To trace the history of Ohana you should visit the Tachibana Museum, where many heirlooms passed down within the family are on display. A collection this extensive is extremely rare to find in Japan, as many of the heirlooms of other feudal lords were lost during the Meiji Restoration and World War II.
It all started around 400 years ago when Muneshige Tachibana moved into Yanagawa Castle. He was a highly esteemed and skilled military commander, as well as a diplomatic and trusted feudal lord of the people.
However, Muneshige joined the Western army and was defeated in the decisive Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. Thus began the era of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the victor of the battle, and Muneshige was forced to leave his position and the city of Yanagawa.
Though Muneshige lost his territory and status, he never despaired. In a letter addressed to his vassals, it’s said that he wrote, “What’s wrong? I’ll soon go back to being a daimyo (feudal lord).” In fact, Muneshige received a small territory in another region and returned to the position of daimyo just five years later. Furthermore, he was appointed to train the Tokugawa army general -- the one he had fought against just a few years earlier. Let that sink in -- the Tokugawa general dared to not only take in Muneshige, the feudal lord who was recently his enemy, but he allowed him deep into the heart of his operations. You can only begin to imagine Muneshige’s exceptional character and intelligence.
It took 20 years to gain the trust of the shogunate, but one fateful day he was reassigned as the feudal lord of Yanagawa. The first thing he did was build a temple to mourn his wife. Speaking of graves, Muneshige made the decision to preserve the previous lord’s grave, even though it was typical to destroy them after taking over a territory. Again, another example of Muneshige's exceptional personality and sense of respect.
Muneshige was the only feudal lord to return to his original territory after the battle of Sekigahara. That wouldn’t have been possible had he given up and lost hope because of the unfavorable circumstances. Surely it was his strong attitude and sense of perseverance that led him to return to Yanagawa, which ended up being the start of an inheritance passed down for hundreds of years.
What about in your life? Is there anything you’re fighting to hold on to? Don’t let go -- it just might be what connects you to the future 100 years from now.
For information about the items currently on display, click here (Japanese only):
https://artsandculture.google.com/story/NwWxV5lIzobRIg?hl=ja
Tachibana Museum Homepage
http://www.tachibana-museum.jp/
