Sumitada Vol. 2: Chapter 2, Chapter 3

By Ryusui Seiryoin

Sumitada Ohmura worshipped Marishiten, the war god, and attained victories in battles. His domain expanded from the east side of the “Harp Sea” (current Ohmura Bay) to the north, the west, and finally the Nagasaki Peninsula to the south-west. Archenemies attacked Sumitada from all sides. To ease the situation, Sumitada took O-en, the younger sister of his two rivals, as his first wife.

“Bateren” from overseas were assaulted by Japanese in Hirado, where Takanobu Matsura (Sumitada’s rival) governed, and came to Ohmura for help. Out of curiosity, Sumitada promised to protect them. Bateren told Japanese the teaching of Deus. Fascinated by their doctrine, Sumitada allowed the evangelical activities in Yokoseura Port. When he met Cosme de Torres, the head of bateren, Sumitada decided to become the very first Japanese warlord to be baptized.

This is the second act of the magnificent epic describing the stormy life of Sumitada Ohmura, “the first Christian warlord in the Japanese history.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Dec 17, 2019
• ISBN: 9781794813700

Book preview

978-1-79481-370-0

Territorial Map Around Ohmura

Cast of Characters (as of Vol. 2)

Sumitada Ohmura: The first Christian warlord in the Japanese history. Don Bartholomew.

Takaakira Goto: His childhood name is Matahachiro. Sumitada’s foster brother and lifelong archenemy.

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Haruzumi Arima: Sumitada’s birth father. The most powerful warlord in the Shimo (Northern Kyushu) region. His Buddhist name is Sengan.

Sumiaki Ohmura: Sumitada’s uncle and foster father. The 17th master of the Ohmuras.

O-en: Sumitada’s lawful wife. Dona Maria.

Ina: Sumitada’s first daughter. Marina.

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Hohkinokami Ohmura: Sumitada’s mentor. The prime vassal of Sumiaki Ohmura. Currently serving Takaakira Goto.

Shinzaemonnojo Tomonaga: Sumitada’s mentor. The assistant of Hohkinokami. Currently serving Takaakira Goto.

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Sumichika Imamichi: Sumitada’s first loyal servant. The prime vassal. Damian.

Sumitoshi Isenokami Tomonaga: Sumitada’s loyal servant. The head of general affairs.

Sumiyasu Shinsuke Tomonaga: Sumitada’s loyal servant. A magistrate (bugyo) of Yokoseura. Don Luis.

Agon-hoin: Sumitada’s loyal servant. The chief Buddhist monk of the Kinsen-ji temple at Mount Taradake.

Sumitane Ohmura: Sumitada’s loyal servant. A giant, fierce general known as the Black Tiger.

Hidemasa Ichinose: Sumitada’s loyal servant. Known as the White Dragon. His original family name is Kohno.

Sumikage Nagasaki: Sumitada’s loyal servant. The lord of Nagasaki Port. Bernardo.

Kanetsugu Fukuda: Sumitada’s loyal servant. The lord of Fukudaura Port. Joachim.

Sumifusa Hitachinosuke Miyahara: Sumitada’s loyal servant. Expert in singing and dancing.

Sumitoshi Kosaza: The general of the Kosaza navy. One of Sumitada’s vassals.

Iganokami Hario: The general of the Hario navy. One of Sumitada’s vassals.

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Takanobu Matsura: The lord of Hirado. Also known as Hishu. Sumitada’s archenemy.

Sumitaka Saigo: The lord of Isahaya. Also known as Isahaya. O-en’s elder brother. Sumitada’s archenemy.

Sumimasa Fukabori: The lord of Fukabori. O-en’s elder brother. Sumitada’s archenemy.

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Cosme de Torres: Bateren (padre). Spaniard. Superior of Japanese Kirishitan (Christian) missionary.

Luis de Almeida: Iruman (monk). Portuguese. Former doctor and merchant.

John Fernandes: Iruman. Spaniard.

Damian: Japanese iruman. Interpreter as well.

Tome Uchida: Japanese Kirishitan.

Chapter 2: The War God, Vassals, and Days of War

The area called Ohmura was a land to the east of an inland sea dubbed the Harp Sea (current Ohmura Bay). The area spread over around the west side of the foot of Mount Taradake. Because of its fertile soil that produced abundant crops and the geographical location whose importance lied in its north-south connection of the land route of the Shimo region (northern region of Kyushu), not a few masters of the neighboring areas craved for obtaining the Ohmura area.

While Sumitada had once been confined in the Kiritsume Castle, there had been confrontations between the Seia faction and the Sumitada faction (not including Sumitada himself). Each side had made diplomatic efforts toward the masters of the neighboring areas. The masters outside needed to know which faction in the Ohmuras was getting the advantage over the other, because the conditions of their negotiations might change depending on the outlook of the political struggle. Ironically, the unstable condition of the Ohmuras had allowed them to evade wars.

However, it was widely known throughout the Shimo region that Sumitada got back to the Ohmura Mansion and reorganized the vassals. Thereafter, the masters who craved for the Ohmura area frequently raided the area. It became the commencement of Sumitada’s days of war.

The most important matter for Sumitada was to protect the Ohmura area, his home ground.

He attached greater importance to guarding his territory, because it was the mission with which he was entrusted by both his birth and foster fathers.

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Katsudohmaru, go to Ohmura. I entrust the land to you.

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Haruzumi Arima, his natural father, did not ask anyone for something or to do anything. He just commanded them. However, that same Haruzumi dared to ask still infant Sumitada for taking care of the region. Sumitada felt the heavy weight of the mission. The more he grew up, the weightier the sense of duty became.

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Sumitada, I am leaving the Ohmuras up to you. Please take care of it to the best of your abilities.

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The statement of Sumiaki Ohmura, his foster father, was more serious because he spoke so just after he made his birth son Matahachiro leave for the Takeo area. Sumitada himself was feeling the guilt, feeling like, I am entrusted with Ohmura, instead of Matahachiro is. So, his sense of responsibility to secure the Ohmuras was very firm. If the Ohmuras lost the control over the Ohmura area after Sumitada became the master, he would be too ashamed to face Matahachiro, who had left for Takeo.

I have to secure the Ohmuras at any cost. Always with the thought, he had lived. The land of Ohmura was already more important to him than