Who Is Shibata Katsuie (Shibata Gonroku)?
The fierce warrior who sided with Kanjuro, then Nobunaga
Shibata Katsuie was a Warring States warrior who became a leading retainer of the Oda clan, a fierce fighter known as "Oni Shibata" ("Demon Shibata"). In the early scenes of the Shinchō Kōki he is called "Shibata Gonroku." He first served Nobunaga's younger brother, Kanjuro.
At the funeral of Nobunaga's father, Nobuhide, he attends at Kanjuro's side. At the Battle of Ino in 1556 he leads troops as a general on Kanjuro's side, but he is defeated by Nobunaga and spared. When Kanjuro begins to favor Tsuzuki Kurando above all others, however, Shibata's loyalty fades, and he informs Nobunaga of the second planned rebellion. That warning leads to Kanjuro's end.
He then became a powerful retainer of Nobunaga, entrusted with Echizen and other territory. After Nobunaga's death he clashed with Hashiba Hideyoshi, lost the Battle of Shizugatake in 1583, and took his own life at Kitanosho Castle together with his wife, Lady Oichi.
Episodes featuring this character2
NEWEpisode 1
He Hurled Incense at His Father's FuneralThe Great Fool of Owari
The whole town laughs at the young lord they call the Great Fool. But one young archer, Ota Gyuichi, sees what nobody else does: the young lord training alone at dawn. At his father's funeral, the young lord hurls incense at the altar. Then his guardian, Hirate Masahide, takes his own life. In Episode 1, what was the first thing the chronicler wrote down?
19 pages
NEWEpisode 3
He Forgave His Brother Once. Only Once.The Battle of Ino
Saito Dosan, his wife's father and the one man who believed in him, is dead, and the young lord Oda Nobunaga is suddenly alone. His polite younger brother Kanjuro, his mother's favorite, is pushed by ambitious retainers into rising against him. Nobunaga forgives him once. He doesn't forgive him a second time.
19 pages