The Battle of Tenmokuzan in 1582 is remembered as the final stand of the Takeda clan in Japan. This battle marked the last attempt by Takeda Katsuyori to resist Oda Nobunaga's relentless campaign against him. Fleeing from his pursuers, Katsuyori set fire to his fortress at Shinpu Castle and sought refuge in the mountains at Iwadono, a stronghold held by his loyal retainer, Oyamada Nobushige. However, Oyamada betrayed Katsuyori, denying him entry. Left with no other option, Katsuyori committed suicide alongside his wife, while the remnants of his army made a valiant effort to hold off their attackers.
The conflict between the Takeda clan and Oda Nobunaga began in 1572 with the Battle of Mikatagahara, where Takeda Shingen, Katsuyori’s father and lord of Kai, Shinano, and Suruga provinces, defeated the combined forces of Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu in Totomi Province. However, the Takeda's fortunes changed drastically after Shingen’s death, as Katsuyori suffered a devastating defeat at the Battle of Nagashino in 1575, losing over 10,000 men, including many of his key generals. Despite this setback, Katsuyori managed to hold on to his family’s domains for several more years, thanks to Nobunaga's preoccupations with other conflicts, particularly against the Ikko-Ikki.
By February 1582, the situation became dire as several Takeda retainers in Shinano Province defected to Nobunaga. In response, Nobunaga's son, Oda Nobutada, launched an invasion of Shinano from the west, with Takeda garrisons either defecting or surrendering without resistance. The only significant engagement was the siege of Takato Castle, which fell on March 2, 1582. Meanwhile, Tokugawa Ieyasu invaded Suruga Province, which surrendered on February 25 due to the defection of key Takeda retainers.
After the fall of Takato Castle, the remaining Takeda forces in Shinano crumbled, and Nobutada's army pressed into the Takeda heartland of Kai Province. Simultaneously, Hojo Ujimasa advanced from the east, while Tokugawa Ieyasu entered Kai from the south, accompanied by Takeda traitor Anayama Genba. Katsuyori, realizing the hopelessness of his situation, fled Shinpu Castle on March 3 with a small retinue of 500-600 samurai and over 200 women and children. He sought refuge with Oyamada Nobushige at Kogakko Castle, but was turned away.
With no allies and no stronghold left, Katsuyori's remaining followers dispersed, leaving him with only 41 warriors and 50 women, all close family members, who made their final stand in a makeshift fort at Tano village. On March 11, Oda forces led by Takikawa Sakon discovered their camp and launched an attack. The Takeda warriors, realizing their fate, executed their families and fought fiercely to the death, embodying the samurai spirit in their final moments. Despite their bravery, they were overwhelmed, and Katsuyori, along with his son and loyal followers, perished.
The Shinchō Kōki, a chronicle of Nobunaga's life, praised the valor of the last Takeda samurai, noting particularly the heroism of Katsuyori's young companion, Tsuchiya Uemon, and his 16-year-old son, Takeda Nobukatsu. Even though Oyamada Nobushige had betrayed Katsuyori, he met his own end when he was executed by Nobunaga's officer, Horio Yoshiharu, after surrendering to the Oda forces. The Battle of Tenmokuzan remains a poignant symbol of the Takeda clan's tragic end and the unwavering samurai spirit displayed by Katsuyori and his men in the face of inevitable defeat.
See also
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The Siege of Tihaya Castle
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The Siege of Akasaka Fort
Kusunoki Masashige, hero of the Genko Rebellion (1331–1333), was a talented commander and inventive strategist. The two sieges of castles where he acted as defender are inscribed in gold letters in the history of Japanese military art.
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The Battle of Itinotani
After the death of Minamoto no Yoshinaka, the Genpei War entered its final phase, which is closely associated with the name of Minamoto no Yoshitsune. On March 13, 1184, he and his brother Noriyori set out to accomplish what their cousin had failed to do: deliver a final defeat to the Taira.
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The Battle of Uji 1180
Minamoto no Yorimasa did not need a special pretext for his growing hostility toward the Taira clan to turn into open rebellion. The court also included the discontented Prince Motohito, the second son of the former Emperor Go-Shirakawa. He had already been passed over twice in the selection of the heir to the throne. The second time this happened was in 1180, when the young Antoku was enthroned. Thus, Kiyomori, the head of the Taira clan, became the emperor's grandfather.
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The Battle of Shigisan
The conflict between the Soga and Mononobe clans, who were related to the imperial dynasty, arose on religious grounds. The Soga supported Buddhism, which had come from Korea, while the Mononobe remained faithful to Shintoism and fiercely opposed the spread of “foreign teachings.” Tensions reached a peak after the death of Emperor Yomei in 587.
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The Mongol invasion of Japan
At the end of the 13th century, Japan faced a danger far more serious than any internal strife. In 1271, the Yuan dynasty, founded by Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan, established itself in China. His army was truly enormous: tens of thousands of soldiers — Chinese, Koreans, Jurchen, and especially Mongols, who had conquered the territory from Korea to Poland and from the northern taiga to Egypt. Only one country remained unconquered — Japan.
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The Genpei War
As early as the 8th century AD, Japanese emperors gradually lost their real power and became symbolic figures, under the complete control of the powerful Fujiwara clan. This clan, by marrying their daughters to emperors, effectively monopolized the government of the country: all key military and administrative positions were held by representatives of the Fujiwara.
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The Rebellion of Fujiwara no Hirotsugu
Fujiwara no Hirotsugu was the son of Fujiwara no Umakai, one of the most important court officials of the Nara period. By 740, the Fujiwara clan had held the reins of government for several decades. However, in 735–737, Japan suffered a severe trial: the country was hit by a devastating smallpox epidemic. It coincided with a series of crop failures, and together, disease and famine claimed the lives of about 40% of the population of the Japanese islands. The consequences were particularly tragic for the aristocracy. The mortality rate among the court nobility exceeded that among the common people. All four Fujiwara brothers, who held the most important positions at court — Umakai, Maro, Mutimaro, and Fusasaki — died.
