INTERACTIVE BATTLE
Battle of Takanawahara
January 1524 · Takanawahara
On the thirteenth day of the first month, Hōjō Ujitsuna defeated Ōgigayatsu Uesugi Tomooki at Takanawahara and, aided by Ōta Suketaka's defection, captured Edo Castle as a base for expansion into Musashi.
Background
For Hōjō Ujitsuna, who succeeded Sōun, this battle was his first command in the field. Ōta Sukotaka, a senior retainer of Ōgigayatsu Uesugi Akisada and commander of Edo Castle, defected to Ujitsuna, providing him with a favorable opportunity to campaign in Musashi.
Outcome
In January 1524, Ujitsuna defeated Ōgigayatsu Uesugi Akisada in battle at Takanawahara in Musashi (present-day Takanawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo). Following this momentum, he captured Edo Castle, which became the base for his subsequent advancement into Musashi. The details of troop strengths and the course of battle cannot be confirmed.
Course of the battle
1 January 1524
Battle of Takanawahara and Capture of Edo Castle
On the thirteenth day of the first month, Hōjō Ujitsuna defeated Ōgigayatsu Uesugi Tomooki at Takanawahara and, aided by Ōta Suketaka's defection, captured Edo Castle as a base for expansion into Musashi.
Sources1·Certainty: Medium
Historical significance
This was the first battle in which Ujitsuna exercised command after his father Sōun's death, and through victory and the capture of Edo Castle, it marked the first time the Hōjō clan's influence extended into Musashi Province.
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Key figures
後北条氏
2
Commander-in-chief of the Hōjō forces
Succeeding Sōun and personally leading forces for the first time, he fought Ōgigayatsu-Uesugi Asaoki at Takanawahara and achieved victory. Capitalizing on this momentum, he captured Edo Castle and made it his base for further expansion into Musashi.
Sources12·Certainty: High
Edo Castle Deputy who switched sides
A senior retainer of Ōgigayatsu-Uesugi Asaoki and deputy of Edo Castle, he switched allegiance to Ujitsuna. This defection was a key factor in Ujitsuna's victory at Takanawahara and the capture of Edo Castle. Whether he personally engaged in combat at Takanawahara on the day of battle cannot be determined from available sources.
Sources2·Certainty: Medium
扇谷上杉氏
1
Lord of Edo Castle and head of the Ōgigayatsu-Uesugi clan
As lord of Edo Castle, he fought Hōjō Ujitsuna at Takanawahara but was defeated. The defection of his retainer Ota Sukeyoshi contributed to his loss of Edo Castle.
Sources12·Certainty: High
Other events of 1524
Sources consulted
- 港区「地名の歴史（高輪地区）」
- 小田原市「後北条氏5代」（氏綱の代）
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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