30 Facts About Takeda Shingen

Takeda Shingen was daimyo of Kai Province during the Sengoku period of Japan.

Takeda Shingen's skills are highly esteemed and on par with Mori Motonari.

Takeda Shingen was called "Taro" or Katsuchiyo during his childhood.

The kanji of "Takeda Shingen" can be pronounced as "Nobuharu", which is the inversion of his official name, Harunobu.

Takeda Shingen is sometimes referred to as "The Tiger of Kai" for his martial prowess on the battlefield.

Takeda Shingen was the first-born son of Takeda Nobutora, leader of the Takeda clan, and daimyo of the province of Kai.

Takeda Shingen had been an accomplished poet in his youth.

Takeda Shingen assisted his father with the older relatives and vassals of the Takeda clan, and became a valuable addition to the clan at a fairly young age.

Takeda Shingen succeeded in 1540, successfully taking control of the clan.

Takeda Shingen's first act was to gain a hold of the area around him.

In 1548, Takeda Shingen defeated Ogasawara Nagatoki in the Battle of Shiojiritoge and then took Fukashi Castle in 1550.

Takeda Shingen managed to avenge this loss and the Murakami clan was eventually defeated in the sieges of Toishi.

Takeda Shingen's son was confined to the Toko-ji temple, where he died two years later; it is not known whether his death was natural or ordered by his father.

In 1563, Takeda Shingen allied with Hojo Ujiyasu, and helped Ujiyasu capture Matsuyama Castle in Musashi Province.

In 1565, Takeda Shingen then took Kuragano Castle and Minowa Castle in Kozuke province.

The death of Takeda Yoshinobu is believed to have much to do with the change in Shingen's policy towards the Imagawa clan.

In such a predicament, Takeda Shingen asked his ally Oda Nobunaga for help.

Thanks to Nobunaga's efforts, Takeda Shingen was able to escape from the predicament.

In 1568, as a response to Hojo clan intervention in his invasion of Suruga Province, Takeda Shingen broke the alliance with the Hojo, and came into Musashi Province from his home province of Kai, attacking Takiyama Castle.

Takeda Shingen then moved against the Hojo by attacking Hachigata Castle, then engaged in the Siege of Odawara.

Takeda Shingen burned Odawara Castle town, then successfully withdrew after Hojo Ujiteru and Hojo Ujikuni failed to stop him in the Battle of Mimasetoge.

At this point, Takeda Shingen now had Kai Province, Shinano Province, the western part of Kozuke Province, Musashi Province and Suruga Province.

Later, Takeda Shingen engaged Tokugawa Ieyasu's forces and captured Tokugawa's Futamata Castle.

In early 1573, Takeda Shingen decided to make a drive for Kyoto at the urgings of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki.

Takeda Shingen stopped his advance temporarily due to outside influences, which allowed the Tokugawa clan to prepare for battle again.

Takeda Shingen was buried at Erin-ji temple in what is Koshu, Yamanashi.

Nobunaga and Ieyasu seized the opportunity to defeat the weakened Takeda Shingen clan led by Takeda Shingen Katsuyori.

Furthermore, while the Takeda controlled only landlocked provinces, Nobunaga had access to the rich and prosperous port city of Sakai, which meant that Nobunaga could afford military technologies and exotic supplies for his war machine far better than that of Shingen.

At first, Ieyasu ordered Torii Mototada, who served as the county magistrate of Kai, to collect military laws, weapons, and military equipment from the time of Takeda Shingen and bring them to Hamamatsu Castle.

Takeda Shingen ordered all former Takeda vassals in his service to impart any military doctrines and structures they knew during their service under the Takeda clan.