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===Hideyoshi’s Sekigahara: The Battle of Shizugatake (1583)=== | |||
The Battle of Sekigahara is often lauded as a turning point in Japanese history. It silenced the remaining Toyotomi loyalists and put Tokugawa Ieyasu into position to become shogun. Nearly two decades earlier, Toyotomi Hideyoshi had his own “Sekigahara moment.” The story of the Battle of Shizugatake is often oversimplified, but, the more you dig into it, the more a fascinating game of chess unfolds across the landscape of the Yogo Plain. | |||
====The Prelude to Battle (1582–1583)==== | |||
On June 27, 1582 (Tenshō 10), the Council of Kiyosu was held in Owari, where the distribution of Oda Nobunaga’s territories was determined following his death at Honnō-ji. Yet this meeting failed to stabilize the political situation—it merely ignited a new power struggle to fill the void Nobunaga left behind. | |||
Both Hashiba Hideyoshi and Shibata Katsuie began mobilizing for the inevitable conflict. One of the earliest strategic preparations was the fortification of Genbao Castle (玄蕃尾城), located on the border of Ōmi and Echizen Provinces. Despite being built in haste, Genbao was notably well-designed, suggesting that plans for its construction began immediately after the Kiyosu Council. | |||
By December, Hideyoshi seized the initiative. On December 2, he attacked Nagahama Castle (長浜城) under cover of snowfall. Shibata’s subordinate Katsutoyo was snowed in and unable to receive reinforcements from Echizen. Then, on December 20, Hideyoshi captured Gifu Castle, forcing Oda Nobutaka (織田信孝) to surrender—temporarily stabilizing the situation. | |||
In early 1583, Takigawa Kazumasu mounted a counterattack but was quickly defeated. This alerted Hideyoshi to the danger of a spring offensive from Echizen. In response, he began reinforcing a defensive line along the Hokkoku Kaidō, the key corridor linking northern Ōmi to the Sea of Japan coast. | |||
By late February, Shibata Katsuie arrived at Genbao Castle and began deploying his forces. What followed was the creation of one of the largest and most intricate systems of field fortifications seen during the Sengoku period. | |||
Hideyoshi established his headquarters at Tagamiyama Castle (田上山城), roughly 10 kilometers south of Genbao. This became his primary staging area. His brother, Hashiba Hidenaga, commanded the position and the forces assembled at nearby Kinomoto Jizoin. | |||
Hideyoshi’s main defensive line was built along the mountain range west of Lake Yogo (余呉湖), with key forts at Shizugatake (賤ヶ岳砦), Ōiwayama (大岩山砦), and Iwasakiyama (岩崎山砦). Hideyoshi's forward position was established at Tenjinyama Castle (天神山砦) and Chausuyama with Imaichikami Fort across the small valley. This opposed Shibata's front and closed off the highway. | |||
Shibata Katsuie's top captains had heavily fortified the Gyoichiyama Ridgeline extended west to east. | |||
It's interesting to note the size of the mountain ridge between Tenjinyama and Gyochiyama lines in the photo above. Hideyoshi judged Tenjinyama to be too exposed and too close to the Shibata line.He withdrew one ridge southward, constructing new forts at Shinmeiyama (神明山砦), Dōgiyama (堂木山砦), and Shigeyama (茂山砦). To seal the corridor, he built Higashinoyama Castle high on the opposing ridge—the narrowest point of the valley—directly across from Shinmeiyama and Dōgiyama. Between these positions, Hideyoshi constructed a large earthen embankment to physically block the road and fortify the chokepoint at Dōgiyama. Orders were given to not let a single sword past this line. | |||
- Imaichikami Fort, with commanding views toward Genbao Castle, the valley floor, and enemy ridges | |||
- Shobudani Fort and Mizodani Fort, guarding the lower flanks of the sougamae system | |||
Meanwhile, Shibata’s main fortification line extended across the ridge culminating in Mt. Gyoichiyama, anchored by: | |||
- 行市山砦 (Gyōichiyama Toride), built by Sakuma Morimasa | |||
- 中谷山砦, 林谷山砦, 橡谷山砦, 柏谷砦, 大谷山砦, and 別所山砦, the last of which was used by Maeda Toshiie and his son Toshinaga | |||
The Shibata positions formed a more simple battle line, with some lacking the complex defensive intricacy of Hideyoshi’s network—possibly by intent. Shibata’s main goal was to advance through Ōmi and unite with allies to take Kyoto, while Hideyoshi’s was simply to block him. Thus, Hideyoshi built to hold back Shibata for the long term while Shibata's intent was more short term thinking just of artily positions as he passed through. | |||
=== The Battle of Shizugatake (1583) === | |||
In mid-April, Hideyoshi had shifted east to confront Nobutaka (who, despite surrendering earlier, had allied with Takigawa Kazumasu). With Hideyoshi absent, Sakuma Morimasa, Katsuie’s nephew, saw an opening. | |||
On April 19, Morimasa launched a surprise assault on Mt. Shizugatake: | |||
- Ōiwa Fort, held by Nakagawa Kiyohide, fell quickly; Kiyohide was killed. | |||
- Iwasaki Fort, held by Takayama Ukon, was also lost under pressure. | |||
- Morimasa then laid siege to Shizugatake itself. | |||
Despite Katsuie’s orders to retreat and consolidate, Morimasa refused. He believed Hideyoshi would need three days to return from Gifu, giving him time to capture Shizugatake without further risk. | |||
But on April 20, Hideyoshi received news of the attack—and moved immediately. That night, thousands of torches lit up the base of the mountain. Hideyoshi’s army had marched over 50km in under six hours. The feat became legendary as the Great Minoh Return (美濃大返し). | |||
At dawn on April 21, Hideyoshi launched a full assault. Despite being isolated deep in enemy territory, Sakuma’s army resisted fiercely, and the battle dissolved into intense close-quarters fighting. Seeing Hideyoshi shift his attack toward Shibata Katsumasa, Sakuma attempted to pursue—escalating the chaos. Then, crucially, Maeda Toshiie’s forces began to withdraw, creating panic across the Shibata lines. | |||
Hideyoshi seized the opportunity. The Shibata army collapsed. Soldiers fled, abandoning weapons and armor. Sakuma Morimasa was captured and executed. Back at Kitanosho, Shibata Katsuie—betrayed, defeated, and cornered—set fire to his castle and committed suicide alongside Oichi, Nobunaga’s sister. | |||
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35.53054,136.20442~Iwasakiyama Fort~two~Blueflag35.png; | |||
35.51459, 136.22458~Tagamiyama Castle~two~Blueflag35.png | |||
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Latest revision as of 08:39, 17 June 2025
Shizugatake Fortification[edit]
Hideyoshi’s Sekigahara: The Battle of Shizugatake (1583)[edit]
The Battle of Sekigahara is often lauded as a turning point in Japanese history. It silenced the remaining Toyotomi loyalists and put Tokugawa Ieyasu into position to become shogun. Nearly two decades earlier, Toyotomi Hideyoshi had his own “Sekigahara moment.” The story of the Battle of Shizugatake is often oversimplified, but, the more you dig into it, the more a fascinating game of chess unfolds across the landscape of the Yogo Plain.
The Prelude to Battle (1582–1583)[edit]
On June 27, 1582 (Tenshō 10), the Council of Kiyosu was held in Owari, where the distribution of Oda Nobunaga’s territories was determined following his death at Honnō-ji. Yet this meeting failed to stabilize the political situation—it merely ignited a new power struggle to fill the void Nobunaga left behind.
Both Hashiba Hideyoshi and Shibata Katsuie began mobilizing for the inevitable conflict. One of the earliest strategic preparations was the fortification of Genbao Castle (玄蕃尾城), located on the border of Ōmi and Echizen Provinces. Despite being built in haste, Genbao was notably well-designed, suggesting that plans for its construction began immediately after the Kiyosu Council.
By December, Hideyoshi seized the initiative. On December 2, he attacked Nagahama Castle (長浜城) under cover of snowfall. Shibata’s subordinate Katsutoyo was snowed in and unable to receive reinforcements from Echizen. Then, on December 20, Hideyoshi captured Gifu Castle, forcing Oda Nobutaka (織田信孝) to surrender—temporarily stabilizing the situation.
In early 1583, Takigawa Kazumasu mounted a counterattack but was quickly defeated. This alerted Hideyoshi to the danger of a spring offensive from Echizen. In response, he began reinforcing a defensive line along the Hokkoku Kaidō, the key corridor linking northern Ōmi to the Sea of Japan coast.
By late February, Shibata Katsuie arrived at Genbao Castle and began deploying his forces. What followed was the creation of one of the largest and most intricate systems of field fortifications seen during the Sengoku period.
Hideyoshi established his headquarters at Tagamiyama Castle (田上山城), roughly 10 kilometers south of Genbao. This became his primary staging area. His brother, Hashiba Hidenaga, commanded the position and the forces assembled at nearby Kinomoto Jizoin.
Hideyoshi’s main defensive line was built along the mountain range west of Lake Yogo (余呉湖), with key forts at Shizugatake (賤ヶ岳砦), Ōiwayama (大岩山砦), and Iwasakiyama (岩崎山砦). Hideyoshi's forward position was established at Tenjinyama Castle (天神山砦) and Chausuyama with Imaichikami Fort across the small valley. This opposed Shibata's front and closed off the highway.
Shibata Katsuie's top captains had heavily fortified the Gyoichiyama Ridgeline extended west to east.
It's interesting to note the size of the mountain ridge between Tenjinyama and Gyochiyama lines in the photo above. Hideyoshi judged Tenjinyama to be too exposed and too close to the Shibata line.He withdrew one ridge southward, constructing new forts at Shinmeiyama (神明山砦), Dōgiyama (堂木山砦), and Shigeyama (茂山砦). To seal the corridor, he built Higashinoyama Castle high on the opposing ridge—the narrowest point of the valley—directly across from Shinmeiyama and Dōgiyama. Between these positions, Hideyoshi constructed a large earthen embankment to physically block the road and fortify the chokepoint at Dōgiyama. Orders were given to not let a single sword past this line.
- Imaichikami Fort, with commanding views toward Genbao Castle, the valley floor, and enemy ridges
- Shobudani Fort and Mizodani Fort, guarding the lower flanks of the sougamae system
Meanwhile, Shibata’s main fortification line extended across the ridge culminating in Mt. Gyoichiyama, anchored by:
- 行市山砦 (Gyōichiyama Toride), built by Sakuma Morimasa - 中谷山砦, 林谷山砦, 橡谷山砦, 柏谷砦, 大谷山砦, and 別所山砦, the last of which was used by Maeda Toshiie and his son Toshinaga
The Shibata positions formed a more simple battle line, with some lacking the complex defensive intricacy of Hideyoshi’s network—possibly by intent. Shibata’s main goal was to advance through Ōmi and unite with allies to take Kyoto, while Hideyoshi’s was simply to block him. Thus, Hideyoshi built to hold back Shibata for the long term while Shibata's intent was more short term thinking just of artily positions as he passed through.
The Battle of Shizugatake (1583)[edit]
In mid-April, Hideyoshi had shifted east to confront Nobutaka (who, despite surrendering earlier, had allied with Takigawa Kazumasu). With Hideyoshi absent, Sakuma Morimasa, Katsuie’s nephew, saw an opening.
On April 19, Morimasa launched a surprise assault on Mt. Shizugatake:
- Ōiwa Fort, held by Nakagawa Kiyohide, fell quickly; Kiyohide was killed. - Iwasaki Fort, held by Takayama Ukon, was also lost under pressure. - Morimasa then laid siege to Shizugatake itself.
Despite Katsuie’s orders to retreat and consolidate, Morimasa refused. He believed Hideyoshi would need three days to return from Gifu, giving him time to capture Shizugatake without further risk.
But on April 20, Hideyoshi received news of the attack—and moved immediately. That night, thousands of torches lit up the base of the mountain. Hideyoshi’s army had marched over 50km in under six hours. The feat became legendary as the Great Minoh Return (美濃大返し).
At dawn on April 21, Hideyoshi launched a full assault. Despite being isolated deep in enemy territory, Sakuma’s army resisted fiercely, and the battle dissolved into intense close-quarters fighting. Seeing Hideyoshi shift his attack toward Shibata Katsumasa, Sakuma attempted to pursue—escalating the chaos. Then, crucially, Maeda Toshiie’s forces began to withdraw, creating panic across the Shibata lines.
Hideyoshi seized the opportunity. The Shibata army collapsed. Soldiers fled, abandoning weapons and armor. Sakuma Morimasa was captured and executed. Back at Kitanosho, Shibata Katsuie—betrayed, defeated, and cornered—set fire to his castle and committed suicide alongside Oichi, Nobunaga’s sister.
