Siege Of Takatō (1582)
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In the history of
Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
, the 1582 was one of the final battles of the
Takeda clan The was a Japanese samurai clan active from the late Heian period until the late 16th century. The clan was historically based in Kai Province in present-day Yamanashi Prefecture. The clan reached its greatest influence under the rule of Taked ...
against the forces of
Oda Nobunaga was a Japanese ''daimyō'' and one of the leading figures of the Sengoku period, Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods. He was the and regarded as the first "Great Unifier" of Japan. He is sometimes referred as the "Demon Daimyō" and "Demo ...
. The only Takeda stronghold in
Shinano province or is an old province of Japan that is now Nagano Prefecture. Shinano bordered Echigo, Etchū, Hida, Kai, Kōzuke, Mikawa, Mino, Musashi, Suruga, and Tōtōmi Provinces. The ancient capital was located near modern-day Matsumoto, whi ...
to put up any resistance to Nobunaga's final invasion of Takeda domain (in February 1582), the castle was taken by storm on March the 2nd 1582.


Prelude

The war of the
Takeda clan The was a Japanese samurai clan active from the late Heian period until the late 16th century. The clan was historically based in Kai Province in present-day Yamanashi Prefecture. The clan reached its greatest influence under the rule of Taked ...
against
Oda Nobunaga was a Japanese ''daimyō'' and one of the leading figures of the Sengoku period, Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods. He was the and regarded as the first "Great Unifier" of Japan. He is sometimes referred as the "Demon Daimyō" and "Demo ...
began in 1572 with the
battle of Mikatagahara The took place during the Sengoku period of Japan between Takeda Shingen and Tokugawa Ieyasu in Hamamatsu, Mikatagahara, Tōtōmi Province on 25 January 1573. Shingen attacked Ieyasu at the plain of Mikatagahara north of Hamamatsu during hi ...
, where
Takeda Shingen was daimyō, daimyo of Kai Province during the Sengoku period of Japan. Known as "the Tiger of Kai", he was one of the most powerful daimyo of the late Sengoku period, and credited with exceptional military prestige. Shingen was based in a p ...
, overlord of Kai, Shinano and Suruga provinces, defeated the combined forces of Oda Nobunaga and
Tokugawa Ieyasu Tokugawa Ieyasu (born Matsudaira Takechiyo; 31 January 1543 – 1 June 1616) was the founder and first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, which ruled from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was the third of the three "Gr ...
in
Totomi province Totomi may refer to: * Tōtōmi Province, a pre-Meiji province of Japan on the territory of present-day Shizuoka Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu. Shizuoka Prefecture has a popu ...
. Shingen's heir
Takeda Katsuyori was a Japanese ''daimyō'' (military lord) of the Sengoku period, who was famed as the head of the Takeda clan and the successor to the legendary warlord Takeda Shingen. He was son-in-law of Hojo Ujiyasu, ''daimyō'' of Hojo clan. Early life H ...
was decisively defeated in the
battle of Nagashino The was a famous battle in History of Japan, Japanese history, fought in 1575 at Nagashino Castle, Nagashino in Mikawa Province (present-day Nagashino, Shinshiro, Aichi Prefecture). The allied forces of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu (38,000) ...
(1575), losing more than 10.000 men and the core of his generals. However, thanks to Oda Nobunaga's engagement on other fronts (mostly his war against Ikko-Ikki 1570–1580), Takeda Katsuyori managed to preserve his family domain and by 1582 the
Takeda clan The was a Japanese samurai clan active from the late Heian period until the late 16th century. The clan was historically based in Kai Province in present-day Yamanashi Prefecture. The clan reached its greatest influence under the rule of Taked ...
was still considered a regional power in Eastern Japan, holding provinces of Kai, Shinano and Suruga. However, by that time their strength was very much spent by more than 10 years of war with Oda Nobunaga and
Tokugawa Ieyasu Tokugawa Ieyasu (born Matsudaira Takechiyo; 31 January 1543 – 1 June 1616) was the founder and first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, which ruled from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was the third of the three "Gr ...
, their eastern neighbors: their warriors thinly stretched in tiny garrisons over vast borders, their serfs exhausted by conscription and over-taxation, and their retainers and allies disillusioned and uncertain. So, when the time of Nobunaga's final offensive finally came, he had 15 of the richest provinces in Japan against the three poor and devastated provinces of Takeda.


Oda-Tokugawa's offensive in Shinano province

On February 1, 1582 (Lunar calendar) Kiso Joshimasa, one of the Takeda vassals in Shinano, defected to Oda Nobunaga. On February 2,
Takeda Katsuyori was a Japanese ''daimyō'' (military lord) of the Sengoku period, who was famed as the head of the Takeda clan and the successor to the legendary warlord Takeda Shingen. He was son-in-law of Hojo Ujiyasu, ''daimyō'' of Hojo clan. Early life H ...
and his generals left their capital near Kofu in Kai and entered Shinano with some 15.000 men. In response, on February 3, Oda Nobunaga decided to invade Takeda domain from all sides:
Tokugawa Ieyasu Tokugawa Ieyasu (born Matsudaira Takechiyo; 31 January 1543 – 1 June 1616) was the founder and first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, which ruled from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was the third of the three "Gr ...
was to invade
Suruga province was an Provinces of Japan, old province in the area that is today the central part of Shizuoka Prefecture. Suruga bordered on Izu Province, Izu, Kai Province, Kai, Sagami Province, Sagami, Shinano Province, Shinano, and Tōtōmi Province, Tōtōm ...
, Hojo Ujimasa was to attack from
Kanto Japanese Kanto is a simplified spelling of , a Japanese word, only omitting the diacritics. In Japan Kantō may refer to: *Kantō Plain *Kantō region *Kantō-kai, organized crime group *Kanto (Pokémon), a geographical region in the ''Pokémon ...
, and
Oda Nobutada was a samurai and the eldest son of Oda Nobunaga, who fought in many battles during the Sengoku period of Japan. He commanded armies under his father in battles against Matsunaga Hisahide and against the Takeda clan. Biography Oda Nobutada w ...
from Mino. Takeda forts on Mino border had fallen by treachery on February 6, and on February 12 Oda Nobutada entered Shinano province, leading troops from Mino and Owari, advancing to the north-east. Along the way, Takeda castles of
Matsuo Matsuo may refer to: Places *Matsuo, Chiba *Matsuo, Iwate *Mount Matsuo *Matsuo Station (disambiguation) *Siege of Matsuo *Matsuo mine Other uses *Matsuo (name) Matsuo (written: 松尾) is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the name include: ...
and Iida surrendered without a fight (February 14) with some commanders defecting to Nobutada, the first of them Ogasawara Nobumine of Matsuo. The only fight was put up at Yagohara castle (February 16), where Takeda lost some 40 samurai. Oshima Castle further north-east fell without a fight, while villagers and lesser gentry (
ji-samurai The were lower-ranking provincial samurai that emerged in 15th-century Japan Muromachi period. The definition was rather broad and the term ''jizamurai'' included landholding military aristocracy as well as independent peasant farmers. They alt ...
) of Shinano province flocked to Nobutada's army and greeted them as liberators. In the meantime, on February 25, the main Takeda fortress in Suruga surrendered to
Tokugawa Ieyasu Tokugawa Ieyasu (born Matsudaira Takechiyo; 31 January 1543 – 1 June 1616) was the founder and first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, which ruled from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was the third of the three "Gr ...
through treachery of its commander, Anayama Baisetsu,
Takeda Shingen was daimyō, daimyo of Kai Province during the Sengoku period of Japan. Known as "the Tiger of Kai", he was one of the most powerful daimyo of the late Sengoku period, and credited with exceptional military prestige. Shingen was based in a p ...
's nephew, who was considered one of the principal pillars of the house of Takeda. As Oda forces reached the middle of Shinano province with no opposition to speak of, and the main Takeda supporters in Shinano and Suruga defected to Oda, on February 28.
Takeda Katsuyori was a Japanese ''daimyō'' (military lord) of the Sengoku period, who was famed as the head of the Takeda clan and the successor to the legendary warlord Takeda Shingen. He was son-in-law of Hojo Ujiyasu, ''daimyō'' of Hojo clan. Early life H ...
retreated from Shinano to his home province of Kai, seeking to defend his castle of Shinpu, the new capital of Takeda clan. Katsuyori moved his seat to Shinpu Castle in December 1581, as the old Takeda capital in Kofu was practically undefendable, not a castle but a simple one-story daimyo residence defended by a single moat (built by
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 and predecessor of the famous Takeda Shingen. Biography Nobutora’s son was Harunobu, la ...
in 1519), as Takeda chieftains of former generations relied on their army for protection.


Battle

On the March 1st,
Oda Nobutada was a samurai and the eldest son of Oda Nobunaga, who fought in many battles during the Sengoku period of Japan. He commanded armies under his father in battles against Matsunaga Hisahide and against the Takeda clan. Biography Oda Nobutada w ...
's army reached the Takeda castle of Takato in eastern Shinano, which was a sturdy mountain fort protected by steep cliffs on three sides (except the rear) and the Fujisawa River that cowered eastern and northern approach: the road leading to the main gate was barely passable even to a single rider. Takeda Morinobu (also known as Nishina Morinobu), the fifth son of the famed
Takeda Shingen was daimyō, daimyo of Kai Province during the Sengoku period of Japan. Known as "the Tiger of Kai", he was one of the most powerful daimyo of the late Sengoku period, and credited with exceptional military prestige. Shingen was based in a p ...
, fortified himself and his forces within the Takatō castle.
Oda Nobutada was a samurai and the eldest son of Oda Nobunaga, who fought in many battles during the Sengoku period of Japan. He commanded armies under his father in battles against Matsunaga Hisahide and against the Takeda clan. Biography Oda Nobutada w ...
ordered that a priest be sent to Morinobu to mediate, but Morinobu responded by cutting off the unfortunate man's nose and ears, and sending him back to Nobutada. Although the defenders relied heavily on the natural defenses of the castle, Oda forces had former Takeda turncoats on their side: so the traitor Ogasawara Nobumine of Matsuo led the attackers to a ford in the Fujisawa river downstream, and showed them a way to the least protected rear side of the castle. At dawn of March 2, 1582, while some of the Oda forces attacked the main gate to divert the defenders, the rest of Oda army attacked the castle's postern. After a battle of several hours in front of the main gate, remaining defenders fled inside the castle. In the meantime, Oda Nobutada with his bodyguards tore down the palisade at the postern and breached inside the castle. A fierce battle ensued in the bailey and the castle's buildings, and the defenders fought to the last, including women and children (''the wife of Suwa Shoemon was noted in Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga for her unprecedented fighting with a sword, while a boy shot numerous attackers with his bow from a narrow passage of the castle kitchen''). In the final stand, the ranking samurai of Takeda killed their wives and children, and charged to the enemy, fighting to the death. According to Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga, more than 400 enemy heads were taken (including Takeda Morinobu, whose head was sent to
Oda Nobunaga was a Japanese ''daimyō'' and one of the leading figures of the Sengoku period, Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods. He was the and regarded as the first "Great Unifier" of Japan. He is sometimes referred as the "Demon Daimyō" and "Demo ...
in
Gifu is a Cities of Japan, city located in the south-central portion of Gifu Prefecture, Japan, and serves as the prefectural capital. The city has played an important role in Japan's history because of its location in the middle of the country. Durin ...
), while the attackers suffered heavy losses in dead and wounded.


Aftermath

After the fall of Takato Castle on March 2, remaining Takeda garrisons in
Shinano Province or is an old province of Japan that is now Nagano Prefecture. Shinano bordered Echigo, Etchū, Hida, Kai, Kōzuke, Mikawa, Mino, Musashi, Suruga, and Tōtōmi Provinces. The ancient capital was located near modern-day Matsumoto, whi ...
surrendered without a fight, and
Oda Nobutada was a samurai and the eldest son of Oda Nobunaga, who fought in many battles during the Sengoku period of Japan. He commanded armies under his father in battles against Matsunaga Hisahide and against the Takeda clan. Biography Oda Nobutada w ...
's army reached eastern border of Takeda home province of Kai. At the same time,
Tokugawa Ieyasu Tokugawa Ieyasu (born Matsudaira Takechiyo; 31 January 1543 – 1 June 1616) was the founder and first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, which ruled from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was the third of the three "Gr ...
burst into Kai from
Suruga Province was an Provinces of Japan, old province in the area that is today the central part of Shizuoka Prefecture. Suruga bordered on Izu Province, Izu, Kai Province, Kai, Sagami Province, Sagami, Shinano Province, Shinano, and Tōtōmi Province, Tōtōm ...
on the south, taking Takeda traitor Anayama Genba along as a guide. In the meantime,
Takeda Katsuyori was a Japanese ''daimyō'' (military lord) of the Sengoku period, who was famed as the head of the Takeda clan and the successor to the legendary warlord Takeda Shingen. He was son-in-law of Hojo Ujiyasu, ''daimyō'' of Hojo clan. Early life H ...
and his army of 10–15.000 in Shimpu Castle had calculated that Takato Castle would hold for some time, so the swift fall of that mighty fortress in only a day caused massive panic among Takeda supporters. Both generals and common soldiers were distracted by the urge to evacuate their families and children as the enemy armies of 40–50.000 invaded Kai from the south and the east, so no plans for defense were made, but entire Takeda army dispersed in panic: no more than 500-600 samurai remained with Takeda Katsuyori in Sinpu. So at dawn of the March 3rd (at the Hour of The Rabbit, around 6 a.m) Katsuyori set fire to Sinpu Castle and fled west with his family, leaving great many hostages from noble families of his domain to perish in the flames. Their party was overtaken and destroyed by Oda forces eight days later, in the
battle of Tenmokuzan The 1582 in Japan, is regarded as the last stand of the Takeda clan. This was the final attempt by Takeda Katsuyori to resist the forces of Oda Nobunaga, who had been campaigning against him for some time. In his bid to hide from his pursuers, K ...
(March 11, 1582) and
Takeda clan The was a Japanese samurai clan active from the late Heian period until the late 16th century. The clan was historically based in Kai Province in present-day Yamanashi Prefecture. The clan reached its greatest influence under the rule of Taked ...
had fallen. In the meantime, Oda Nobutada occupied old Kai capital of Kofu on March 7, 1582. and had all of Takeda Katsuyori's family, relations and house elders hunted down and executed. All the remaining samurai of the three provinces of Suruga, Kai and Shinano flocked to Kofu and proclaimed their allegiance to Nobutada, presenting hostages, and the neighboring province of Kozuke surrendered without a fight.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Takato 1582 1582 in Japan Sieges of the Sengoku period Conflicts in 1582 16th-century military history of Japan Shinano Province Military history of Nagano Prefecture Attacks on castles in Japan Last stands