Tensho Iga-no-ran (Iga rebellion of Tensho)

In the warring country period, the Iga country was divided and ruled by local lords, in which each family formed a party for alignment.
The independent rule of Iga unbowed before authority, had been incurring the displeasure of OTA Nobunaga, then unifier of Japan. In 1579, Nobunaga’s rule of Iga began when his son raised an army against Iga. Thus a full-scale war between the unifier and a country erupted.
Nobukatsu, Nobunaga’s son, attacked Iga from three directions. Local lords of Iga learned of Nobukatsu’s movements early, so they could counter Nobukatsu’s army, preparing at several bases. The victor in this battle was the Iga force, which made the most of the geography of the place and was good at the use of gunpowder. The Ota force withdrew. This is the first Iga rebellion.

Nobunaga, in a fury, gathered feudal lords and announced his plan to attack Iga in 1581. Leading nearly 50,000 soldiers, equal to a haf of the population of the Iga country at that time, Nobunaga invaded Iga. The Iga force was only several thousands and endured a month. However, according to a record, half the population of Iga was wiped out, all the lands were scorched, and all buildings were destroyed.

The curtain fell on the second Iga rebellion as a deep historic tragedy. The people and warriors of the Iga country were united and bravely affronted the dictator of the time, behind which was of course the ninja’s activity.