| As the opening stage of a march on the capital, Imagawa Yoshimoto invaded Owari and brought down two of Oda Nobunaga's forts ([[Fort Wazashi|Wazashi]] and [[Fort Marume|Marume]]). Oda Nobunaga, to surprise of his retainers, opted to meet the enemy in the field and hastily gathered an army. He set out while the Imagawa troops rested near [[Okehazama Province|Okehazama]]. Taking advantage of Imagawa Yoshimoto’s overconfidence and a sudden thunderstorm, Nobunaga launched a lightening attack into the Imagawa encampment in the [[Dengakuhazama]] and killed Yoshimoto. The Imagawa quickly lost heart and fled, leaving Nobunaga with a complete victory. The Imagawa’s dreams for taking [[Kyoto]] were shattered and from this point, the Oda began their rise to power. A concrete number for Yoshimoto's strength is difficult to come by, and figures range from 10,000 to 25,000. | | As the opening stage of a march on the capital, Imagawa Yoshimoto invaded Owari and brought down two of Oda Nobunaga's forts ([[Fort Wazashi|Wazashi]] and [[Fort Marume|Marume]]). Oda Nobunaga, to surprise of his retainers, opted to meet the enemy in the field and hastily gathered an army. He set out while the Imagawa troops rested near [[Okehazama Province|Okehazama]]. Taking advantage of Imagawa Yoshimoto’s overconfidence and a sudden thunderstorm, Nobunaga launched a lightening attack into the Imagawa encampment in the [[Dengakuhazama]] and killed Yoshimoto. The Imagawa quickly lost heart and fled, leaving Nobunaga with a complete victory. The Imagawa’s dreams for taking [[Kyoto]] were shattered and from this point, the Oda began their rise to power. A concrete number for Yoshimoto's strength is difficult to come by, and figures range from 10,000 to 25,000. |