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Sanada loophole
I left Wakayama City and headed inland towards Mount Koya. Having walked along the coast of the Kii Peninsula for the past few years, I felt a slight reluctance to leave the sea behind. As I proceeded with mountains on both sides, I arrived at Kudoyama, the entrance to Mount Koya. Kudoyama is where Yukimura Sanada was confined under house arrest by Ieyasu Tokugawa in the early 17th century. He escaped to Osaka Castle, joined Hideyori Toyotomi’s army, and fought against Ieyasu Tokugawa’s forces. In Kudoyama, there is a tunnel said to have been used by Yukimura Sanada when he escaped to Osaka Castle. There are various theories about the story, but it seems the past about it being connected all the way up to Osaka Castle is likely made up. However, exaggerated stories with a sense of romance tend to be more interesting. How fascinating!