Commands & Colors: Samurai Battles

Domyoji 1615 - Battle Among the Tombs

As the Tokugawa army was making their way across the river in pursuit of the remaining Osaka forces from the Heights of Komatsuyama, the fog cleared to reveal the entire Osaka army still blundering forward. On the Osaka left was …

Domyoji 1615 - Heights of Komatsuyama

Goto Mototsugu, leading the vanguard of a large Osaka army, had already crossed the Ishikawa River early in the morning of June 3. When his scouts reported that the Tokugawa Army was moving towards the Heights of Komatsuyama, Goto made …

Sekigahara 1600 - Assault against Ishida Mitsunari

Around 8:30AM, Kuroda Nagamasa led several other eastern generals and their troops in a direct assault against Ishida Mitsunari's command post. Mitsunari position's, however, was guarded by the men of Gamo Bitchu and Shíma Sakon. These units had…

Sekigahara 1600 - East of Mt. Nangu

East of Mount Nangu, Asano Yukinaga, hearing the sound of battle, charged his eastern samurai forward. They struck home on Natsuka Masaie's position, which surprised the other western commanders, who for the most part just watched as the fight…

Sekigahara 1600 - Opening Attack

The battle was fought around the small village of Sekígahara, astride one of Japan's key feudal-era roads. It was here that Ishida Mitsunari and his western allies planned to meet and stop the advance of Tokugawa Ieyasu and his eastern …

Suriagehara 1589

In early 1589 Inawashiro Morikuni joined the Date side. Ashina Yoshihiro mustered an army and marched to Suriagehara, where Date's men were formed and ready for battle. Yoshihiro deployed his army and attacked. The Ashina vanguard made good progress…

Takakura Castle 1585

All out war was waging between the families of Date and Hatakeyama, after the head of the Date family was kidnapped and killed by the head of the Hatakeyama family, who was also in turn put to death after the …

Okitanawate 1584

Learning of the main advance of the Ryuzoji army, which hoped to crush his domain, Shimazu Iehisa chose to make a stand at Okitanawate despite being heavily outnumbered. In addition to being a confined area, Iehisa constructed a palisade across …

Tedorigawa 1577

Uesugi Kenshin invaded Noto province in the fall of 1577, prompting Oda Nobunaga to dispatch a sizable army to the relief of his allies at Nanao castle. Kenshin was initally hesitant to face the great host, but before the Oda …

Nagashino 1575 - Takeda Left Attack

The extreme right of the Oda-Tokugawa army was not protected by wooden palisades, as were the center and left. So when Yamagata Masakage and Hera Masatane charged forward it became one huge melee. Although Yamagata Masakage was skilled in combat, …

Nagashino 1575 - Takeda Right Attack

On the right, when Baba Nobuharu's attack force emerged from the forest, he also saw an opportunity to defeat his enemies and ordered his cavalry to charge. But because of the forested hill to his light, he could not outflank …

Nagashino 1575 - Takeda Center Attack

Even though Takeda Katsuyori was faced with a numerically superior enemy force, Katsuyori, over the objections of his veteran commanders, opted to attack. Wary of the Takeda cavalry charge, Oda Nobunaga constructed wooden palisades, interspersed with…

Nagashino 1575 - Battle Overview

In the summer of 1575, Takeda Katsuyori led his army into the Tokugawa domain and besieged Nagashino Castle. Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu led a combined army to relieve the siege. They established their position on the plain of Shitirabara. …

Kizakihara 1572

Ito Yoshisuke consolidated his gains over Hyuga province with the capture of Obi. Ito then pushed into Osumí, a holding of the Shimazu clan. Shimazu Yoshihiro only had few men with him, but was determined to make a stand. By …

The Ravine Near Saigadake 1572

After his retreat to Hamamatsu castle, the Takeda army leaders suspected a trick and did not attack the castle, when they saw the open castle gate, light of the fires and heard the Tokugawa drums. The army, instead, pulled back …

Mikata-Ga-Hara 1572

By 1572 Takeda Shingen was at the height of his power largely due to his superb Samurai cavalry. Although Tokugawa Ieysu was not his greatest threat, Ieysu would not grant the Takeda army right of passage to attack elsewhere. Shingen …

Anegawa 1570 - Oda against Asai

As both sides deployed for battle with Oda facing Asai and Tokugawa against Asakura, the one engagement actually became two separate battles. On the Oda right flank, the Asai were having the better of Nobunaga's troops. One Asai samurai named …

Anegawa 1570 - Tokugawa against Asakura

As both sides deployed for battle with Oda facing Asai and Tokugawa against Asakura, the one engagement actually became two separate battles. Tokugawa Ieyasu personally led his troops against the Asakura and gained the initiative when he ordered…

Anegawa 1570 - Battle Overview

In 1568 Oda Nobunaga's army had control of Kyoto, but when the Asai joined Asakura, together they effectively cut off Oda's army from its home base. With some sly maneuvering, however, Oda managed to return home and after reinforcing his …

Nunobeyama 1570

In 1570, Amako Katsuhisa was convinced to return to samurai life after living as a monk for four years. He joined Yamanaks Shikanosuke at Niiyama castle just in time to meet the invading Mori forces about to cross the Linashígawa. …

Mimasetoge 1569

Catching the Hojo totally unprepared, the Takeda invasion was swift and the Hojo base ot Odawara was surrounded. The enemy, however, refused to fight outside the fortress and Takeda Shingen, not ready for a siege ordered a retreat. Hojo Ujikunia …

Second Konodai 1564 - January 8

After a hard days fighting, the Hojo army during the night repositioned to attack Satomi Yoshihiro's army who had fallen back. Yoshihiro had expected help to arrive from his allies, but none had come during the night. The battle resumed …

Second Konodai 1564 - January 7

Having received a report that the Satomi force had capture Konodai castle, Hojo Ujiyasu summoned his retainers and ordered the advance to Konodai. Although the Hojo army was more that double the strength of Satomi Yoshihiro”s army, many men were …

Fourth Kawanakajima 1561 - Phase 5 Takeda Pincer Attack

By midday Kosaka's flanking force was across the Chikumagawa and charged into the rear of the Uesugi army. Caught between Kosaka from the rear and Shingen, who had reformed the Takeda battle line, to their front, the Uesugi army began …

Fourth Kawanakajima 1561 - Phase 4 Fords of Amenomiya

Through the night the flanking force of “Operation Woodpecker" under the command of Kosaka had ascended Mt. Saijo only to find that the Uesugi troops had abandoned the position. Hearing the sound of battle, Kosaka quickly moved to the fords …