Shingen and Nobutora during the Conflict with Imagawa Ujichika

Takeda Shingen was born on November 3rd in the first year of Dai-ei (a Japanese era name), a time when the Takeda clan was facing the brink of extinction. At this time, Shingen’s father, Takeda Nobutora, was under attack by a large army led by Imagawa Ujichika in Suruga, and they had even penetrated the outskirts of Kofu.

Even the hereditary vassals of the Takeda clan were not responding to Nobutora’s mobilization orders, therefore the fall of Kofu and the Takeda clan seemed imminent. Nobutora, leading the remaining troops, established his position at Iidagawara on the outskirts of Kofu and sheltered his pregnant wife in a stronghold, preparing for the decisive battle.

In the previous month, on October 16th, Nobutora miraculously achieved victory at the Battle of Iidagawara. It was right after this battle that Shingen was born. Nobutora, overjoyed by the birth of his eldest son, named him Katsuchiyo and, encouraged by the jubilant Takeda troops, immediately crushed the Imagawa army. When peace returned, Katsuchiyo was embraced by his mother, Lady Oi, and taken to the Tsutsujigasaki residence. People within the Takeda clan respectfully referred to Katsuchiyo as “Onnzoshi-sama.”

There is no concrete evidence that confirms the widely held belief that there was discord between Nobutora and Shingen, the father and son duo. This belief largely stems from the “Koyo Gunkan,” a historical record.

Following reliable historical records, Nobutora gave Shingen the provisional name “Taro” and successfully obtained permission from Ashikaga Shogun Yoshiharu to receive an official name upon coming of age. Shingen was named “Harunobu” and was allowed to inherit Nobutora’s official title, “Sakyo-no-suke”. Furthermore, Shingen even hosted poetry gatherings, inviting poets like Reizei Tamemasa to represent the Takeda clan. Without a doubt, Shingen was treated as the heir to his father Nobutora.

So why did Shingen later exile his father? The reasons behind this action were the dire state of Kai province due to prolonged warfare and recurring issues like famines, disasters, epidemics, and skyrocketing prices.

Particularly, because of Nobutora’s frequent conflicts with other neighboring daimyos, economic blockades were often imposed, leading to inflation and famine. The people of Kai blamed these hardships on Nobutora’s misrule and grew resentful. To avoid the risk of another internal conflict, Shingen took the drastic step of exiling his father.

Conflict Between Shingen and His Eldest Son, Yoshinobu, Amidst the Second Battle of Kawanakajima

In addition to the exile of Nobutora, another reason Shingen is criticized for being ruthless is the death of his eldest son, Yoshinobu. According to the “Koyo Gunkan,” Shingen cherished Yoshinobu and considered him his heir. At Yoshinobu’s coming-of-age ceremony, Shingen’s behavior was so fatherly that it moved his retainers to tears.

However, during the second Battle of Kawanakajima in the first year of Kōji (a Japanese era name), a prolonged battle referred to as the “200-day standoff,” both the Takeda and Nagao forces were exhausted. Imagawa Ujichika attempted to mediate a peace settlement. However, Shingen seemed dissatisfied with the terms proposed by Ujichika, and negotiations were challenging.

In response to Shingen’s reluctance to accept the Imagawa mediation, it is said that Yoshinobu strongly criticized his father. Shingen, troubled by this, wrote a secret letter to someone believed to be a relative, expressing his concerns that “Yoshinobu is forgetting the father-son relationship for the sake of the Imagawa family,” and “Here, negotiations with [Kenshin] are temporarily suspended.” Shingen was deeply troubled by this situation.

At the time, the Imagawa clan was facing threats from Oda Nobunaga and Saito Dosan. Hence, Imagawa Ujichika considered ending the second Battle of Kawanakajima and joining forces with Shingen. Although there was tension, Ujichika mediated between Shingen and Yoshinobu, resulting in the end of the battle. It was during this time that it became clear that Yoshinobu sympathized with the Imagawa clan (Yoshinobu’s wife was Imagawa Ujichika’s adopted daughter, Reishoin).

In the eighth year of Eiroku (a Japanese era name), a conflict erupted between the Takeda and Oda forces in Eastern Mino. Oda Nobunaga quickly withdrew his troops and approached Shingen, seeking improved relations. On September 9th of the same year, Nobunaga dispatched Oda Tadahiro as an envoy to Shingen, proposing an alliance in exchange for marrying Shingen’s son, Suwa-no-kami Katsuyori, to Nobunaga’s daughter, Lady Ryukoin. Shingen accepted this proposal, and in November, the wedding between Katsuyori and Lady Ryukoin took place (forming the Kōa Alliance).

The Incident with Eldest Son Takeda Yoshinobu and Shingen as a Compassionate Father

Yoshinobu expressed his opposition to this alliance and, together with senior retainer Iitomi Toramasa and others, plotted the assassination of Shingen. This conspiracy, known as the Yoshinobu faction’s uprising, occurred in early October. However, the plot was discovered, and the Yoshinobu faction was captured, ending in failure. On October 15th, Shingen executed Toramasa and others from the Yoshinobu faction and exiled other followers. Yoshinobu, fearing that an alliance with the Oda clan would lead to the breakdown of their alliance with the Imagawa clan, likely sought to maintain the Three Provinces Alliance and a policy against the Oda clan.

At that time, Shingen had not yet considered disinheriting Yoshinobu. However, as it appears that Yoshinobu did not change his stance, their father-son relationship eventually deteriorated. Attempts by Zen priests to mediate failed. Eventually, Yoshinobu was disinherited and is said to have been imprisoned at the Kozenji temple in Kofu. On October 19th of the tenth year of Eiroku (a Japanese era name), Yoshinobu passed away at the age of 30. Shingen had lost his designated successor.

In the second year of Kōji (a Japanese era name), Shingen’s second son, Ryūhō, contracted smallpox. Although he survived, he lost his eyesight. Shingen grieved over this and offered prayers to the Yakushi Nyorai of Yugaji Temple in Yatsushiro-cho, Fuefuki City. This Yakushi Nyorai was renowned for its efficacy in treating eye diseases. Shingen’s prayer was as follows: “If both my eyes are healed, I will donate temple lands. If only one eye is cured, I will enter the priesthood. But if neither eye is healed, I ask that my right eye be given to my son, Ryūhō.”

Upon hearing news that his daughter married into the Hōjō clan, Shingen offered prayers at the Fujimiya Asama Shrine near his residence, praying for a safe childbirth and the well-being of both mother and child. This was not a one-time event; there are existing records of prayers offered in the third year of Kōji and the ninth year of Eiroku.

Shingen’s documentation of these prayers demonstrates the rarity of a military commander who cherished his family deeply.

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