Siege of Osaka, Quadricentennial Yukimura Sanada and Sengoku Samurai Warrior

Osaka Castle is widely regarded as an emblem of the power and fortune of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, Japan’s second ‘great unifier’ (1536/37-1598). After his death, the castle endured a series of battles known as The Siege of Osaka, from 1614 to 1615, during which the Tokugawa shogunate eventually overpowered the Toyotomi clan.

This exhibition, which will be held at Maru Cube Square at Tokyo’s Marunouchi Building, commemorates the 400th anniversary of these battles, and pays homage to three samurai warriors who made their mark at the time. In particular, it honours Yukimura Sanada who is recognised as one of the top warriors in Japanese history. Even though the Toyotomi clan was vastly outnumbered, Sanada’s battle strategies proved so effective that they managed to avoid defeat for up to a year before finally being overpowered.

Items on display include replicas of some of the armour from back then, including three worn by Sanada, Toyotomi and Tokugawa Ieyasu, and a miniature version of Sanada’s fort, which will be brought from Osaka to Tokyo for the first time. During the exhibition period, you can find original souvenir items on sale at a popup shop by Loft (the main store is on the fourth floor). And at the Marunouchi Café x Wired Café on the first floor you can find a special menu meant to represent Sanada’s fighting spirit as well as his family’s coat of arms depicting six coins.