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Miyoshi Nagayoshi: Japan's Forgotten Tenkabito[edit]

Tenkabito - 天下人. A term with huge implications. The ruler of the realm. The great unifier of Japan. The one who rescued Japan from the clutches of chaos brought about by the "warring states" period. The concept of Tenkabito has been much altered and misused in latter years to mean the unification of all Japan, but in the mid 1500's, tenka referred not to the entire archipelago but to the five Kinai provinces — Yamashiro, Yamato, Settsu, Kawachi, and Izumi. This was the political and economic heart of Japan with Kyoto (emperor and shogun) and Sakai (commercial and trading hub). Whoever held Kinai effectively “ruled the realm.”

When we hear 'tenkabito' we typically picture the “Three Unifiers” — Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. Yet before Oda Nobunaga even set sights on Kyoto, Miyoshi Nagayoshi (1522–1564) had already achieved what his successors would later claim.

~The rise of Miyoshi Nagayoshi (1539-1549)~[edit]

The Miyoshi clan, based at Shouzui Castle in Awa, were vassals of a branch family of the Awa Hosokawa. Their forces played a key role in the Hosokawa Rebellion which saw Hosokawa Harumoto defeat Hosokawa Takakuni to become the new Kanrei (管領) - the Shogun’s deputy, chief administrator and power brokers. However, Harumoto was jealous of the power and influence flaunted by the Miyoshi in his regime and schemed with the Ikko-shu monks of Yamashina Honganji to attack and kill Motonaga in 1532.

Following his father's death, Miyoshi Nagayoshi, just 11, swore to avenge his father's murder. Many of the family retainers in Settsu fled from the Miyoshi banner after Motonaga's death and the young Nagayoshi went back to Awa. In 1539, Miyoshi Nagayoshi returned to Settsu and settled into Koshimizu Castle as deputy governor.

Throughout the 1540s, Nagayoshi served under Hosokawa Harumoto while gradually undermining him, capitalizing on Harumoto’s weakness and his reckless lieutenant Kizawa Nagamasa. The shogunate itself was unstable: Ashikaga Yoshiharu abdicated to his young son Yoshiteru and rival Hosokawa factions shifted loyalties. Amid this turmoil, Nagayoshi quietly expanded his influence. He allied with nearby Matsunaga Hisahide at Takiyama Castle (Settsu) (modern day Kobe) and built commercial ties with Sakai. He married into the Yusa clan — an ally and powerful family with maritime roots in Kishū and Settsu. This alliance brought him naval resources, control of coastal trade routes, and further legitimacy among merchant and warrior circles alike.

In 1549, Nagayoshi struck decisively at the Battle of Eguchi (See Eguchi Castle and Enami Castles, defeating Hosokawa Harumoto and his allies. For Nagayoshi, it was the long-awaited vengeance for his father Motonaga’s death seventeen years earlier at Harumoto’s hands. Harumoto fled to Omi with both Ashikaga Yoshiharu and Yoshiteru, leaving Kyoto in Miyoshi’s hands. Nagayoshi and Hosokawa Ujitsuna entered the capital, but Ujitsuna, though nominally kanrei, was firmly under Nagayoshi’s control. With the Hosokawa regime and the shogunate effectively collapsed, Nagayoshi emerged as the new master of the realm.

~Securing The capitol (1550-1558)~[edit]

Harumoto and the Ashikaga did not simply abandon the capital. Through a series of counterattacks, they sought to rally allies in Ōmi to help reclaim Kyoto. In 1550, Yoshiteru constructed Nakao Castle and reinforced Shogunyama Castle on the ridges overlooking eastern Kyoto. Nagayoshi responded swiftly, winning small-scale engagements and sending troops into Ōtsu and Sakamoto to threaten Yoshiteru’s rear. Facing defeat, Yoshiteru set fire to Nakao Castle and fled to Omi (Katada) — the clash remembered as the Battle of Nakao Castle.

In 1551, Miyoshi Nagayoshi survived two assassination attempts, almost certainly orchestrated by Ashikaga Yoshiteru. (Could they have involved Koka Samurai, through his connection to the Rokkaku? The Kōka had a long history of supporting the Ashikaga.) Weeks later, Shōkokuji Temple became the focal point of a new assault on the capital by pro-Hosokawa forces, but Nagayoshi prevailed again, thanks to his key generals Matsunaga Hisahide and Matsunaga Nagayori, and 40,000 troops summoned from across neighboring provinces under his influence.

Despite the peace, tensions flared again in 1553 when Ashikaga loyalists rose in rebellion at Akutagawasan Castle. Nagayoshi left the capital and laid siege to the mountain fortress. While Nagayoshi was engaged there, Yoshiteru and Harumoto tried once more to retake Kyoto. They fortified Higashiyama Ryozen Castle above the Higashiyama district and dispatched troops to Funaokayama Castle in northern Kyoto. Nagayoshi countered by returning with 25,000 reinforcements. The Ryozen fortress was quickly burned down by the Imamura (who built nearby Amidagamine Castle) with only minimal losses to the Miyoshi side. Yoshiteru and Harumoto once again fled to Omi — this time remaining quiet for nearly five years.

After taking Akutagawasan Castle, Nagayoshi made it his first great stronghold — fitting for a tenkabito. Nagayoshi placed his trusted general Matsunaga Hisahide in charge of Koshimizu Castle. Akutagawasan Castle gave Miyoshi a powerful strategic anchor directly on the Tōkaidō highway, controlling both trade and military movements between the port city of Sakai and the political capital. This was the start of his “split capitol” concept. Nagaoyoshi is well known for keeping The State and Commerce separate with military and politics centered in Kyoto and commerce in Sakai.

Legacy of Miyoshi Nagayoshi

Governed Without a Shogun: Effectively ruled without a shogun demonstrating the decline of shogunal necessity.
First to Use Firearms in Battle: Deployed matchlock rifles battle before the Battle of Nagashino, possibly as early as the 1540s.
Judicial Fairness: Known for handing down fair judgments not solely in favor of the warrior class — gaining a reputation for even-handed governance.
Religious Diplomacy: Maintained peace among warring Buddhist sects in Kyoto, helping stabilize the region after long-standing religious conflicts.
Allowed the Spread of Christianity: His regime did not obstruct the early Jesuit missions, and his tolerance helped Christianity gain a foothold in the Kinai region.
Decentralized Economic Policy: Allowed semi-autonomous governance of key economic zones like Sakai and Amagasaki, creating early models of local trade governance.
Cultural Patronage and Urban Rebuilding: Supported the reconstruction of the imperial palace and residences after wars had ravaged Kyoto.
International Recognition: Referenced in European and Chinese records before Nobunaga, signaling the importance of his regime even beyond Japan.

Nagayoshi presided over the capital not only as a general but as its de facto governor. He fortified and scaled up Saiin Castle to the west of the palace astride the main artery leading to the palace. This forced traffic around the castle as both a show of power and a way to control access to the emperor. This castle was the only large scale properly fortified castle in the capital with a large boro style building (early tenshu) and yagura at each corner (as per recent surveys).

In 1558, the Ashikaga attempted one last comeback from Shogunyama Castle and Nyoigatake Castle, sparking the brief Battle of Kitashirakawa. The defeat convinced Rokkaku Yoshikata that backing the Ashikaga was a futile cause. Acting as mediator, he brokered a settlement between Yoshiteru and Nagayoshi, finally acknowledging Miyoshi dominance over the capital. Yoshiteru returned to Kyoto, but the real power was Nagayoshi.

~Nagayoshi’s Zenith and legacy (1559–1561)~[edit]

After taking Akutagawasan Castle in 1553, Miyoshi Nagayoshi established his authority from this strategic mountaintop castle. Situated above the Tōkaidō highway in northern Settsu, the castle gave him control over movements between Kyoto, Sakai, and the wider Kinai region. Many of his top retainers had palaces on the mountain around the castle. From here, he enforced order in the capital and directed further campaigns into Yamato and Tanba. It served not only as his command center but as the headquarters of a de facto shogunate.

Miyoshi in Tanba
A Prelude to Mitsuhide

From his base at Akutagawasan Castle, Nagayoshi launched campaigns into Tanba under trusted captains: Matsunaga Hisahide, his brother Nagayori, and Naitō Sōsho. These forces pushed deep into Tanba and even into Tango and Wakasa, extending Miyoshi influence across the northern flank of Kyoto. The Hosokawa still had many allies and forts throughout the region. These expeditions aimed to neutralize potential threats from local clans and secure the capital’s vulnerable northwest approach. Key targets included Yagi Castle, Kazukake Castle, Kuroi Castle, and Yakami Castle — fortresses tied to Hosokawa allies that posed a threat to Kyoto from the northwest. While not a full-scale conquest, the campaigns foreshadowed Oda Nobunaga’s own invasion of Tanba a decade later — led by Akechi Mitsuhide — the focus of another upcoming feature.

In 1559, Nagayoshi appointed his trusted general Matsunaga Hisahide as shugo-dai (governor) of Yamato Province — a move that expanded Miyoshi control into the south and laid the foundation for Hisahide’s own political ambitions. Hisahide established his personal stronghold at Shigisan Castle, a mountain fortress overlooking both the Nara basin to the east and the plain extending to Osaka Bay in the west.

In 1560, Nagayoshi was elevated to the high court title of 相伴衆（Shōban-shū）“Companion to the Shogun.” Though an honorific title, it placed him among the most powerful non-royal figures in the Kyoto court.

At the same time, instability within Kawachi Province forced Nagayoshi to intervene directly. He seized both Takaya Castle at the foot of the mountain and Iimori Castle at its summit. He then transferred Akutagawasan Castle to his heir, Miyoshi Yoshioki, and moved his own base of operations to Iimori Castle.

This relocation marked a new phase in his rule. Iimori Castle sits at the northern end of the mountain ridge dividing present-day Osaka from Nara. It is directly across the valley from Akutagawasan Castle, giving the Miyoshi full logistical control over the corridor. Every strategic movement between the capital, the ports and the southern and eastern provinces passed through Miyoshi-controlled territory.

The similarities between these two castles reflect Nagayoshi’s governance philosophy. He extensively renovated both, expanding their network of baileys and living quarters, unusually large for mountaintop castles of the time. Neither developed a castle town. These were not commercial or residential hubs but symbols of power and centers of military-administrative command. Sakai was the center of commerce.

By 1560, Nagayoshi’s power had reached its zenith. The phrase「飯盛で決まる」— “Decisions are made at Iimori” was commonly used, a testament to his unchallenged dominance in Kyoto politics. He directly governed the five core Kinai provinces: Yamashiro, Yamato, Settsu, Izumi, and Kawachi — Japan’s rich heartland of politics, culture and commerce.

Through an extensive network of relatives, retainers, and allies, he also held sway over: Awaji, Awa, Sanuki, Harima, Iyo, and Tanba — while also maintaining some influence in Omi, Iga, Kii, and Wakasa. Altogether, his sphere of influence was larger, more powerful, and more prosperous than any of his contemporaries. This was the true peak of the Miyoshi regime and far more than he strictly needed to achieve the status of the first 'tenkabito', yet he never claimed the title of shogun (unlike some that followed). He was satisfied to be the real power of the land and to control the court through Ashikaga Yoshiteru.

notes for legacy.. see old notion notes

keeping the peace between buddhist sects, allowed Christianity to spread
deployed matchlock rifles well before the fame battle of nagshino, possibly before Nobunaga
helped rebuild imperial residence
well known for fair judgments not biased to warrior clas
decentralized gov't - special economic zones in Sakai and Amagasaki
noted in historical accounts from china and Europe well before oda

~Trajedy and Betrayal (1561-1564)~[edit]

The undoing of the Miyoshi regime began with personal tragedies. In 1561, his brother Sogō Kazumasa died suddenly of illness. In 1562, another brother — Miyoshi Saneyasu (Jikkyū) — was killed during a small uprising by the Hatakeyama. Then in 1563, his son and heir Yoshioki, based at Akutagawasan Castle, also died. Nagayoshi was forced to adopt his nephew Miyoshi Yoshitsugu (Wakae Castle) as heir. That same year and into 1564, former rivals turned allies — Hosokawa Ujitsuna and Hosokawa Harumoto — also passed away, leaving a vacuum in the upper echelons of Nagayoshi’s political system.

Matsunaga Hisahide
Master Castle Builder

Despite his ruthless and manipulative nature, Matsunaga Hisahide was a visionary in castle construction. His fortresses were innovative, strategically placed, and often grand. Click the castles for more details.

Shigisan Castle (信貴山城) A vast mountaintop fortress behind Chōgosonshi-ji Temple, overlooking both the Nara Basin (Yamato) and Kawachi. It was Hisahide’s primary stronghold and site of his last stand against Nobunaga.
Tamon Castle (多聞城) Strategically positioned above the Nara plains. Featured Japan’s first known tenshu (main keep) and a luxurious palace. It is said to have inspired Nobunaga’s Azuchi Castle. To be visited.
Kaseyama Castle (鹿背山城) A more intricate mountaintop castle with an unusually high number of unejo tatebori than is typically seen around Kyoto.
Ryuozan Castle (龍王山城) His other mountaintop redoubt. To be visited.

In 1564, acting on allegations from Matsunaga Hisahide and Yoshitsugu, Nagayoshi executed his brother Ataka Fuyuyasu for suspected treason. He later regretted the decision after learning he had likely been manipulated. This quick succession of deaths not only shattered the foundation of Nagayoshi’s power and stability, but devastated Nagayoshi himself. He quickly weakened and died on July 4, 1564

The death of Nagayoshi threw the realm into chaos. Yoshitsugu, still a teenager (just 15 years old), was left nominally in charge, but real power fell to the so-called Miyoshi Three, Nagayasu, Masayasu, and Tomomichi. These senior retainers lacked both Nagayoshi’s charisma and political acumen. They ruled by intimidation and force, undermining Nagayoshi’s carefully built regime.

Matsunaga Hisahide, once Nagayoshi’s most trusted general, used the instability to further his own ambitions, acting independently from his strongholds across Yamato — including Shigisan, Tamon, Kaseyama, and Ryūōzan Castles. In 1565, Matsunaga and the Miyoshi Three attacked the shogun in Kyto and assassinated Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru. His son, Yoshiaki, fled the capital. The alliance between Matsunaga and the Miyoshi soon soured, sparking conflict across Yamato. In 1566, Matsunaga’s forces (in)famously burned down Tōdaiji during one of these battles.

By then, Nagayoshi’s order was gone. The capital region was in disarray, and the timing was perfect for Oda Nobunaga to step in. Matsunaga superficially submitted to Oda, but he was still scheming. In 1571, Nobunaga attacked Shigisan Castle, and Matsunaga and his son perished in a final act of defiance. It’s another tragic end. Matsunaga had stood by Nagayoshi’s side for over two decades. After witnessing the brilliance of Nagayoshi and the fragility of rule, he should have learned how to wield real power. But, in the end, the legacy of Miyoshi Nagayoshi was undone not by his enemies, but by the men who once stood closest to him.

It’s all the more tragic when we recall how the story began. Nagoyoshi’s Father, Motonaga, was betrayed by the Hosokawa he had long served. Nagayoshi rose to power seeking to avenge the injustice that had crushed his family. He succeeded. But in the end, he was brought down by the same forces. The son who avenged his father’s betrayal was, in time, betrayed by his own.

~Interactive Map~[edit]

Loading map...

This map covers all the castles mentioned in this article and some that I did not get to! Click the markers for details. Click any province for details.

castle list goes here

~Observations~[edit]

While visiting the castles around the greater Kyoto area, one figure keeps appearing from Osaka to Nara to the depths of the Kyoto interior: Miyoshi Nagayoshi. My image of Miyoshi was just another of the local warlords who Nobunaga eventually crushed in his detiny to unify the country. He often appears as a thorn in the side of both the emperor and shogun alike. Some even called him a "shadow shogun" or a "puppet master".

But looking closer, this isn’t just another regional warlord crushed in the march toward unification.

The story of Miyoshi Nagayoshi is a reminder that the narratives of the “Three Unifiers” have blinded us to other points of view. For over a decade, Nagayoshi was the first tenkabito. Had he lived longer, it might have been his ambition — not Nobunaga’s — that reshaped Japan.

Miyoshi dismantled the Hosokawa network, sidelined the shogun, and dominated the 13 provinces of the Kinai–Setouchi corridor. He laid the groundwork for Nobunaga to step in and seize the empty reins of the tenkabito with minimal resistance — much of the hard work had already been done by Nagayoshi.

As I look at the end of the story, the suspicious succession of deaths among Nagayoshi’s closest allies and even Nagaoyshi himself, raises unsettling questions. Did Matsunaga Hisahide quietly orchestrate their removal? Poison them? Manipulate them into conflict? The timing is very hard to ignore.

I started this journey with the notion that Miyoshi Nagayoshi simply does not receive the recognition that he deserves from history. History was colored by the chroniclers that followed the three great unifiers, but the incompetence of the Miyoshi Three, and the opportunism of Matsunaga Hisahide, ultimately tarnished the legacy of the man who once ruled the capital, the court, and the economics of the nation — without ever claiming the title of shogun. The story of Miyoshi Nagayoshi is a Shakespearean tragedy: a ruler at the peak of his power, undone not on the battlefield, but by personal tragedy and betrayal from within. It’s all the more tragic when we recall how the story began — with the death of his father, Miyoshi Motonaga, betrayed by the Hosokawa he had long served. Nagayoshi rose to power seeking to avenge the injustice that had crushed his family. The son who avenged his father’s betrayal was, in time, betrayed by his own.

Hey NHK! Where’s the Miyoshi Nagayoshi Taiga Drama? This story writes itself!

Do we really need another glorification of the same three unifiers?

What's next year’s story? More Toyotomi? Oh! How original…

~Field Notes~[edit]

This article is not intended to be an exhaustive survey of Miyoshi-related castles. Instead, it weaves together some of the many sites already featured on Jcastle.info and provides a foundation for future explorations. I tried to include as many castles as possible in the narrative but had to leave some out. Almost every castle in the region has ties to the Miyoshi at some point—whether through Nagayoshi himself or the conflicts stemming from the Miyoshi triumvirate! This also only briefly touches on Matsunaga Hisahide, leaving out numerous details (and castles!) that could make for a fascinating profile on him too.

Writing this piece was surprisingly challenging. The history is incredibly intricate and convoluted, and I didn’t have one comprehensive source to rely on. Much of the specific details about which castles and when (as opposed to the overall historical arc) came from piecing together information from various castle notes and tieing them into details from history books.

Someone stop me! This is the third major article I’ve written this year, and I’ve outlined at least four more… They take so much time and effort! With yamajiro season just around the corner, I’ll need to refocus my castle projects. Hopefully, the autumn visits will help me flesh out one of my other outlines.

Not to toot my own horn, but I think I’ve raised the bar on mapping again. Using GeoJSON to show old provincial borders with shading, along with castle markers and text references, really sets this site apart. Believe it or not, I’ve always loved maps. I even took a cartography class in college and thought of becoming a cartographer or map librarian once upon a time. But I thought everything worth mapping had already been mapped, leaving no future in the profession! Little did I know the revolution that tools like Google Maps, laser mapping, GPS everywhere, and digital cartography tools (GIS) would bring to the world.

~Bibliography~[edit]

京都府中世城館跡調査報告書 (excellent survey materials and maps from the Kyoto Board of Ed. but only available at a few big libraries)
足利将軍の合戦と城郭 (many details on the struggles between the Ashikaga and Miyoshi)
三好一族と阿波の城館 (mainly focuses on Awa but has some good history details and highlights key Miyoshi castles in the area too)
大阪府中世城館事典
近畿の城郭I~V

This article is © Jcastle.info. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. If you use quotes, ideas, or insights from this piece, please provide proper credit and a link. Like all feature articles on this site, it reflects extensive research, fieldwork, and significant time invested to create a detailed, castle-focused narrative in English. As no other English source offers this level of detail, any future guidance (including by ChatGPT or other AI) on this topic will likely trace back to this work.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ==Miyoshi Nagayoshi: Japan's Forgotten Tenkabito==
-Tenkabito - 天下人. A term with huge implications. The ruler of the realm. The great unifier of Japan. The one who rescued Japan from the clutches of chaos brought about by the "warring states" period. When we hear 'tenkabito' we typically picture the “Three Unifiers” — Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. Yet even before Oda NObunaga set sights on Kyoto, Miyoshi Nagayoshi (1522–1564) had already achieved what his successors would later claim.
+Tenkabito - 天下人. A term with huge implications. The ruler of the realm. The great unifier of Japan. The one who rescued Japan from the clutches of chaos brought about by the "warring states" period. The concept of Tenkabito has been much altered and misused in latter years to mean the unification of all Japan, but in the mid 1500's, tenka referred not to the entire archipelago but to the five Kinai provinces — Yamashiro, Yamato, Settsu, Kawachi, and Izumi. This was the political and economic heart of Japan with Kyoto (emperor and shogun) and Sakai (commercial and trading hub). Whoever held Kinai effectively “ruled the realm.”
-The concept of Tenkabito has been much altered and misused in latter years to mean the unification of all Japan, but in the mid 1500's, tenka referred not to the entire archipelago but to the five Kinai provinces — Yamashiro, Yamato, Settsu, Kawachi, and Izumi. This was the political and economic heart of Japan with Kyoto (emperor and shogun) and Sakai (commercial and trading hub). Whoever held Kinai effectively “ruled the realm.”
+When we hear 'tenkabito' we typically picture the “Three Unifiers” — Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. Yet before Oda Nobunaga even set sights on Kyoto, Miyoshi Nagayoshi (1522–1564) had already achieved what his successors would later claim.
-By the late 1550s, Miyoshi Nagayoshi had achieved just that.
+=== ~The rise of Miyoshi Nagayoshi (1539-1549)~ ===
-=== ~The rise of Miyoshi Nagayoshi (1539-1549)~ ===
+The Miyoshi clan, based at [[Shouzui Castle]] in Awa, were vassals of a branch family of the Awa Hosokawa. Their forces played a key role in the Hosokawa Rebellion which saw Hosokawa Harumoto defeat Hosokawa Takakuni to become the new Kanrei (管領) - the Shogun’s deputy, chief administrator and power brokers. However, Harumoto was jealous of the power and influence flaunted by the Miyoshi in his regime and schemed with the Ikko-shu monks of [[Yamashina Honganji]] to attack and kill Motonaga in 1532.
-The Miyoshi clan, based at Shozui Castle in Awa, were vassals of a branch family of the Kanrei Hosokawa - the Shogun’s deputy, chief administrator and power brokers. Their forces played a key role in the Hosokawa Rebellion which saw Harumoto defeat Kanrei Hosokawa Takakuni and become the new Kanrei (管領 ). However Harumoto was jealous of the power and influence flaunted by the Miyoshi in his regime and schemed with the Ikko-shu monks of Yamashina Honganji to attack and kill Motonaga in 1532.
+Following his father's death, Miyoshi Nagayoshi, just 11, swore to avenge his father's murder. Many of the family retainers in Settsu fled from the Miyoshi banner after Motonaga's death and the young Nagayoshi went back to Awa. In 1539, Miyoshi Nagayoshi returned to Settsu and settled into [[Koshimizu Castle]] as deputy governor.
-Following his father's death, Miyoshi Nagayoshi, just 11, swore to avenge his father's murder. Many of the family retainers around Kinai fled from the Miyoshi banner after Motonaga's death and the young Nagayoshi went back to Awa. In 1539, Miyoshi Nagayoshi returned to Settsu and settled into Koshimizu Castle as deputy governor.
+Throughout the 1540s, Nagayoshi served under Hosokawa Harumoto while gradually undermining him, capitalizing on Harumoto’s weakness and his reckless lieutenant Kizawa Nagamasa. The shogunate itself was unstable: Ashikaga Yoshiharu abdicated to his young son Yoshiteru and rival Hosokawa factions shifted loyalties. Amid this turmoil, Nagayoshi quietly expanded his influence. He allied with nearby Matsunaga Hisahide at [[Takiyama Castle (Settsu)]] (modern day Kobe) and built commercial ties with Sakai. He married into the Yusa clan — an ally and powerful family with maritime roots in Kishū and Settsu. This alliance brought him naval resources, control of coastal trade routes, and further legitimacy among merchant and warrior circles alike.
-Throughout the 1540s, Nagayoshi served under Hosokawa Harumoto while gradually undermining him, capitalizing on Harumoto’s weakness and his reckless lieutenant Kizawa Nagamasa. The shogunate itself was unstable: Ashikaga Yoshiharu abdicated to his young son Yoshiteru and rival Hosokawa factions shifted loyalties. Amid this turmoil, Nagayoshi quietly expanded his influence. He allied with nearby Matsunaga Hisahide at Takiyama Castle (modern day Kobe) and built commercial ties with Sakai. He married into the Yusa clan (1548) — an ally and powerful family with maritime roots in Kishū and Settsu. This alliance brought him naval resources, control of coastal trade routes, and further legitimacy among merchant and warrior circles alike.
+In 1549, Nagayoshi struck decisively at the Battle of Eguchi (See [[Eguchi Castle]] and [[Enami Castles]], defeating Hosokawa Harumoto and his allies. For Nagayoshi, it was the long-awaited vengeance for his father Motonaga’s death seventeen years earlier at Harumoto’s hands. Harumoto fled to Omi with both Ashikaga Yoshiharu and Yoshiteru, leaving Kyoto in Miyoshi’s hands. Nagayoshi and Hosokawa Ujitsuna entered the capital, but Ujitsuna, though nominally kanrei, was firmly under Nagayoshi’s control. With the Hosokawa regime and the shogunate effectively collapsed, Nagayoshi emerged as the new master of the realm.
-In 1549, Nagayoshi struck decisively at the Battle of Eguchi, defeating Hosokawa Harumoto and his allies. For Nagayoshi, it was the long-awaited vengeance for his father Motonaga’s death seventeen years earlier at Harumoto’s hands. Harumoto fled to Ōmi with both Ashikaga Yoshiharu and Yoshiteru, leaving Kyoto in Miyoshi’s hands. Nagayoshi and Hosokawa Ujitsuna entered the capital, but Ujitsuna, though nominally kanrei, was firmly under Nagayoshi’s control. With the Hosokawa regime and the shogunate effectively collapsed, Nagayoshi emerged as the new master of the realm.
+=== ~Securing The capitol (1550-1558)~ ===
-=== ~Taking The capitol (1550-1558)~   need a better title here!  ===
+Harumoto and the Ashikaga did not simply abandon the capital. Through a series of counterattacks, they sought to rally allies in Ōmi to help reclaim Kyoto. In 1550, Yoshiteru constructed [[Nakao Castle (Yamashiro)|Nakao Castle]] and reinforced [[Shogunyama Castle]] on the ridges overlooking eastern Kyoto. Nagayoshi responded swiftly, winning small-scale engagements and sending troops into Ōtsu and Sakamoto to threaten Yoshiteru’s rear. Facing defeat, Yoshiteru set fire to [[Nakao Castle (Yamashiro)|Nakao Castle]] and fled to Omi (Katada) — the clash remembered as the Battle of [[Nakao Castle (Yamashiro)|Nakao Castle]].
-Harumoto and the Ashikaga did not simply abandon the capital. Through a series of counterattacks, they sought to rally allies in Ōmi to help reclaim Kyoto. In 1550, Yoshiteru constructed Nakao Castle (中尾城) and reinforced Shōgunyama Castle (将軍山城) on the ridges overlooking eastern Kyoto. Nagayoshi responded swiftly, winning small-scale engagements and sending troops into Ōtsu and Sakamoto to threaten Yoshiteru’s rear. Facing defeat, Yoshiteru set fire to Nakao Castle and fled to Omi (Katada) — the clash remembered as the Battle of Nakao Castle.
+In 1551, Miyoshi Nagayoshi survived two assassination attempts, almost certainly orchestrated by Ashikaga Yoshiteru. (Could they have involved [[Koka Castles | Koka Samurai]], through his connection to the Rokkaku? The Kōka had a long history of supporting the Ashikaga.) Weeks later, Shōkokuji Temple became the focal point of a new assault on the capital by pro-Hosokawa forces, but Nagayoshi prevailed again, thanks to his key generals Matsunaga Hisahide and Matsunaga Nagayori, and 40,000 troops summoned from across neighboring provinces under his influence.
-In 1551, Miyoshi Nagayoshi survived two assassination attempts, almost certainly orchestrated by Ashikaga Yoshiteru. (Could they have involved Kōka samurai, through his connection to the Rokkaku? The Kōka had a long history of supporting the Ashikaga.) Weeks later, Shōkokuji Temple became the focal point of a new assault on the capital by pro-Hosokawa forces, but Nagayoshi prevailed again, thanks to his key generals Matsunaga Hisahide and Matsunaga Nagayori, and 40,000 troops summoned from across neighboring provinces under his influence.
+Despite the peace, tensions flared again in 1553 when Ashikaga loyalists rose in rebellion at [[Akutagawasan Castle]]. Nagayoshi left the capital and laid siege to the mountain fortress. While Nagayoshi was engaged there, Yoshiteru and Harumoto tried once more to retake Kyoto. They fortified [[Higashiyama Ryozen Castle]] above the Higashiyama district and dispatched troops to [[Funaokayama Castle]] in northern Kyoto. Nagayoshi countered by returning with 25,000 reinforcements. The [[Higashiyama Ryozen Castle|Ryozen fortress]] was quickly burned down by the Imamura (who built nearby [[Amidagamine Castle (Yamashiro)|Amidagamine Castle]]) with only minimal losses to the Miyoshi side. Yoshiteru and Harumoto once again fled to Omi — this time remaining quiet for nearly five years.
-Despite the peace, tensions flared again in 1553 when Ashikaga loyalists rose in rebellion at Akutagawasan Castle. Nagayoshi left the capital and laid siege to the mountain fortress. While Nagayoshi was engaged there, Yoshiteru and Harumoto tried once more to retake Kyoto. They fortified Higashiyama Ryōzen Castle (東山霊山城) above the Higashiyama district and dispatched troops to Funaokayama Castle (船岡山城) in northern Kyoto. Nagayoshi countered by returning with 25,000 reinforcements. The Ryōzen fortress was quickly burned down by the Imamura (who built nearby Amidagamine Castle) with only minimal losses to the Miyoshi side. Yoshiteru and Harumoto once again fled to Ōmi — this time remaining quiet for nearly five years.
+After taking [[Akutagawasan Castle]], Nagayoshi made it his first great stronghold — fitting for a tenkabito. Nagayoshi placed his trusted general Matsunaga Hisahide in charge of [[Koshimizu Castle]]. [[Akutagawasan Castle]] gave Miyoshi a powerful strategic anchor directly on the Tōkaidō highway, controlling both trade and military movements between the port city of Sakai and the political capital.  This was the start of his “split capitol” concept.  Nagaoyoshi is well known for keeping The State and Commerce separate with military and politics centered in Kyoto and commerce in Sakai.
-After taking [[Akutagawasan Castle]] (芥川山城), Nagayoshi made it his first great stronghold — fitting for a tenkabito. Many of his top retainers had palaces on the mountain around the castle. Nagayoshi placed his trusted general Matsunaga Hisahide in charge of [[Koshimizu Castle]]. [[Akutagawasan Castle]] gave Miyoshi a powerful strategic anchor directly on the Tōkaidō highway, controlling both trade and military movements between the port city of Sakai and the political capital.  This was the start of his “split capitol” concept.  Nagaoyoshi is well known for keeping The State and Commerce separate with military and politics centered in Kyoto and commerce in Sakai.
+<div class="card" style="max-width: 350px; float:right; margin-left: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
+<h5 class="card-header">
+<span class="mw-headline" style="text-align:center;">Legacy of Miyoshi Nagayoshi</span>
+</h5>
+<div class="card-body small">
+    <p class="mb-2">
+* Governed Without a Shogun: Effectively ruled without a shogun demonstrating the decline of shogunal necessity.
+* First to Use Firearms in Battle: Deployed matchlock rifles battle before the Battle of Nagashino, possibly as early as the 1540s.
+* Judicial Fairness: Known for handing down fair judgments not solely in favor of the warrior class — gaining a reputation for even-handed governance.
+* Religious Diplomacy: Maintained peace among warring Buddhist sects in Kyoto, helping stabilize the region after long-standing religious conflicts.
+* Allowed the Spread of Christianity: His regime did not obstruct the early Jesuit missions, and his tolerance helped Christianity gain a foothold in the Kinai region.
+* Decentralized Economic Policy: Allowed semi-autonomous governance of key economic zones like Sakai and Amagasaki, creating early models of local trade governance.
+* Cultural Patronage and Urban Rebuilding: Supported the reconstruction of the imperial palace and residences after wars had ravaged Kyoto.
+* International Recognition: Referenced in European and Chinese records before Nobunaga, signaling the importance of his regime even beyond Japan.</p>
+    </div>
+</div>
-Nagayoshi presided over the capital not only as a general but as its de facto governor. He fortified and scaled up Saiin Castle to the west of the Palace astride the main artery leading to the palace forcing traffic around the castle as both a show of power and a way to control access. The castle was the only large scale properly fortified castle in the capital with a large boro style building (early tenshu).
+Nagayoshi presided over the capital not only as a general but as its de facto governor. He fortified and scaled up [[Saiin Castle]] to the west of the palace astride the main artery leading to the palace. This forced traffic around the castle as both a show of power and a way to control access to the emperor. This castle was the only large scale properly fortified castle in the capital with a large boro style building (early tenshu) and yagura at each corner (as per recent surveys).
 In 1558, the Ashikaga attempted one last comeback from [[Shogunyama Castle]] and [[Nyoigatake Castle]], sparking the brief Battle of Kitashirakawa. The defeat convinced Rokkaku Yoshikata that backing the Ashikaga was a futile cause. Acting as mediator, he brokered a settlement between Yoshiteru and Nagayoshi, finally acknowledging Miyoshi dominance over the capital. Yoshiteru returned to Kyoto, but the real power was Nagayoshi.
+=== ~Nagayoshi’s Zenith and legacy (1559–1561)~ ===
+After taking [[Akutagawasan Castle]] in 1553, Miyoshi Nagayoshi established his authority from this strategic mountaintop castle. Situated above the Tōkaidō highway in northern Settsu, the castle gave him control over movements between Kyoto, Sakai, and the wider Kinai region. Many of his top retainers had palaces on the mountain around the castle. From here, he enforced order in the capital and directed further campaigns into Yamato and Tanba. It served not only as his command center but as the headquarters of a de facto shogunate.
@@ Line 38: / Line 57: @@
 <div class="card-body small">
      <p class="mb-2">
-From his base at Akutagawasan Castle, Miyoshi Nagayoshi launched a series of expeditions into Tanba Province. These campaigns　were aimed at suppressing local clans who might ally with the Hosokawa or Ashikaga and threaten Kyoto from the northwest. Nagayoshi’s trusted captains — including Matsunaga Hisahide and his brother Nagayori and Naitō Sōsho pushing north into Tanba and Tango — extended Miyoshi influence deep into the mountains.
+From his base at Akutagawasan Castle, Nagayoshi launched campaigns into Tanba under trusted captains: Matsunaga Hisahide, his brother Nagayori, and Naitō Sōsho. These forces pushed deep into Tanba and even into Tango and Wakasa, extending Miyoshi influence across the northern flank of Kyoto.
-Though not a full-scale conquest, these campaigns foreshadow Oda's Tanba Campaigns with Akechi Mitsuhide a decade later, the subject of another upcoming feature.
+The Hosokawa still had many allies and forts throughout the region. These expeditions aimed to neutralize potential threats from local clans and secure the capital’s vulnerable northwest approach. Key targets included [[Yagi Castle]], Kazukake Castle, [[Kuroi Castle]], and [[Yakami Castle]] — fortresses tied to Hosokawa allies that posed a threat to Kyoto from the northwest. While not a full-scale conquest, the campaigns foreshadowed Oda Nobunaga’s own invasion of Tanba a decade later — led by Akechi Mitsuhide — the focus of another upcoming feature.</p>
-</p>
      </div>
 </div>
-=== ~Nagayoshi’s Zenith and legacy (1559–1561)~ ===
+In 1559, Nagayoshi appointed his trusted general Matsunaga Hisahide as shugo-dai (governor) of Yamato Province — a move that expanded Miyoshi control into the south and laid the foundation for Hisahide’s own political ambitions. Hisahide established his personal stronghold at [[Shigisan Castle]], a mountain fortress overlooking both the Nara basin to the east and the plain extending to Osaka Bay in the west.
-After taking Akutagawasan Castle (芥川山城) in 1553, Miyoshi Nagayoshi established his authority from this strategic mountaintop castle. Situated above the Tōkaidō highway in northern Settsu, the castle gave him control over movements between Kyoto, Sakai, and the wider Kinai region. From here, he enforced order in the capital and directed further campaigns into Yamato and Tanba. It served not only as his command center but as the headquarters of a de facto shogunate.
-In 1559, Nagayoshi appointed his trusted general Matsunaga Hisahide（松永久秀） as shugo-dai (governor) of Yamato Province — a move that expanded Miyoshi control into the south and laid the foundation for Hisahide’s own political ambitions. Hisahide established his personal stronghold at Shigisan Castle (信貴山城), a mountain fortress overlooking both the Nara basin to the east and the plain extending to Osaka Bay in the west.
 In 1560, Nagayoshi was elevated to the high court title of 相伴衆（Shōban-shū）“Companion to the Shogun.” Though an honorific title, it placed him among the most powerful non-royal figures in the Kyoto court.
-At the same time, instability within Kawachi Province forced Nagayoshi to intervene directly. He seized both Takaya Castle (高屋城) at the foot of the mountain and Iimoriyama Castle (飯盛山城) at its summit. He then transferred Akutagawasan Castle to his heir, Miyoshi Yoshioki (三好義興), and moved his own base of operations to Iimori Castle.
+At the same time, instability within Kawachi Province forced Nagayoshi to intervene directly. He seized both [[Takaya Castle]] at the foot of the mountain and [[Iimori Castle]] at its summit. He then transferred [[Akutagawasan Castle]] to his heir, Miyoshi Yoshioki, and moved his own base of operations to [[Iimori Castle]].
 This relocation marked a new phase in his rule. Iimori Castle sits at the northern end of the mountain ridge dividing present-day Osaka from Nara. It is directly across the valley from Akutagawasan Castle, giving the Miyoshi full logistical control over the corridor.  Every strategic movement between the capital, the ports and the southern and eastern provinces passed through Miyoshi-controlled territory.
-The similarities between these two castles reflect Nagayoshi’s governance philosophy. He extensively renovated both, expanding their network of baileys and living quarters, unusually large for mountaintop castles of the time. Neither developed into a castle town. These were not commercial or residential hubs but symbols of power and centers of military-administrative command. Sakai was the center of commerce.
+The similarities between these two castles reflect Nagayoshi’s governance philosophy. He extensively renovated both, expanding their network of baileys and living quarters, unusually large for mountaintop castles of the time. Neither developed a castle town. These were not commercial or residential hubs but symbols of power and centers of military-administrative command. Sakai was the center of commerce.
 By 1560, Nagayoshi’s power had reached its zenith. The phrase「飯盛で決まる」— “Decisions are made at Iimori” was commonly used, a testament to his unchallenged dominance in Kyoto politics. He directly governed the five core Kinai provinces: Yamashiro, Yamato, Settsu, Izumi, and Kawachi — Japan’s rich heartland of politics, culture and commerce.
-Through relatives, retainers, and allies, he also held sway over: Awaji, Awa, Sanuki, Harima, Iyo, and Tanba — while also maintaining active influence in Ōmi, Iga, Kii, and Wakasa. Altogether, his sphere of influence was larger, more powerful, and more prosperous than any of his contemporaries. This was the true peak of the Miyoshi regime and far more than he strictly needed to achieve the status of the first 'tenkabito', yet he **never claimed the title of shogun (unlike some that followed)**. He was satisfied to be the real power of the land and to control the court through Ashikaga Yoshiteru.
+Through an extensive network of relatives, retainers, and allies, he also held sway over: Awaji, Awa, Sanuki, Harima, Iyo, and Tanba — while also maintaining some influence in Omi, Iga, Kii, and Wakasa. Altogether, his sphere of influence was larger, more powerful, and more prosperous than any of his contemporaries. This was the true peak of the Miyoshi regime and far more than he strictly needed to achieve the status of the first 'tenkabito', yet he never claimed the title of shogun (unlike some that followed). He was satisfied to be the real power of the land and to control the court through Ashikaga Yoshiteru.
 notes for legacy.. see old notion notes
+* keeping the peace between buddhist sects, allowed Christianity to spread
+* deployed matchlock rifles well before the fame battle of nagshino, possibly before Nobunaga
+* helped rebuild imperial residence
+* well known for fair judgments not biased to warrior clas
+* decentralized gov't - special economic zones in Sakai and Amagasaki
+* noted in historical accounts from china and Europe well before oda
+*
 === ~Trajedy and Betrayal (1561-1564)~ ===
-The undoing of the Miyoshi regime began with personal tragedies. In 1561, his brother Sogō Kazumasa died suddenly of illness. In 1562, another brother — Miyoshi Saneyasu (Jikkyū) — was killed during a small uprising by the Hatakeyama. Then in 1563, his son and heir Yoshioki, based at Akutagawasan Castle, also died. Nagayoshi was forced to adopt his nephew Miyoshi Yoshitsugu as heir. That same year and into 1564, former rivals turned allies — Hosokawa Ujitsuna and Hosokawa Harumoto — also passed away, leaving a vacuum in the upper echelons of Nagayoshi’s political system.
+The undoing of the Miyoshi regime began with personal tragedies. In 1561, his brother Sogō Kazumasa died suddenly of illness. In 1562, another brother — Miyoshi Saneyasu (Jikkyū) — was killed during a small uprising by the Hatakeyama. Then in 1563, his son and heir Yoshioki, based at Akutagawasan Castle, also died. Nagayoshi was forced to adopt his nephew Miyoshi Yoshitsugu (Wakae Castle) as heir. That same year and into 1564, former rivals turned allies — Hosokawa Ujitsuna and Hosokawa Harumoto — also passed away, leaving a vacuum in the upper echelons of Nagayoshi’s political system.
 <div class="card" style="max-width: 350px; float:right; margin-left: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
 <h5 class="card-header">
@@ Line 77: / Line 98: @@
   <ul class="mb-2">
-       <li><strong>[[Shigisan Castle]] (信貴山城)</strong> A vast mountaintop fortress behind Chōgosonshi-ji Temple, overlooking both the Nara Basin (Yamato) and Kawachi. It became Hisahide’s primary stronghold.</li>
+       <li><strong>[[Shigisan Castle]] (信貴山城)</strong> A vast mountaintop fortress behind Chōgosonshi-ji Temple, overlooking both the Nara Basin (Yamato) and Kawachi. It was Hisahide’s primary stronghold and site of his last stand against Nobunaga.</li>
-       <li><strong>[[Tamon Castle]] (多聞城)</strong> Strategically positioned above the Nara plains. Featured Japan’s first known tenshu (main keep) and a luxurious palace. Its design is said to have inspired Nobunaga’s Azuchi Castle.</li>
+       <li><strong>[[Tamon Castle]] (多聞城)</strong> Strategically positioned above the Nara plains. Featured Japan’s first known tenshu (main keep) and a luxurious palace. It is said to have inspired Nobunaga’s Azuchi Castle. To be visited.</li>
-       <li><strong>[[Kaseyama Castle]] (鹿背山城)</strong> A more intricate Yamato fortress with an unusually high number of uneno tatebori (parallel cut moats). More sophisticated than typical regional mounts — a hidden gem.</li>
+       <li><strong>[[Kaseyama Castle]] (鹿背山城)</strong> A more intricate mountaintop castle with an unusually high number of unejo tatebori than is typically seen around Kyoto. </li>
-       <li><strong>[[Ryūōzan Castle]] (龍王山城)</strong> His other mountaintop redoubt near present-day Yamatokōriyama. To be visited — but its scale and complexity are well attested in Edo-period records.</li>
+       <li><strong>[[Ryuozan Castle]] (龍王山城)</strong> His other mountaintop redoubt. To be visited.</li>
      </ul>
 </p>
@@ Line 90: / Line 111: @@
 Matsunaga Hisahide, once Nagayoshi’s most trusted general, used the instability to further his own ambitions, acting independently from his strongholds across Yamato — including Shigisan, Tamon, Kaseyama, and Ryūōzan Castles. In 1565, Matsunaga and the Miyoshi Three attacked the shogun in Kyto and assassinated Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru. His son, Yoshiaki, fled the capital. The alliance between Matsunaga and the Miyoshi soon soured, sparking conflict across Yamato. In 1566, Matsunaga’s forces (in)famously burned down Tōdaiji during one of these battles.
 By then, Nagayoshi’s order was gone. The capital region was in disarray, and the timing was perfect for Oda Nobunaga to step in. Matsunaga superficially submitted to Oda, but he was still scheming. In 1571, Nobunaga attacked Shigisan Castle, and Matsunaga and his son perished in a final act of defiance. It’s another tragic end. Matsunaga had stood by Nagayoshi’s side for over two decades. After witnessing the brilliance of Nagayoshi and the fragility of rule, he should have learned how to wield real power. But, in the end, the legacy of Miyoshi Nagayoshi was undone not by his enemies, but by the men who once stood closest to him.
 It’s all the more tragic when we recall how the story began. Nagoyoshi’s Father, Motonaga, was betrayed by the Hosokawa he had long served. Nagayoshi rose to power seeking to avenge the injustice that had crushed his family. He succeeded. But in the end, he was brought down by the same forces. The son who avenged his father’s betrayal was, in time, betrayed by his own.
+=== ~Interactive Map~ ===
+<div class="row">
+  <div class="col-md-7">
+{{#display_map:
+ | centre=34.95,135.60
+ | zoom=8
+ | width=100%
+ | height=560px
+ | layers=Esri.WorldTopoMap
+ | fullscreen=1
+ | scrollwheelzoom=1
+ | geojson=GeoJson:MiyoshiAll
+}}
+</div>
+  <div class="col-md-5">
+This map covers all the castles mentioned in this article and some that I did not get to! Click the markers for details. Click any province for details.
+castle list goes here
+  </div>
+</div>
 === ~Observations~ ===
-While visiting the castles around the greater Kyoto area, one figure keeps appearing — from Osaka to Nara to Kyoto: **Miyoshi Nagayoshi**. My image of Miyoshi was just another of the local warlords who Nobunaga eventually crushed in his detiny to unify the country. He often appeared as a thorn in the side of both the emperor and shogun alike. Some even called him a "shadow shogun" or a "puppet master".
+While visiting the castles around the greater Kyoto area, one figure keeps appearing from Osaka to Nara to the depths of the Kyoto interior: Miyoshi Nagayoshi. My image of Miyoshi was just another of the local warlords who Nobunaga eventually crushed in his detiny to unify the country. He often appears as a thorn in the side of both the emperor and shogun alike. Some even called him a "shadow shogun" or a "puppet master".
 But looking closer, this isn’t just another regional warlord crushed in the march toward unification.
-The story of Miyoshi Nagayoshi is a reminder that the **narratives of the “Three Unifiers” have blinded us to other points of view**. For over a decade, **Nagayoshi was the first tenkabito**. Had he lived longer, it might have been **his ambition — not Nobunaga’s — that reshaped Japan**.
+The story of Miyoshi Nagayoshi is a reminder that the narratives of the “Three Unifiers” have blinded us to other points of view. For over a decade, Nagayoshi was the first tenkabito. Had he lived longer, it might have been his ambition — not Nobunaga’s — that reshaped Japan.
-Miyoshi dismantled the Hosokawa network, sidelined the shogun, and **dominated the 13 provinces of the Kinai–Setouchi corridor.** He laid the groundwork for Nobunaga to step in and seize the empty reins of the tenkabito with minimal resistance — **much of the hard work had already been done by Nagayoshi**.
-As I look at the end of the story, the **suspicious succession of deaths** among Nagayoshi’s closest allies and even Nagaoyshi himself, it all raises unsettling questions. Did **Matsunaga Hisahide** quietly orchestrate their removal? Poison them? Manipulate them into conflict? The timing is hard to ignore.
+Miyoshi dismantled the Hosokawa network, sidelined the shogun, and dominated the 13 provinces of the Kinai–Setouchi corridor. He laid the groundwork for Nobunaga to step in and seize the empty reins of the tenkabito with minimal resistance — much of the hard work had already been done by Nagayoshi.
-**It’s all the more tragic when we recall how the story began — with the death of his father, Miyoshi Motonaga, betrayed by the Hosokawa he had long served. Nagayoshi rose to power seeking to avenge the injustice that had crushed his family. He succeeded. But in the end, he was brought down by the same forces. The son who avenged his father’s betrayal was, in time, betrayed by his own.**
+As I look at the end of the story, the suspicious succession of deaths among Nagayoshi’s closest allies and even Nagaoyshi himself, raises unsettling questions. Did Matsunaga Hisahide quietly orchestrate their removal? Poison them? Manipulate them into conflict? The timing is very hard to ignore.
-I started this journey with the notion that  Miyoshi Nagayoshi simply does not receive the recognition that he deserves from history. history was  colored  by the chroniclers that followed the three great unifiers, but the  incompetence of the **Miyoshi Three**, and the opportunism of **Matsunaga Hisahide**, ultimately **tarnished the legacy** of the man who once ruled the capital, the court, and the economics of the nation — **without ever claiming the title of shogun**. The story of Miyoshi Nagayoshi is a **Shakespearean tragedy**: a ruler at the peak of his power, undone not by enemies on the battlefield, but by personal loss and betrayal from within.
+I started this journey with the notion that Miyoshi Nagayoshi simply does not receive the recognition that he deserves from history. History was  colored  by the chroniclers that followed the three great unifiers, but the incompetence of the Miyoshi Three, and the opportunism of Matsunaga Hisahide, ultimately tarnished the legacy of the man who once ruled the capital, the court, and the economics of the nation — without ever claiming the title of shogun. The story of Miyoshi Nagayoshi is a Shakespearean tragedy: a ruler at the peak of his power, undone not on the battlefield, but by personal tragedy and betrayal from within. It’s all the more tragic when we recall how the story began — with the death of his father, Miyoshi Motonaga, betrayed by the Hosokawa he had long served. Nagayoshi rose to power seeking to avenge the injustice that had crushed his family. The son who avenged his father’s betrayal was, in time, betrayed by his own.
-**Hey NHK!** Where’s the *Miyoshi Nagayoshi* Taiga Drama? This story writes itself!
+Hey NHK! Where’s the Miyoshi Nagayoshi Taiga Drama? This story writes itself!
 Do we really need another glorification of the same three unifiers?
-**Next year’s story? More Toyotomi? Oh! How original…**
+What's next year’s story? More Toyotomi? Oh! How original…
 === ~Field Notes~ ===
-This article is not meant as an exhaustive survey of Miyoshi related castles. It is a narrative that ties together some of the many related sites already on [Jcastle.info](http://jcastle.info/) and provides background for future explorations. I tried to connect as many as possible into the narrative but had to leave some out (Kizu castle, Shizuhara Castle) This also only lightly touches upon Matsunaga Hisahide. I’ve skipped over many details (and castles!) that could be drawn into an intriguing profile for him too.
+This article is not intended to be an exhaustive survey of Miyoshi-related castles. Instead, it weaves together some of the many sites already featured on Jcastle.info and provides a foundation for future explorations. I tried to include as many castles as possible in the narrative but had to leave some out. Almost every castle in the region has ties to the Miyoshi at some point—whether through Nagayoshi himself or the conflicts stemming from the Miyoshi triumvirate! This also only briefly touches on Matsunaga Hisahide, leaving out numerous details (and castles!) that could make for a fascinating profile on him too.
+Writing this piece was surprisingly challenging. The history is incredibly intricate and convoluted, and I didn’t have one comprehensive source to rely on. Much of the specific details about which castles and when (as opposed to the overall historical arc) came from piecing together information from various castle notes and tieing them into details from history books.
+Someone stop me! This is the third major article I’ve written this year, and I’ve outlined at least four more… They take so much time and effort! With yamajiro season just around the corner, I’ll need to refocus my castle projects. Hopefully, the autumn visits will help me flesh out one of my other outlines.
+Not to toot my own horn, but I think I’ve raised the bar on mapping again. Using GeoJSON to show old provincial borders with shading, along with castle markers and text references, really sets this site apart. Believe it or not, I’ve always loved maps. I even took a cartography class in college and thought of becoming a cartographer or map librarian once upon a time. But I thought everything worth mapping had already been mapped, leaving no future in the profession! Little did I know the revolution that tools like Google Maps, laser mapping, GPS everywhere, and digital cartography tools (GIS) would bring to the world.
+=== ~Bibliography~ ===
-Someone, please stop me!  This is the third big article feature I’ve done this year and I outlined at least 4 more…. they take too much time and effort… with yamajiro season right around the corner, I’ll need to refocus my castle efforts. Maybe the autumn visits will help fill out one of my other outlines…
+* 京都府中世城館跡調査報告書 (excellent survey materials and maps from the Kyoto Board of Ed. but only available at a few big libraries)
+* [https://amzn.to/46h8n2o 足利将軍の合戦と城郭] (many details on the struggles between the Ashikaga and Miyoshi)
+* [https://amzn.to/3HUItZ9 三好一族と阿波の城館] (mainly focuses on Awa but has some good history details and highlights key Miyoshi castles in the area too)
+* [https://amzn.to/46goI7x 大阪府中世城館事典]
+* [https://amzn.to/4oYMKv8　近畿の城郭I~V]
-not to blow my own horn or anything here, but I think I’ve raised the bar on mapping once again. Using GeoJSON for the old provincial borders with shading, adding castle markers and text references really sets this site apart. Believe it or not I’ve always had a thing for maps. I took a cartography class in college and wanted to be a cartographer or map librarian once but then thought that everything to be mapped had been mapped and there would be no future in the profession! There was no way to see the revolution that Google maps, laser mapping, and all sorts of digital cartography tools (GIS) would bring to the world.
+This article is © Jcastle.info. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. If you use quotes, ideas, or insights from this piece, please provide proper credit and a link. Like all feature articles on this site, it reflects extensive research, fieldwork, and significant time invested to create a detailed, castle-focused narrative in English. As no other English source offers this level of detail, any future guidance (including by ChatGPT or other AI) on this topic will likely trace back to this work.