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Nagashino June 29, 1575
Strategic Context
Japan witnesses significant political turmoil from 1467 onward as the Ashikaga shogunate declines, leading to Japan’s breakdown into small territories ruled by feudal lords or daimyo, all vying for control. By 1568, Oda Nobunaga rules the capital of Kyoto and its surrounding territory. In guided by his late father’s ambitions, Takeda Katsuyori boldly invades Tokugawa Ieyasu’s territory to get to Oda, making the two daimyo even closer allies. Takeda lays siege to Nagashino Castle, but all efforts fail to capture it. These failures convince Takeda to starve out the fortress rather than take it by force. Torii Suneemon heroically escapes Nagashino to inform Oda and Tokugawa that the castle has only enough supplies for five days, prompting the two daimyo send a large relief army against their common enemy.
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Stakes
+ A Takeda victory would strain the Oda-Tokugawa alliance and directly weaken both clans individually.
+ An Oda-Tokugawa victory would cripple the Takeda clan’s military and political standing and pave the way for Oda-Tokugawa expansion.
By Jonathan Webb, 2009

2. Nagashino, 1575 Strength Takeda forces Well Oda-Tokugawa forces Well
Takeda Katsuyori
Oda Nobunanga
Tokugawa Ieyasu
10,000 infantry
25,000 infantry
5,000 cavalry
10,000 cavalry
3,000 arquebusiers
By Jonathan Webb, 2009

3. Japan c. 1570

4. Oda-Tokugawa forces Takeda forces
The battlefield consists of relatively restricted battlefield with major features on most sides. The Shidarahara “Plain” is actually a swathe of mixed forest separated by the Rengogawa River (actually a shallow stream) running north-south. Mount Gambo encloses the battlefield to the northwest while the Takigawa and Toyokawa Rivers enclose it to the east and south respectively, with high elevated rough terrain past those. Nagashino Castle, the formidable objective of both sides, and sits among three major rivers, and various rough terrain, making it highly defensible.
Oda-Tokugawa forces
(Oda-Tokugawa)
500m
1 km
Mount Gambo
Takigawa River
Shidarahara Plain
Nagashino Castle
Onagawa River
Rengogawa River
Toyokawa River
Takeda forces
(Takeda)

5. (Oda Nobunanga & Tokugawa Ieyasu)
Takeda realizes the ground is too wet for a cavalry charge after his last proves ineffectual so he dismounts his elite samurai cavalry; Oda-Tokugawa do so as well. Takeda assaults the palisade, breaching the first line. Oda-Tokugawa’s arquebusiers can only launch their volleys before allowing the infantry to defend the front. A bloody melee ensues at the palisade but the strength of Oda-Tokugawa’s position and numbers, despite rising casualties, force Takeda to retreat once again, particularly in the south where the river is deeper. Oda-Tokugawa feel their right flank is secure enough to detach a raiding party.
Takeda deploys 3,000 infantry to besiege Nagashino Castle and deploys the rest of his army in four groups, one being a reserve, against Oda-Tokugawa’s relief army. Although the castle holds only 500 men, it is a formidable fortress. Oda-Tokugawa deploy their army behind a three-deep wooden palisade protecting their arquebusiers, enabling them to fire in concentrated volleys. Takeda is not concerned with the arquebusiers because he assumes the previous day’s rain has spoiled their ammunition as it spoiled his own. Oda-Tokugawa place small units beyond the palisade to serve as bait for Takeda’s aggressive subordinates.
Baba and Yamagata chase Oda-Tokugawa’s bait infantry with meager cavalry forces until they are both completely halted at the palisade by heavy arquebus fire and dense infantry formations. Takeda respects the palisade as a major hindrance and attempts to destroy it using infantry acting as sappers but these too take ample casualties from arquebus fire and retreat.
Oda-Tokugawa forces
(Oda-Tokugawa)
500m
1 km
Landmarks
Mount Gambo
Takigawa River
Oda-Tokugawa Forces Takeda Forces
Infantry Infantry
Cavalry Cavalry
Camp Camp
Arquebusier
Baba
Shidarahara Plain
Okudaira
Nagashino Castle
Onagawa River
Oda
Naito
Tokugawa
Yamagata
Oda-Tokugawa forces
(Oda Nobunanga & Tokugawa Ieyasu)
25,000 infantry
10,000 cavalry
3,000 arquebusiers
Rengogawa River
Takeda forces
(Takeda Katsuyori)
10,000 infantry
5,000 cavalry
Toyokawa River
Symbol guide
Takeda forces
(Takeda)

6. (Oda Nobunanga & Tokugawa Ieyasu)
Takeda realizes the ground is too wet for a cavalry charge after his last proves ineffectual so he dismounts his elite samurai cavalry; Oda-Tokugawa do so as well. Takeda assaults the palisade, breaching the first line. Oda-Tokugawa’s arquebusiers can only launch their volleys before allowing the infantry to defend the front. A bloody melee ensues at the palisade but the strength of Oda-Tokugawa’s position and numbers, despite rising casualties, force Takeda to retreat once again, particularly in the south where the river is deeper. Oda-Tokugawa feel their right flank is secure enough to detach a raiding party.
Oda-Tokugawa send the order for retreat but suddenly reverse the order into a general pursuit because Takeda has already ordered a withdrawal in the face of severe casualties. Oda-Tokugawa’s samurai jump on their horses and chase down Takeda’s battered army; its total annihilation is prevented only by Baba’s heroic rearguard action. Around the same time, Takeda’s camp and siege lines are surprised and defeated by the raiding party, the castle’s garrison even joining in the pursuit to strike out at their former besiegers.
After failing in so many half-hearted attacks, Takeda now commits his reserve in a final effort to smash Oda-Tokugawa’s entire line, particularly on their left flank where the palisade ends. Oda-Tokugawa’s right wing quickly dismisses Takeda’s attack while the rest of the front features fierce hand-to-hand where all samurai try and prove their valour. Both sides understandably consider a withdrawal; Oda-Tokugawa must rush reserves over to save their left flank which is eroding gradually while Takeda feels he is fighting a battle of attrition that he has no hope of winning. Meanwhile, Oda-Tokugawa’s raiding party advances.
Oda-Tokugawa forces
(Oda-Tokugawa)
500m
1 km
Landmarks
Mount Gambo
Baba
Takigawa River
Oda-Tokugawa Forces Takeda Forces
Infantry Infantry
Cavalry Cavalry
Camp Camp
Arquebusier
Baba
Shidarahara Plain
Okudaira
Nagashino Castle
Onagawa River
Oda
Naito
Tokugawa
Yamagata
Oda-Tokugawa forces
(Oda Nobunanga & Tokugawa Ieyasu)
25,000 infantry
10,000 cavalry
3,000 arquebusiers
Rengogawa River
Takeda forces
(Takeda Katsuyori)
10,000 infantry
5,000 cavalry
Toyokawa River
Symbol guide
Takeda forces
(Takeda)

7. Nagashino, 1575 Casualties & Aftermath
Takeda forces:
Oda-Tokugawa forces:
10,000 or
66%
6,000 or
16%
Remarkably, the Takeda clan limped on for seven more years despite its falling confidence in Takeda Katsuyori. Tokugawa campaigned against Takeda for six years after the battle until again combining forces with Nobunaga. As more land was annexed and more allies abandoned him, Takeda Katsuyori and his family committed suicide, officially destroying the Takeda clan. The chaotic Sengoku Period carried on for many decades until Tokugawa finally unified Japan in 1603 and installed a regime that lasted until 1858.
By Jonathan Webb, 2009

8. The Art of Battle: Animated Battle Maps
By Jonathan Webb, 2009