About the Battle of Mikatagahara
The Battle of Mikatagahara was fought in 1573 (22nd day of the 12th month, Genki 3) at Mikatagahara, Tōtōmi Province. On a snowy evening Takeda Shingen hands Tokugawa Ieyasu the worst defeat of his life. A winter death-struggle that ends with the empty-castle ruse and a night raid at Saigagake.
- Year
- 1573 (22nd day of the 12th month, Genki 3)
- Place
- Mikatagahara, Tōtōmi Province
- Era
- Sengoku period
How the battle unfolded
- March Shingen Passes the Castle By
The 22nd day of the 12th month, Genki 3. Takeda Shingen's 27,000, marching west, pay no attention to Hamamatsu Castle and turn onto the Mikatagahara plateau. To stay inside the castle would be safe. But to let the enemy march past your gate and not come out is a disgrace to a warrior house. Ieyasu makes his decision.
- Sortie Ieyasu Leaves the Castle
Eight thousand Tokugawa troops and 3,000 Oda reinforcements. Chasing an enemy more than twice his strength, Ieyasu climbs onto the plateau as snow begins to fall. The Takeda form the "fish scale"; the Tokugawa spread the "crane's wing." As was said later, it was Ieyasu who had walked into the ambush.
- Lines Face to Face at Dusk
Late in the hour of the monkey the sun sinks and snow swirls. At a signal of stones thrown by the Oyamada contingent, the two armies collide on the withered plateau.
- Broken Fish Scale Crushes Crane's Wing
Against a master like Shingen the outspread crane's wing was far too thin. Yamagata's red-armoured troops split the left wing; the Baba contingent crushes the right. Hirate Hirohide of the Oda reinforcements is killed, and the Sakuma contingent leaves the field early.
- Rout Ieyasu Flees
Even the headquarters gives way, and Ieyasu gallops for Hamamatsu. Natsume Yoshinobu, who volunteers to impersonate his lord, vanishes into the enemy. Back in the castle, Ieyasu is said to have had a painter capture his own face, twisted with fear: the famous "grimacing portrait."
- Ruse The Empty-Castle Ruse
Hamamatsu Castle throws its gates wide open and lights blazing watch-fires. Suspecting a trap, the Takeda call off the assault and camp on the plateau.
- Raid Night Raid at Saigagake
In the middle of the night Ōkubo Tadayo and others strike the Takeda camp. Thrown into confusion in the dark, Takeda troops are said to have tumbled into the ravine at Saigagake. A small act of defiance in the midst of total defeat. Ieyasu never forgot the lesson of that day.
Generals and units
- Takeda forces Takeda Shingen Commander-in-chief
- Takeda forces Yamagata Masakage
- Takeda forces Baba Nobuharu
- Takeda forces Takeda Katsuyori
- Takeda forces Oyamada Nobushige
- Tokugawa–Oda forces Tokugawa Ieyasu Commander-in-chief
- Tokugawa–Oda forces Ishikawa Kazumasa
- Tokugawa–Oda forces Honda Tadakatsu
- Tokugawa–Oda forces Sakai Tadatsugu
- Tokugawa–Oda forces Natsume Yoshinobu
- Tokugawa–Oda forces Ōkubo Tadayo
- Tokugawa–Oda forces Hirate Hirohide (Oda reinforcements)
- Tokugawa–Oda forces Sakuma Nobumori (Oda reinforcements)
FAQ
- What was the Battle of Mikatagahara?
- On a snowy evening Takeda Shingen hands Tokugawa Ieyasu the worst defeat of his life. A winter death-struggle that ends with the empty-castle ruse and a night raid at Saigagake.
- When and where did the Battle of Mikatagahara take place?
- It took place in 1573 at Mikatagahara, Tōtōmi Province (22nd day of the 12th month, Genki 3).
- Who fought in the Battle of Mikatagahara?
- Takeda Shingen of the Takeda forces, Tokugawa Ieyasu of the Tokugawa–Oda forces were among the commanders.
- Can I watch the Battle of Mikatagahara 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.