Oda Nobunaga (織田信長) was feared for his merciless killing of his subjects if he didn’t like them, and his callous punishments of his subjects depending on his mood. ……
Recent research seems to have overturned the image of such a ‘power harassment boss’, and this time we a much softer side of Nobunaga!
Nobunaga, in fact, is a non-drinker……
He was a bold, boozy, drunken and violent man. Nobunaga was once the subject of many dramas based on this image, but it is said that he was actually a non-drinker.
Instead, his favourite food was something sweet. Nobunaga, who called himself the Dairoku-Tenma-Oh（第六天魔王/Sixth Devil), had a sweet tooth!
Kompeito sweets gave him great joy!
Among the gifts presented to Nobunaga by the Jesuit missionary Luis Frois were kompeito sweets (金平糖). Nobunaga’s eyes lit up at the colourful kompeito sugar in flasks (there is no clear record of him eating it).
He was also said to have admired the ‘yuheito (有平糖)’, a stick-shaped sugar confection with coloured streaks inside.
Although there is no record of it, he may also have gazed longingly at the sponge cakes.
First banana in Japan?
It is said that Nobunaga was the first person to eat bananas in Japan, although there is no official record of this. It is said that among the offerings made by Luis Frois was a banana.
A love for dried persimmons
Nobunaga was said to have been fond of dried persimmons. He often used dried persimmons as a reward for his vassals. Luis Frois also wrote that he received dried figs (actually dried persimmons).
Handmade sweets are served to Ieyasu’s vassals
There is an episode in which Nobunaga made and served a snack called ‘furimomikogoshi (ふりもみこがし)’, which was made by roasting rice and barley, mixing it with sugar and shaping them.
After winning the battle against Takeda Katsuyori (武田勝頼), Nobunaga returned to Azuchi (安土城) Castle, taking in the sights of the Tokaido (東海道) Highway. On the way, Nobunaga was so moved by Ieyasu’s hospitality that he invited him to Azuchi Castle at a later date. He brought Ieyasu’s food himself and served Ieyasu’s vassals with furimomikogashi, which he had made himself.
This side of him was quite unexpected, but actually, I don’t hate it. In fact, I like it a lot. A man who both loves sweets and has a collection of swords…amazing!
Eyecatch image from The Art Institute of Chicago
This article is translated from https://intojapanwaraku.com/rock/gourmet-rock/120109/
