Rides Out
At the news of the forts' fall, Nobunaga at Kiyosu Castle dances the "Atsumori" and rushes out of the castle with a handful of attendants. He gathers his men at Atsuta Shrine and moves to Zenshō-ji fort. They number a mere 2,000.
- 9:00 AMCh. 3
FeastYoshimoto Rests at Okehazama
Pleased with his opening victories, Yoshimoto halts his palanquin on Okehazama Hill and holds a midday feast. "Not even demons and gods are to be feared." Nobunaga, meanwhile, advances to Nakajima fort and fixes the position of the enemy headquarters.
- 12:00 PMCh. 4
StormHeaven's Gift: The Downpour
In the hour of the sheep the sky suddenly darkens and a downpour like flung stones hammers Okehazama. Hidden by the blinding rain, the 2,000 Oda troops work their way round the foot of the hills toward the throat of Yoshimoto's headquarters.
- 1:00 PMCh. 5
ChargeSurprise Attack on the Headquarters
The instant the rain stops: "Now, at them!" The Oda army races down the hill and bursts into the headquarters in the middle of the feast. Caught completely off guard, the Imagawa army falls into chaos.
- 2:00 PMCh. 6
FallYoshimoto Falls
In the melee Hattori Koheita drives a spear into Yoshimoto and Mōri Shinsuke takes his head. Imagawa Yoshimoto, "the finest archer on the Tōkaidō," dies aged 42. Ii Naomori of the vanguard also falls on this hill.
- 2:30 PMCh. 7
RoutThe Imagawa Rout
Having lost their commander-in-chief, the Imagawa flee east. Motoyasu at Ōdaka Castle quietly withdraws and returns to Okazaki. The upset in which 2,000 beat 25,000 was the opening shot of Nobunaga's march to power.
In Ultra detailBattle Pass
The same scene in the standard quality and in Ultra detail. Drag the line to compare, and switch between "Wide" and "Close-up". Ultra detail adds rugged mountains, forests and rocks in 3D, rippling seas and rivers, rows in the fields and soldiers as figures. Chapter 1 of every battle can be watched in Ultra detail without the Battle Pass.
FAQ
What was the Battle of Okehazama?
A mere 2,000 Oda troops, hidden by a torrential downpour, storm the headquarters of Imagawa Yoshimoto: one of the greatest upsets in Japanese history.
When and where did the Battle of Okehazama take place?
It took place in 1560 at Okehazama, Owari Province (19th day of the 5th month, Eiroku 3).
Who fought in the Battle of Okehazama?
Imagawa Yoshimoto of the Imagawa forces, Oda Nobunaga of the Oda forces were among the commanders.
Can I watch the Battle of Okehazama in 3D?
Yes. This page plays a free three-minute 3D animated overview showing the deployments, the movements of each army and how the battle was decided.