Siege of Anotsu Castle: Tomita Nobutaka Surrounded by the Western Army in a Prelude to Sekigahara

On the 24th day of the 8th month of Keicho 5 (old calendar), Tomita Nobutaka, who held Anotsu Castle in Ise, and Wakebe Mitsuyoshi, lord of Ueno Castle in Ise, were attacked by Western Army forces under Mori Hidemoto, Natsuka Masaie, Ankokuji Ekei and others. In the Gregorian calendar this was 1 October 1600. The result was a Western Army victory: a settlement was reached through the mediation of Mokujiki Oyo, and Anotsu Castle was surrendered. It was one of the preliminary engagements before the Battle of Sekigahara.

The garrison and the attackers

The castellan was Tomita Nobutaka, and Wakebe Mitsuyoshi also entered the castle. The garrison is given as about 1,700.

The attacking Western Army included Mori Hidemoto, Natsuka Masaie, Ankokuji Ekei, Nabeshima Katsushige, Chosokabe Morichika and Matsura Hisanobu, about 30,000 in all. A call to surrender from Kikkawa Hiroie is also said to have reached the castle.

The date of the fighting

The main battle is dated to the 24th of the 8th month of Keicho 5, and skirmishing had begun the day before, on the 23rd.

The fighting of the 24th

On the morning of the 24th, Mori Hidemoto, Natsuka Masaie, Ankokuji Ekei and others surrounded and attacked the castle from points such as Mount Atago to the north.

In the course of this, Wakebe Mitsuyoshi and Shishido Mototsugu of the Western Army fought a duel in which both were gravely wounded. Tomita Nobutaka is said to have fallen into danger but to have been helped back into the castle by a young warrior. The story is an anecdote found in works such as the Seiyo Zakki.

The surrender and settlement

The result was a Western Army victory. On the 25th a settlement was reached through the mediation of Mokujiki Oyo, and Anotsu Castle was surrendered. Tomita Nobutaka and Wakebe Mitsuyoshi shaved their heads and went to Mount Koya.

The Tomita after the battle

After the Battle of Sekigahara, Tomita Nobutaka was confirmed in his former domain. But in Keicho 13 (1608) he was transferred to Uwajima in Iyo, and Todo Takatora entered Tsu Castle afterward. Explanations of the circumstances of the transfer differ among sources.

The site of Tsu Castle

The site of Anotsu Castle survives as the Tsu Castle site (Oshiro Park). It was designated a historic site of the city of Tsu in February 1958 (Showa 33) and a historic site of Mie Prefecture in March 2005 (Heisei 17). The stone walls of the keep base remain. Todo Takatora's major reconstruction is dated to Keicho 16 (1611), though the year differs between sources.