Changes

The Hôjô were torn on a course of action. Ujinao was inclined to risk his 50,000 warriors all in a field battle, but the sheer magnitude of the enemy armies allowed his father and retainers to talk him into adopting a purely defensive posture. Most of the Hôjô's forces were drawn within Odawara's walls, leaving the chain of forts that acted as satellites to the main castle to fall one after another. By June some 200,000 troops were arrayed around Odawara, and the rest of the Kanto was largely in Hideyoshi's hands. It is probable that Ujimasa hoped a prolonged siege would prove too much to bear logistically for the Toyotomi forces-in much the same way that earlier attempts by the Takeda and Uesugi to besiege Odawara had failed for lack of supplies. The Hôjô themselves had an immense reserve of food-stuffs and ammunition. Unfortunately for Ujimasa and Ujinao, Hideyoshi had a brilliantly organized logistical train and all the time in the world on his side. Markets, theaters, and tournaments popped up in the Toyotomi camp, creating an almost peacetime flavor to this, the last and greatest of Hideyoshi's campaigns in Japan. Within Odawara, endless debate continued (to the extent that even today, a long, drawn-out debate or meeting that yields no results is called an 'Odawara conference'.) even as the weeks turned into months. In July, Hideyoshi demanded Odawara surrender, and [[Hojo Ujinori|Hôjô Ujinori]] (Ujimasa's brother) was sent by the Toyotomi to urge a peaceful end to the siege. To this point, there had been little actual fighting, save a few skirmishes seemingly designed to break up the monotony of the affair more than anything. An all-out assault promised to be a bloodbath for both sides.  

The Hôjô were torn on a course of action. Ujinao was inclined to risk his 50,000 warriors all in a field battle, but the sheer magnitude of the enemy armies allowed his father and retainers to talk him into adopting a purely defensive posture. Most of the Hôjô's forces were drawn within Odawara's walls, leaving the chain of forts that acted as satellites to the main castle to fall one after another. By June some 200,000 troops were arrayed around Odawara, and the rest of the Kanto was largely in Hideyoshi's hands. It is probable that Ujimasa hoped a prolonged siege would prove too much to bear logistically for the Toyotomi forces-in much the same way that earlier attempts by the Takeda and Uesugi to besiege Odawara had failed for lack of supplies. The Hôjô themselves had an immense reserve of food-stuffs and ammunition. Unfortunately for Ujimasa and Ujinao, Hideyoshi had a brilliantly organized logistical train and all the time in the world on his side. Markets, theaters, and tournaments popped up in the Toyotomi camp, creating an almost peacetime flavor to this, the last and greatest of Hideyoshi's campaigns in Japan. Within Odawara, endless debate continued (to the extent that even today, a long, drawn-out debate or meeting that yields no results is called an 'Odawara conference'.) even as the weeks turned into months. In July, Hideyoshi demanded Odawara surrender, and [[Hojo Ujinori|Hôjô Ujinori]] (Ujimasa's brother) was sent by the Toyotomi to urge a peaceful end to the siege. To this point, there had been little actual fighting, save a few skirmishes seemingly designed to break up the monotony of the affair more than anything. An all-out assault promised to be a bloodbath for both sides.  

To the end, it would appear that Ujimasa, despite a growing danger of treason within the castle walls and faltering supplies, was determined to resist. Ujinao, however, was not so inclined, and finally agreed to surrender in early August. The Hôjô garrison was spared, but Ujimasa and his brother [[Hojo Ujiteru|Ujiteru]] were made to commit suicide.  

To the end, it would appear that Ujimasa, despite a growing danger of treason within the castle walls and faltering supplies, was determined to resist. Ujinao, however, was not so inclined, and finally agreed to surrender in early August. The Hôjô garrison was spared, but Ujimasa and his brother [[Hojo Ujiteru|Ujiteru]] were made to commit suicide. Their graves, today just a short walk from Odawara Station, are said to have been placed atop the same stone where the two brothers performed their ''[[seppuku]]''.<ref>Plaques at gravesite.</ref>

Ujimasa's sons included [[Hojo Ujinao|Hôjô Ujinao]], [[Hojo Ujisada|Hôjô Ujisada]], [[Hojo Naoshige|Hôjô Naoshige]], and [[Hojo Ujifusa|Hôjô Ujifusa]], also called Ota Ujifusa.

Ujimasa's sons included [[Hojo Ujinao|Hôjô Ujinao]], [[Hojo Ujisada|Hôjô Ujisada]], [[Hojo Naoshige|Hôjô Naoshige]], and [[Hojo Ujifusa|Hôjô Ujifusa]], also called Ota Ujifusa.

==References==

==References==

* Initial text from [http://www.samurai-archives.com Samurai-Archives.com] FWSeal & CEWest, 2005

* Initial text from [http://www.samurai-archives.com Samurai-Archives.com] FWSeal & CEWest, 2005.

[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]

[[Category:Samurai]][[Category:Sengoku Period]]