A Large-Scale Warring-States-Period Romance (revised)

      In 1538, an Oyumi Kanto Deputy Shogun and a Koga Kanto Deputy Shogun clashed against each other in Konodai, Shimousa Province. The Oyumi Kanto Deputy Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiaki (?-1538), was killed in battle, and Koga’s side won.

     Yoshiaki's first son, Yoshizumi (?-1538), was also killed in battle, and Yoshiaki's younger children fled to Awa Province, counting on the protection of Satomi Yoshitaka (1507-1574).  It was during those days that Yoshiaki’s first daughter and Yoshitaka’s first son, Yoshihiro (1530-1578), met.  Later, however, Yoshiaki's second and third sons were sent to Sekido-ji Temple in Kazusa Province and his 3 daughters were sent to Taihei-ji Temple in Kamakura.  They became under the patronage, or the supervision, of the Later Hojo Clan, who proved their superiority in the Battle of Konodai.

     At the age of 8 or 9, Yoshihiro was determined.

     After coming of age, Yoshihiro kept fighting fiercely and aggressively against the Later Hojo Clan.  He continued fighting for some 18 years. Finally, in 1556, he succeeded in intruding into Kamakura temporarily.

     Ashikaga Yoshiaki’s first daughter, who was Nun Shogaku (?-1576?) when Yoshihiro invaded Kamakura, had been determined too.  With her noble bloodline as a young lady of the Ashikaga Shogunate Clan, she could have married a son of a powerful family as her younger sister did.  The younger sister married Uesugi Norihiro (?-1551), the Butler or Regent of the Kanto Deputy Shogunate.  Instead, Shogaku became a nun at Taihei-ji Temple. 

     When they saw each other after nearly 2 decades, Yoshihiro was 26 years old, and Shogaku might have been as old as or a little older than him.  Yoshihiro asked Shogaku to come back to Awa Province, and she accepted his proposal.  Hojo Ujiyasu (1515-1571), the then head of the Later Hojo Clan, criticized their attempt as “incomprehensible” but all he could do was destroy Taihei-ji Temple to let off his steam.