The fictitious Battle of Shimabara in 16th-Century Japan

Lord Shano's Gamble - The Battle of Shimabara

A 25mm wargame fought on Saturday, 27 October 2007


	Lord Shano hatches an ambitious plan in his mountain castle. An epidemic has weakened the economic and political strength at Unzan, the local provinical capital. Shano sees an opportunity to expand his holdings and gain for his clan the rich farmlands in the plains below his mountain fastness. Lacking a large enough military organization to accomplish his goal, he bribes the local monks to stir up the peasantry in the mountain villages for a campaign to cleanse the immorality of the capital (and at the same time gain more arable land!). Soon his samurai army is expanded by hordes of armed peasants led by ja-ronin, mercenary samurai. When his force has grown large enough, he decides to gamble all on an attack on the plain. The combined force easily breaks through the lightly guarded passes and descends onto the farming country, marching toward the capital town. They soon come to the first serious test, a small military garrison in the town of Shimabara, where loyal clans have hastily banded together to resist the attack and thus maintain their own holdings. Reinforcements have been requested from outlying daimyo, but their timely arrival is very uncertain. Lord Matsushita and his Loyalist Tranquility Army prepare to defend the legal government. Lord Shano carefully arranges his Mountain Virtues Army, and, as the sun rises and the mists clear, he is ready to begin. Glory or death. Below you will see photos of this fictional battle, as fought by the Gourmet Wargaming Club (GWC) using 25mm miniatures and a variant of the Fire & Fury wargaming rules (appropriately named Daimyo Furi).		Haikus composed for this event: Death comes Saturday-- But better not to our side, Lord Shano commands. The spear's head knocked hard against my heart, and I will never love again. War ends, forest calm Tree pities the fallen man Covers him with leaves. No final defeat. Lead rises from the ashes To resume the fray.

			To download a PDF document containing the Order of Battle and special rules, click here.

The field of battle at sunrise. The oval cloth patches at right represent rice paddies.	This battle was a triumph of organization. The referee is hard at it.	Set up in progress. Loyalist territory is the near right half of the board, while the rebels hold the far left side.	Two units of Loyalist militia move to the edge of the woods to slog through the rice paddies before them.	More Loyalist troops in the center. Note Tai Commander with interesting gold ball as a standard.
Loyalist cavalry: the reserve in the center.	The town of Shimabara is invested by Loyalist Ashigaru, armed with arquebuses, and supported by bowmen.	Lord Matsuhide's headquarters. He is surrounded by his hatamotos, and is attended by a mounted messenger.	Loyalist peasant levies hold a hill in front of Lord Matsuhide's HQ.	The center of the Rebel force.
A Rebel ashigaru unit armed with arquebuses.	The rebellious Lord Shano's headquarters. His mounted messenger awaits, at left.	A closer look at the center of the Rebel line. Note Tai Sub Commander in center, with red and white banner. We see everything from peasant levies (left foreground) to samurai.	Lord Matsuhide's forces reach the stream in the center of the field.	The Loyalist reserve cavalry is committed early with the hope of racing directly to Lord Shano's headquarters. This was not realized.
The first leader-to-leader combat was initiated by Rebel Subcommander Toda (at left), who killed Loyalist cavalry commander Ishida.	Three Loyalist units (bottom) on the right flank take on a combination of Rebel troops, including cavalry.	A close-up of the Rebel cavalry. Note mixture of bows and blades.	On the Loyalist left flank, a single unit is forced back by a large Rebel flank guard.	In the center, Loyalist cavalry takes some heavy hits from enemy missile troops. Don't underestimate the hitting power of the arquebus!
Troops in the Rebel center. Note Tai commander (middle left) with white fan standard.	Another Rebel Tai commander. These guys have the coolest (and weirdest) standards.	Just to prove that the Loyalist commanders have cool standards, here's a shot of a Tai commander with a butterfly on a stick.	The Loyalist left flank, composed of militia units, advances through the rice paddies.	An overview of the battle so far. The fighting is heaviest at the Loyalist right flank (top right).
Loyalist cavalry vainly attempt to smash their way though the center.	A close-up of a particularly energetic unit of Loyalist samurai. Note the gorgeous paint jobs.	A couple of Loyalist samurai units on the right flank are hit by a combined attack. They will hold their ground. The peasant levies (center right) are ferocious, if not effective.	The second leader-to-leader combat of the battle: Loyalist subcommander Uesugi (left) challenges Rebel subcommander Mikumo, and is killed for his trouble.	Breakthrough! Loyalist samurai (top left) bash through the Rebel left flank, bypassing the peasant units (bottom).
Part of the Rebel center advances in full regalia.	On the Rebel right, enemy pike troops charge the bowmen.	As Rebel forces (right) advance to the stream, ashigaru arquebus troops move to bring flanking missile fire.	In the center-right, only peasant levies (top left and right) are holding the Rebel line.	However, in the center-left, Rebel troops (left) continue their war. The Loyalist cavalry is much depleted.
On the Loyalist right, fresh troops have returned to push the enemy cavalry and peasants back.	The third and final leader-to-leader combat: Rebel subcommander Ando scores another triumph as he challenges and vanquishes Loyalist Mano commander.	Samurai troops of the Loyalist right slam into the last line of defense before Lord Shano's headquarters.	Loyalist ashigaru under a green banner slam into the flank of advancing enemy troops. The attack is broken up.	Rebel peasant levies fight desperately with ashigaru arquebus troops for control of the center-right.
On the Loyalist left, militia approach peasant levies who are reluctant to leave the shelter of the woods.	Loyalist forces (left) prepare to move against Lord Shano's headquarters (top right). The Rebel peasant units have been wiped out.	The game ends with a victory for all. Rebels and Loyalists alike will fight another day, and hopefully over sushi next time.