[:it]

photo credits: japanworld.info

Torii Suneemon (1540 – 1575) è stato un samurai giapponese della famiglia Torii, conosciuto per il suo coraggio e per l’incredibile valore dimostrato nella battaglia di Nagashino (1575). Della sua gioventù, si sa che era un soldato ashigaru che serviva Okudaira Sadamasa, vassallo di Tokugawa Ieyasu e maestro del castello di Nagashino.

Il 17 Giugno 1575, dopo aver fallito la presa del Castello Yoshida in Toyohashi, 15,000 dei samurai di Takeda Katsuyori attaccarono il Castello di Nagashino nella moderna Shinshiro City, nella prefettura di Aichi. Nagashino con solo 500 uomini, è stato costruito in cima a una scogliera, dove l’Ure e i fiumi Kansa si dividevano e fungevano da fossato naturale. Era un castello strategicamente importante, facendo la guardia ai Tokugawa dalla minaccia del Takeda del nord. Takeda Katsuyori, figlio del famoso Takeda Shingen era impegnato a raggiungere la capitale, Kyoto, nel tentativo di ottenere il controllo della nazione.

Per arrivare a Kyoto, hanno prima dovuto conquistare Mikawa e Owari, terre detenute dagli alleati Tokugawa Ieyasu e Oda Nobunaga. Il castello di Nagashino era importante in quanto minacciava le linee di rifornimento del clan Takeda.

photo credits: asianartscollection.com

Le forze dei Takeda avevano circondato il castello, e il coraggioso Torii si offrì volontario per lasciare il castello, nuotare lungo il fiume e tagliare le reti tracciate vicino il nemico. Successivamente avrebbe dovuto camminare per 25 km da Okazaki e chiamare Tokugawa Ieyasu. Dopo averlo avvisato e aver richiesto rinforzi, Torii tornò rapidamente a Nagashino dove fu catturato mentre cercava di tornare nel castello.

La storia narra di come Torii Suneemon fosse stato legato e crocifisso con corde di paglia in bella vista ai suoi compatrioti dal castello di Nagashino. “Dì loro che i rinforzi non arriveranno, dì loro di rinunciare al castello e di uscire!” sibilò uno dei suoi rapitori. Torii alzò gli occhi verso il castello urlando: “Uomini del castello di Nagashino… Non arrendetevi! Gli uomini di Ieyasu stanno arrivando! Aspettate ancora un po’!”. A seguito di questo suo exploit, fu messo a tacere da una lancia conficcata nello stomaco.

Le forze del clan Tokugawa e degli alleati Oda alla fine arrivarono sulla scena una settimana dopo con 38.000 soldati, creando un importante punto di svolta nella storia del Giappone e la guerra dei samurai, la battaglia di Nagashino e Shitaragahara.

E’ interessante sapere che un Samurai dei Takeda, Ochiai Michihisa, rimase così impressionato dalla lealtà e dal coraggio di Torii che in una battaglia mostrò una bandiera con l’immagine del Samurai crocifisso. Quella bandiera è oggi conservata nella biblioteca dell’Università di Tokyo.

Il martire Torii fu promosso postumo alla classe dei samurai e la sua famiglia continuò a servire il clan Okudaira fino alla fine del periodo Edo. È entrato nei libri di storia come uno dei Samurai più coraggiosi e fedeli.

photo credits: japanworld.info

Una curiosità: sulla linea Lida è stata aperta una stazione ferroviaria che porta il nome del coraggioso Samurai, un posto non molto lontano dal luogo della sua crocifissione.[:en]

photo credits: japanworld.info

Torii Suneemon (1540 – 1575) was a Japanese samurai of the Torii family, known for his courage and for the incredible value demonstrated in the battle of Nagashino (1575). Of his youth, it is known that he was an ashigaru soldier who served Okudaira Sadamasa, a vassal of Tokugawa Ieyasu and master of the castle of Nagashino.

On June 17, 1575, after failing to capture Yoshida Castle in Toyohashi, 15,000 of Takeda Katsuyori’s samurai attacked Nagashino Castle in modern Shinshiro City, Aichi Prefecture. Nagashino with only 500 men, was built on top of a cliff, where the Ure and the Kansa rivers divided and served as a natural moat. It was a strategically important castle, guarding the Tokugawa against the threat of northern Takeda. Takeda Katsuyori, son of the famous Takeda Shingen, was busy reaching the capital, Kyoto, in an attempt to gain control of the nation.

To get to Kyoto, they first had to conquer Mikawa and Owari, lands held by allies Tokugawa Ieyasu and Oda Nobunaga. Nagashino Castle was important as it threatened the supply lines of the Takeda clan.

photo credits: asianartscollection.com

The Takeda forces had surrounded the castle, and the brave Torii volunteered to leave the castle, swim along the river and cut off the nets drawn near the enemy. Later he would have to walk 25 km from Okazaki and call Tokugawa Ieyasu. After warning him and requesting reinforcements, Torii quickly returned to Nagashino where he was captured as he tried to return to the castle.

The story tells of how Torii Suneemon had been tied and crucified with straw ropes in plain sight to his compatriots from Nagashino castle. “Tell them reinforcements will not come, tell them to give up the castle and get out!” one of his captors hissed. Torii looked up at the castle shouting: “Men from the castle of Nagashino… Don’t give up! Ieyasu’s men are coming! Wait a little longer!” Following his exploit, he was silenced by a spear stuck in the stomach.

The forces of the Tokugawa clan and the Oda allies eventually arrived on the scene a week later with 38,000 soldiers, creating an important turning point in the history of Japan and the samurai war, the battle of Nagashino and Shitaragahara.

It is interesting to know that a Takeda Samurai, Ochiai Michihisa, was so impressed with Torii’s loyalty and courage that in a battle he displayed a flag with the image of the crucified Samurai. That flag is now kept in the Tokyo University library.

The martyr Torii was promoted posthumously to the samurai class and his family continued to serve the Okudaira clan until the end of the Edo period. He entered the history books as one of the most courageous and faithful Samurai.

photo credits: japanworld.info

A curiosity: on the Lida line a railway station was opened bearing the name of the brave Samurai, a place not far from where he was crucified.[:ja]

photo credits: japanworld.info

Torii Suneemon (1540 – 1575) was a Japanese samurai of the Torii family, known for his courage and for the incredible value demonstrated in the battle of Nagashino (1575). Of his youth, it is known that he was an ashigaru soldier who served Okudaira Sadamasa, a vassal of Tokugawa Ieyasu and master of the castle of Nagashino.

On June 17, 1575, after failing to capture Yoshida Castle in Toyohashi, 15,000 of Takeda Katsuyori’s samurai attacked Nagashino Castle in modern Shinshiro City, Aichi Prefecture. Nagashino with only 500 men, was built on top of a cliff, where the Ure and the Kansa rivers divided and served as a natural moat. It was a strategically important castle, guarding the Tokugawa against the threat of northern Takeda. Takeda Katsuyori, son of the famous Takeda Shingen, was busy reaching the capital, Kyoto, in an attempt to gain control of the nation.

To get to Kyoto, they first had to conquer Mikawa and Owari, lands held by allies Tokugawa Ieyasu and Oda Nobunaga. Nagashino Castle was important as it threatened the supply lines of the Takeda clan.

photo credits: asianartscollection.com

The Takeda forces had surrounded the castle, and the brave Torii volunteered to leave the castle, swim along the river and cut off the nets drawn near the enemy. Later he would have to walk 25 km from Okazaki and call Tokugawa Ieyasu. After warning him and requesting reinforcements, Torii quickly returned to Nagashino where he was captured as he tried to return to the castle.

The story tells of how Torii Suneemon had been tied and crucified with straw ropes in plain sight to his compatriots from Nagashino castle. “Tell them reinforcements will not come, tell them to give up the castle and get out!” one of his captors hissed. Torii looked up at the castle shouting: “Men from the castle of Nagashino… Don’t give up! Ieyasu’s men are coming! Wait a little longer!” Following his exploit, he was silenced by a spear stuck in the stomach.

The forces of the Tokugawa clan and the Oda allies eventually arrived on the scene a week later with 38,000 soldiers, creating an important turning point in the history of Japan and the samurai war, the battle of Nagashino and Shitaragahara.

It is interesting to know that a Takeda Samurai, Ochiai Michihisa, was so impressed with Torii’s loyalty and courage that in a battle he displayed a flag with the image of the crucified Samurai. That flag is now kept in the Tokyo University library.

The martyr Torii was promoted posthumously to the samurai class and his family continued to serve the Okudaira clan until the end of the Edo period. He entered the history books as one of the most courageous and faithful Samurai.

photo credits: japanworld.info

A curiosity: on the Lida line a railway station was opened bearing the name of the brave Samurai, a place not far from where he was crucified.

[:]