Battle of Un no Kuchi

Battle of Un no Kuchi
Part of the Sengoku period
Date 1536 Location Un no Kuchi, Shinano province Result Takeda victory
Belligerents
Forces of Hiraga Genshin	Takeda clan
Commanders and leaders
Hiraga Genshin †	Takeda Nobutora Takeda Harunobu
Strength
over 1,000	8,000[1]

The Battle of Un no Kuchi (海ノ口城の合戦) in 1536 was the first major victory for Takeda Harunobu, aged fifteen at the time. He would later take on the name Takeda Shingen, and grow to become one of Japan's most famous warlords.

Harunobu's father, Takeda Nobutora, attacked Hiraga Genshin in his fortress at Un no Kuchi, but was forced to retreat. Harunobu, at the rear of the withdrawing forces, waited until they were clear of the fortress, and then turned around, leading his men to defeat a castle garrison which was caught unprepared, having seen the Takeda flee.

Shingen usurped his father as leader of the Takeda in 1541, and resolved to outdo Nobutora by conquering Shinano. He invaded the province in 1542 and ultimately spent over two decades fighting there.

References

• Turnbull, Stephen (1998). 'The Samurai Sourcebook'. London: Cassell & Co. p209