Battle of Uedahara

Battle of Uedahara
Part of the Sengoku period
Date February 14, 1548 Location Uedahara, Shinano Province Result Murakami victory
Belligerents
forces of Takeda Shingen	forces of Murakami Yoshikiyo
Commanders and leaders
Takeda Shingen, Itagaki Nobukata†	Murakami Yoshikiyo
Strength
7000 men	3000
Casualties and losses
700 men Amari Torayasu Itagaki Nobukata Hajikano Den'emon	120

The battle of Uedahara (上田原の戦い) was the first defeat suffered by Takeda Shingen, and the first field battle in Japan at which firearms were used.

Takeda Shingen met up with his force that had taken Shika castle, and led 7000 men north to face the threat posed by Murakami Yoshikiyo. Shingen's vanguard was led by Itagaki Nobukata; when they charged head-on into Murakami's vanguard, the charge was absorbed, and Itagaki killed.

Murakami made use of 50 ashigaru armed with Chinese arquebuses, who were meant to serve as support for archers. All in all, 700 of Takeda's men were killed, including Itagaki, and two other generals, Amari Torayasu and Hajikano Den'emon. Shingen himself even suffered a spear wound to his side.

References

• Turnbull, Stephen (1998). 'The Samurai Sourcebook'. London: Cassell & Co.