Welcome to the home of Summer Wars!
The Ueda area of the Shinshu district in central Honshu, about 90 minutes by train from Tokyo, is the home of the Sanada Clan, a powerful warrior family of medieval Japan. This splendid and long treasured landscape of our everyday life in Shinshu-Ueda has become the setting of the animated movie Summer Wars.
Why was the Shinshu-Ueda area chosen as the scene of Summer Wars? To begin to answer this question, we offer you a glimpse of this fascinating area.
The Shinshu-Ueda area of the Jinnouchi Family
In the film, Natsuki Shinohara's great-grandmother Sakae, the pillar of the Jinnouchi family, is the descendent of a warrior clan which goes back to the Muromachi Era (1338-1573). Grandma Sakae's estate (left) resembles the historical residence of the feudal lords of the Sanada Clan, Ueda Castle, especially the eastern watch tower and gate (right).
Ueda Castle was built by the Feudal Lord Masayuki Sanada in 1583. This castle resisted two attacks by the Tokugawa army. What was once a battleground is now famous for its cherry blossoms and is frequented by tourists.
The Jinnouchi Family Armor
Does the Jinnouchi family armor enshrined in the alcove in the entrance way of their house (left) resemble the armor of Masayuki Sanada (right), the lord who built Ueda Castle?
The Feudal Lord Masayuki Sanada
Twice, the Tokugawa army suffered defeat by Masayuki Sanada. Ieyasu Tokugawa was unable to forget the fear he had felt, even after Masayuki died.
Masayuki's son Yukimura went to Osaka to support the troops there in the winter battle. They say that when Ieyasu heard the words that "Lord Sanada has entered Osaka Castle," he panicked and asked several times, "Which Sanada is it, the father or the son?" Knowing it was not the dreaded Masayuki who entered Osaka Castle but rather the son, Yukimura, Ieyasu was relieved -- but only for a short time. Through the winter and summer battles in Osaka, he would come to know that as a military commander Yukimura surpassed his father.
And who was the Jinnouchi family's ancestor who challenged the 150,000 strong Tokugawa army in 1615 (the 20th year of the Keicho Era)?
In Summer Wars, stories of the Jinnouchi family's ancestors appear frequently. Both the first and second Ueda battles are legendary battles in which Masayuki Sanada resisted the Tokugawa army.
At the film's climax the following lines are spoken:
"In the Osaka Summer Battle we fought against the Tokugawa army of 150,000 soldiers in the 20th year of the Keicho Era." "But we lost…"
"Even though it was a losing battle, we fought to the end." Perhaps you already know that this ancestor is none other than Masayuki's second son, Lord Yukimura Sanada.
The summer battle at Osaka was Yukimura's last battle. There was an overwhelming difference in military power and the Osaka troops began to retreat. That's when Yukimura broke into Ieyasu's headquarters. Ieyasu sensed danger and tried to flee, and Yukimura pursued him. Little by little he pressed on to defeat Ieyasu, but ... Even the strongest man will eventually come to the end of his strength when surrounded by many enemies. He spurred on to defeat Ieyasu, but he gradually came to his last ounce of strength. And what did he think about just before he died? Shoutaro Ikenami described this scene in his work Sanada Taiheiki as follows. Yukimura speaks, in his heart, to his dead father and tells him: "By one breath I regrettably allowed Ieyasu Tokugawa the honor of escaping. He is an extremely fortunate man. But ... but ... I fought hard and long. Father, can you accept this?" If Lord Masayuki had been alive, how might he have answered his son Yukimura?
Masayuki died in exile in Kudoyama dreaming to fight Ieyasu one more time. And Yukimura died in the dream that his father could not fulfill. These two passionate souls come alive again in Summer Wars.
Another Passionate Soul
Masayuki's oldest son, Nobuyuki, married Princess Komatsu. Her father was Ieyasu's chief statesman, Honda Tadakatsu. Nobuyuki fought with the Tokugawa army against his father, Masayuki, and younger brother, Yukimura. Ieyasu deeply trusted Nobuyuki. Ieyasu gave Nobuyuki the Ueda territory that had belonged to Masayuki after the battle of Sekigahara. But after Ieyasu died, Nobuyuki was moved to Matsushiro by Hidetada(the son of Ieyasu) who had a grudge against the Sanada Clan.
The Matsushiro Clan was governed by the Sanada Clan until the Meiji Restoration. After the Meiji Restoration, Nobuyuki's secret papers, which were unknown even to the clan's director, were revealed. Surprisingly, these secret documents included a letter written by Mitsunari Ishida(central figure of the enemy of Ieyasu at the battle of Sekigahara) before the battle of Sekigahara. If these secret documents had been known to the Shogunate Nobuyuki might have been in grave danger. Why did he keep these documents?
Though Nobuyuki governed the Matsushiro clan to the end and died at age 93, perhaps, in that battle at Sekigahara he had really wanted to fight side by side with his father and brother against Ieyasu. So, we can think that he had always defended the Sanada Clan in his heart.
Translated by Nagano University, Faculty of Tourism and Environmental Studies, English VII students, post-grad research students and teacher.