About the Night Battle of Kawagoe
The Night Battle of Kawagoe was fought in 1546 (Tenbun 15) at Kawagoe Castle, Musashi Province. An allied army of 80,000 under Uesugi Norimasa, Uesugi Tomosada and the Koga kubō Ashikaga Haruuji besieges Hōjō Tsunashige in Kawagoe Castle. Hōjō Ujiyasu comes to the rescue with only 8,000, feigns peace talks and retreat to lull the enemy, then launches a surprise attack in the dead of night. The allies collapse, the Ōgigayatsu Uesugi are destroyed, and the battle is counted with Okehazama and Itsukushima among the "three great surprise attacks of Japan."
- Year
- 1546 (Tenbun 15)
- Place
- Kawagoe Castle, Musashi Province
- Era
- Sengoku period
How the battle unfolded
- Siege Eighty Thousand Around the Castle
Since Tenbun 14 an allied army of 80,000 under Uesugi Tomosada of the Ōgigayatsu, Uesugi Norimasa of the Yamanouchi and the Koga kubō Ashikaga Haruuji has surrounded the Hōjō castle of Kawagoe many ranks deep. Its defender is Hōjō Tsunashige with a mere 3,000. The siege has lasted half a year.
- Relief Ujiyasu Humbles Himself
Hōjō Ujiyasu hurries from Odawara to the rescue. But he has only 8,000 men. Facing an enemy ten times his size, Ujiyasu avoids a frontal battle, sends humble envoys to sue for peace and at times feigns retreat, inviting the enemy's complacency.
- Ease A Great Army Grows Slack
The long siege, the overwhelming numbers and Ujiyasu's timidity. Complacency has spread through the allied army. Nightly feasts, slack watches; as good as victorious already, the great army sinks into deep sleep.
- Raid Take No Heads, Just Run
The dead of night, the 20th day of the 4th month. Ujiyasu orders the whole army, "Take no heads, just run," and in light gear they pour into the allied camp. At the same moment Tsunashige throws open the castle gates and sallies out shouting, "Victory, victory!" A pincer attack.
- Rout Collapse in the Dark
Taken by surprise, the great army collapses, fighting itself in the darkness. Uesugi Tomosada of the Ōgigayatsu is killed in the melee, and the noble house of the Ōgigayatsu Uesugi is destroyed here. Nanbata Norishige too is said to have died after falling into a well in the dark.
- Dawn The Night of the Three Great Surprise Attacks
Uesugi Norimasa and the kubō Haruuji both escape the field with their lives and little else. This night battle in which 8,000 beat 80,000 is counted with Okehazama and Itsukushima among the "three great surprise attacks of Japan," and it settled Hōjō mastery of the Kantō.
Generals and units
- Hōjō side Hōjō Ujiyasu Commander-in-chief
- Hōjō side Hōjō Tsunashige
- Allied army Uesugi Norimasa
- Allied army Uesugi Tomosada
- Allied army Ashikaga Haruuji
- Allied army Nanbata Norishige
FAQ
- What was the Night Battle of Kawagoe?
- An allied army of 80,000 under Uesugi Norimasa, Uesugi Tomosada and the Koga kubō Ashikaga Haruuji besieges Hōjō Tsunashige in Kawagoe Castle. Hōjō Ujiyasu comes to the rescue with only 8,000, feigns peace talks and retreat to lull the enemy, then launches a surprise attack in the dead of night. The allies collapse, the Ōgigayatsu Uesugi are destroyed, and the battle is counted with Okehazama and Itsukushima among the "three great surprise attacks of Japan."
- When and where did the Night Battle of Kawagoe take place?
- It took place in 1546 at Kawagoe Castle, Musashi Province (Tenbun 15).
- Who fought in the Night Battle of Kawagoe?
- Hōjō Ujiyasu of the Hōjō side were among the commanders.
- Can I watch the Night Battle of Kawagoe in 3D?
- Yes. This page plays a free three-minute 3D animated overview showing the deployments, the movements of each army and how the battle was decided.