The twoBattles of Kizugawaguchi (木津川口の戦い,Kizugawaguchi no Tatakai) were fought duringOda Nobunaga's attemptedsieges of the Ishiyama Hongan-ji inOsaka. TheHongan-ji was the primary fortress of theIkkō-ikki, mobs of warrior monks, priests, and farmers who opposed Oda's rule. He ordered one of his admirals,Kuki Yoshitaka, to organize ablockade against the fleets of the Ikki's allies, who sought to supply the fortress and break the siege. Many of the ruling families of the neighboring provinces opposed Oda, chief among them theMōri Terumoto fromMōri clan.

First Battle of Kizugawaguchi
Part of theSengoku period
Date August 1576 Location Kizugawaguchi, off the coast ofOsaka 34°37′51.9971″N135°25′44.2103″E / 34.631110306°N 135.428947306°E /34.631110306; 135.428947306 Result Mōri victory
Belligerents
forces ofOda Nobunaga	forces ofMōri Terumoto
Commanders and leaders
Kuki Yoshitaka	Murakami Motoyoshi
Strength
~300 vessels	~700 vessels
class=notpageimage| Location within Japan

In the first battle, in 1576, the Mōri navy led by Motoyoshi, son ofMurakami Takeyoshi, defeated Kuki Yoshitaka's fleet, breaking the blockade and supplying the fortress.^[1]

The Mori navy departed Iwaya on Awaji Island on July 12, crossed over to Kaizuka in Senshu, and , after agreeing with the Saiga sect of Kishu , proceeded from Sakaitsu to the mouth of the Kizu River on the 13th. There, they encountered the Oda navy, consisting of several large ships with built-up wells and over 200 guard ships, and a battle ensued. The battle took place from the 13th to the early morning of the 14th, and the Mori navy defeated the Oda forces, burning down all of the large ships.^[2]On July 15 (according to theShinchō Koki), when the Mōri navy attempted to deliver military supplies to Ishiyama Hongan-ji Temple, the Oda navy attempted to intercept them at the mouth of the Kizu River, but their ships were set on fire withBō-hiya incendiary weapons.^[2]

Since their entrance to Kyoto in 1568, the army of Oda Nobunaga always successful besieging the enemy's defensive position. This battle was a rare instance in which a large enemy force manage to breaking through Oda forces' blockade from the outside.^[3]

Two years later in 1578 around June, Kuki Yoshitaka built six Atakebune ships equipped with large guns and three cannons at the bay of Ise.^{[Notes 1]} TheIshiyama Hongan-ji was still undersiege, and Oda's fleet, withTakigawa Kazumasu commanded a white Ship to accompany the six Atakebune ships.^{[citation needed]}

Several Mōri vessels underMurakami Takeyoshi were burned and sunk, and Oda's fleet ultimately achieved victory.^[1] According toShinchō Kōki, the supply lines were broken, and the Hongan-Ji fell soon afterward. However, the Mori discovered an existing flaw in theTekkōsen design during this battle. As Mōri samurai rushed to board the large ship, all the defending warriors ran to that side of the deck to defend themselves, and the vessel capsized as its center of gravity shifted.^[4]

However, primary sources from the Mōri clan record stated that the ships of Mōri Naval forces manage to reach Kizuura and, after consulting with Shimotsuma Yorikane, prepared for a protracted battle with the addition of Araki Murashige, who had just defected from the Oda. Historian Ogawa Yu observed the letters sent by the Honganji to the Mōri, the establishment of a base for the Mōri navy in Kizu, and that Kuki Yoshitaka was short of provisions and received temporary supplies from Sakai. This suggests that the Kuki clan's transport from their base was being hindered by anti-Nobunaga forces such as the Saiga clan and Horiuchi Ujiyoshi, and that maritime supplies to Hongan-ji continued, preventing a complete blockade. Thus, the Oda forces had actually failed in their primary objective to cut off supplies to Hongan-ji.^[5]

Ogawa Yu stated that this battle was not the decisive. It was only in the following year that the supply for anti-Nobunaga alliance could be stopped, due toUkita Naoie's defection to the Oda clan, and the anti-Nobunaga forces such as Bessho Nagaharu and Araki Murashige were driven out. This made the transportation work of the navy difficult and placed a great burden on the navy. Furthermore, Kodama Narihide, who was stationed on Awaji Island, retreated without permission due to the risk of being isolated from his base.^[5]

• 1576 in Japan
• Conflicts in 1576
• Naval battles of the Sengoku period
• Mōri clan
• Ishiyama Hongan-ji War
• Battles of Oda Nobunaga

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