In 1335, the Shiina clan built Uozu Castle as an auxiliary stronghold supporting Matsukura Castle. By 1570, it had fallen under the control of the Uesugi clan, rapidly emerging as a strategic fortress in Etchū Province. For many years, Kawada Nagataka served as its commander.
Following the death of the renowned daimyo Uesugi Kenshin in 1578, his domain plunged into a prolonged civil conflict known as the Otate no Ran. Seizing the opportunity, Oda Nobunaga dispatched his top generals—Shibata Katsuie and Sassa Narimasa—from the Hokuriku region toward Etchū’s borders.
By 1581, Oda’s forces captured Toyama Castle and advanced into Etchū. Katsuie and Narimasa systematically expelled both Uesugi’s retainers and remaining Ikkō-ikki forces. Realizing the severity of the threat, Uesugi Kagekatsu (1556–1623), Kenshin’s heir, hurriedly reinforced Uozu Castle with trusted vassals.
By March 1582, combined Oda armies under Shibata, Sassa, Maeda Toshiie, and Sakuma Morimasa had attacked both Matsukura and Uozu. Approximately 10,000 besiegers confronted around 4,000 defenders at Uozu.
Unlike the mountain-stronghold of Matsukura, Uozu was a flatland castle (hirajō) near Toyama Bay, featuring two defensive lines: the central hommaru and an outer ninomaru. The hommaru was a near-square enclosure surrounded by a water moat with a single bridge at the entrance. The ninomaru corked around three sides in a “U” shape and also had its own moat. The castle lacked stone walls, yagura towers, or a donjon—instead, it relied on earthen ramparts (dorui) topped with clay walls (dobei), and watchtowers at each corner of the hommaru.
When Oda’s army appeared, the castle’s commanders sent an urgent plea to Kagekatsu. However, internal Uesugi strife, betrayal by Shibata Shigeie, and threats in Kaga and Shinano caused a delay. Meanwhile, Oda’s forces wore down the defenders with constant assaults.
In early May, Kagekatsu himself departed from Kasugayama Castle, captured the strategic Tenjin Hill, but failed to break the siege. Upon hearing news of a possible attack on Kasugayama, he withdrew. Left unsupported and starved of supplies, the Uozu garrison rapidly deteriorated.
After nearly three months of siege, in early June, thirteen senior Uesugi commanders chose to commit seppuku rather than surrender, and Uozu Castle fell. Oda’s forces had planned to advance into Echigo, but news of Nobunaga’s death in the Honnō-ji Incident sparked panic. Many commanders ordered a retreat from Etchū, and Uozu returned to Uesugi control without further fighting.
See also
-
The Siege of Tihaya Castle
Tihaya Castle was built by Kusunoki Masashige on top of Mount Kongo, separated from the neighboring hills by a deep ravine. The terrain itself provided natural protection, making the position extremely convenient for defense.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
