INTERACTIVE BATTLE
First Battle of Kawanakajima
July 1553 · Kawanakajima
Takeda Harunobu and Nagao Kagetora confronted each other at Kawanakajima over control of northern Shinano.
Background
Murakami Yoshikiyo's stronghold of Katsurao Castle was located in Hanashina District, Shinano Province, built to defend against enemies attacking from the south. In April 1553 (Tenbun 22), Takeda Harunobu advanced northward from the Chikumagawa's right bank, captured the supporting castles of Kitsureotoshi and Aradocastle, then lost Katsurao Castle when it fell due to internal betrayal. At that time, Yoshikiyo was at Shiozuki Castle.
Outcome
Yoshikiyo at Shiozuki Castle obtained 5,000 reinforcements from Nagao Kagetora (later Uesugi Kenshin) of Echigo and temporarily recaptured Katsurao Castle and his former lands (the Battle of Fuse). However, when the Uesugi army returned to Echigo in August of that year, the Takeda attacked and captured Katsurao Castle again. Yoshikiyo withdrew from Shiozuki Castle and fled to Echigo, never to return to Sakaki again.
Course of the battle
1 April 1553
Takeda Forces Invade Northern Shinano; Katsurao Castle Falls
Takeda Harunobu's (Shingen) army advanced northward along the right bank of the Chikumagawa, capturing supporting castles Koraku Castle and Arato Castle in succession. At Katsurao Castle, while garrison commander Takizawa Notonkami sallied from the gate, the castle fell through the stratagem of a senior retainer (name unknown) who had secretly allied with the Takeda. At this time, Murakami Yoshikiyo himself was at Shioda Castle.
Points of debate
The name of the senior retainer who secretly allied with the Takeda at Katsurao Castle is not recorded in available sources and cannot be identified.
Sources345·Certainty: Medium
2 1553 (date unknown)
Battle of Fuse—Nagao Kagetora's Reinforcements and Recapture of Katsurao Castle
Murakami Yoshikiyo, at Shioda Castle, received a reinforcement of 5,000 troops from Nagao Kagetora (later Uesugi Kenshin) and temporarily recaptured Katsurao Castle and his former territories. The article on Nagano Tourism.net refers to this battle as the "Battle of Fuse."
Points of debate
The specific date cannot be identified from available sources. Regarding whether Nagao Kagetora himself sortied or merely dispatched reinforcements, the official records of Sakaki Town, Nagano Tourism.net, and Chikuma City merely record "received reinforcements" and "provided support" without explicit clarification.
Sources467·Certainty: Medium
3 August 1553
Katsurao Castle Falls Again; Murakami Yoshikiyo Flees to Echigo
When the Uesugi (Nagao) army returned to Echigo, the Takeda forces attacked and recaptured Katsurao Castle. Murakami Yoshikiyo withdrew from Shioda Castle and fled to Echigo, relying on Nagao Kagetora. It is believed that Yoshikiyo never returned to Sakaki, spending the remainder of his life in Echigo.
Points of debate
The detailed route of Yoshikiyo's flight to Echigo cannot be identified from available sources.
Sources345·Certainty: Medium
Historical significance
With Murakami Yoshikiyo's fall and flight to Echigo, Takeda Harunobu and Nagao Kagetora first confronted each other over control of northern Shinano. This marked the beginning of the Kawanakajima campaigns, which would span nearly twelve years and consist of five major battles until 1564 (Eiroku 7).
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Key figures
武田氏
1
Takeda army commander-in-chief
Invaded northern Shinano and captured the strategic fortresses of Kitsuneyama Castle and Arasaka Castle. Subsequently, through interior collaboration, he forced Katsurao Castle to surrender. In August of the same year, he recaptured Katsurao Castle and drove Yoshikiyo to Echigo.
Sources4·Certainty: High
村上氏
1
Lord of Katsurao Castle
During the invasion, he was at Shiota Castle. With reinforcements from Nagao Kagetora, he temporarily recaptured Katsurao Castle (Battle of Fuse), but lost the castle again in August. He withdrew from Shiota Castle and fled to Echigo.
Sources3·Certainty: High
上杉氏
1
Echigo commander who sent reinforcements to Yoshikiyo
Dispatched 5,000 reinforcements in response to Murakami Yoshikiyo's request, assisting in the temporary recapture of Katsurao Castle and his former lands (Battle of Fuse). Whether Kagetora himself led forces in the field cannot be determined from available sources.
Sources4·Certainty: Medium
Other events of 1553
Sources consulted
- 長野市「川中島古戦場史跡公園」
- ながの観光net「川中島の戦い 史跡ガイド」
- 坂城町「葛尾城跡と村上義清」
- ながの観光net「葛尾城跡」（岡澤先生の史跡解説）
- ながの観光net「葛尾城跡」
- 千曲市「城山史跡公園『荒砥城跡』」
- 国土地理院 住所・地名検索
The numbers in the text refer to the list above. Certainty indicates how far a statement is supported by the cited sources; it does not refer to the precision of the coordinates or the dating.
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