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The Battles of Kawanakajima were a series of fierce conflicts during Japan's Sengoku period, waged between Takeda Shingen of Kai Province and Uesugi Kenshin of Echigo Province from 1553 to 1564. These battles centered around the strategic Kawanakajima plain, lying between the Sai and Chikuma rivers in northern Shinano Province, now within Nagano City. The rivalry began when Shingen took control of Shinano, forcing Ogasawara Nagatoki and Murakami Yoshikiyo to seek refuge with Kenshin, prompting repeated clashes.

There were five major battles: Fuse in 1553, Saigawa in 1555, Uenohara in 1557, Hachimanbara in 1561, and Shiozaki in 1564. The most notable of these was the Battle of Hachimanbara on October 18, 1561, which unfolded in the heart of the Kawanakajima plain and saw brutal casualties on both sides. Despite the intensity of these conflicts, neither Shingen nor Kenshin managed to secure definitive control of Kawanakajima.

These battles became iconic in Japanese military history, symbolizing valor, chivalry, and the tactical mastery of the Sengoku period. They are celebrated in Japanese literature, art, and popular culture for their dramatic and relentless nature.

Historical Background

Shingen initiated his campaign in Shinano in 1541, advancing in 1550 to capture several castles from Ogasawara Nagatoki, who fled to Murakami Yoshikiyo. Following intense skirmishes, Shingen forced Murakami out of his strongholds, taking Katsurao Castle in 1553, which led to Kenshin’s intervention and the subsequent battles.

The Major Battles

  • First Battle of Kawanakajima (1553): Known as the Battle of Fuse, Shingen marched through Kawanakajima, reaching as far as the Chikumagawa River’s eastern bank, where he encountered Kenshin. Although initially repelled, Shingen pressed forward, defeating scattered Murakami forces, while Kenshin retreated before winter.
  • Second Battle of Kawanakajima (1555): Also called the Battle of Saigawa, Shingen set camp south of the Sai River, while Kenshin held the east. The Kurita clan, allied with Shingen, supported him from Asahiyama fortress. Despite Kenshin’s repeated attempts to take this fortress, the armies eventually disengaged without a decisive battle.
  • Third Battle of Kawanakajima (1557): Known as the Battle of Uenohara, Shingen captured the Katsurayama fortress near Zenko-ji temple. Kenshin advanced to engage Shingen but later withdrew without a major confrontation.
  • Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima (1561): The largest and most famous battle, it saw Kenshin unexpectedly descending on Shingen's forces, catching them off-guard. Kenshin’s army attacked in waves, dealing heavy casualties. Kenshin himself attacked Shingen, who famously defended himself with his war fan until aid arrived. Though Kenshin’s forces withdrew, the battle inflicted a staggering toll on both sides.
  • Fifth Battle of Kawanakajima (1564): Also called the Battle of Shiozaki, this final clash involved smaller skirmishes, with both sides withdrawing after 60 days.

Despite severe losses, neither side achieved lasting control over Kawanakajima. The sustained intensity of these battles immortalized them in Japanese history, becoming revered tales of strategy and valor that encapsulate the spirit of the Sengoku era.

 


See also

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  • Battle of Mimigawa

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    In 1556, the Shimazu clan launched a campaign aimed at systematically conquering the island of Kyushu. In the same year, the province of Osumi was annexed and a war began with the Ito clan for control of the province of Hyuga. In 1577, Ito Yoshisuke was defeated and fled north, where he sought help from Otomo Sorin, the Christian daimyo of Bungo Province.

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  • The Siege of Kozuki Castle

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  • The Siege of Nagashino Castle

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    Despite his reputation as a failure, created by 20th-century popular culture, especially cinema, Takeda Katsuyori (1546–1582) was in fact a brave warrior and talented commander. However, he always remained in the shadow of his great father, the legendary Takeda Shingen. After Shingen's death, Katsuyori sought to at least equal him, if not surpass him. Therefore, his actions were not always determined by pragmatic calculation. This character trait greatly influenced the subsequent events that led to the demise of the Takeda clan.

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  • Siege of Nagashima Fortifications

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  • The Second Battle of Konodai

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  • The Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima

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    The Kawanakajima Plain is located at the confluence of the Saigawa and Tikumagawa rivers in the Japanese Alps. Between 1553 and 1564, five battles took place on this plain between the forces of Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen.

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  • Battle of Tonamoto (Nagahama)

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    At the beginning of the Sengoku Jidai period, the Teshokabe clan was one of the smaller clans in Tosa Province. Its neighbors were constantly at war with each other, engaging in endless skirmishes. Among them, Yosokabe Kunitika stood out as a military strategist of extraordinary talent. It was thanks to these abilities that he managed to defeat the neighboring clans step by step by the middle of the 16th century, expanding the influence of his clan. At that time, the clan's headquarters was Oko Castle.

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