The Battle of Un no Kuchi (referred to in Japanese as 海ノ口城, ''un no kuchi jou'', literally Un no Kuchi Castle) in 1536 was the first major victory for Takeda Harunobu, aged fifteen at the time. He would later take on the name

Takeda Shingen , of Kai Province, was a pre-eminent ''daimyō'' in feudal Japan. Known as the "Tiger of Kai", he was one of the most powerful daimyō with exceptional military prestige in the late stage of the Sengoku period. Shingen was a warlord of great ...

, and grow to become one of Japan's most famous warlords.

Battle

Harunobu's father,

Takeda Nobutora was a Japanese ''daimyō'' (feudal lord) who controlled the Province of Kai, and fought in a number of battles of the Sengoku period. He was the father of the famous Takeda Shingen. Biography Nobutora’s son was Harunobu, later known as Take ...

, attacked

Hiraga Genshin was a retainer to the Takeda family towards the beginning of Japan's Sengoku period (1467–1615). He was attacked by Takeda Nobutora at Un no Kuchi in 1536, and forced Nobutora to retreat. But Nobutora's son, Takeda Shingen , of Kai Provi ...

in his fortress at Un no Kuchi, but was forced to retreat. Harunobu, at the rear of the withdrawing forces, waited until they were clear of the fortress, and then turned around, leading his men to defeat a castle garrison which was caught unprepared, having seen the Takeda flee.

Aftermath

Shingen usurped his father as leader of the Takeda in 1541, and resolved to outdo Nobutora by conquering Shinano. He invaded the province in 1542 and ultimately spent over two decades fighting there.

References

*Turnbull, Stephen (1998). 'The Samurai Sourcebook'. London: Cassell & Co. p209 1536 in Japan Un no Kuchi 1536 Un no Kuchi {{Japan-battle-stub