What was the Military System Shingen Adopted That Increased the Moral of the Foot Soldiers?

Deploying the “Yori-Oya Yori-Ko” (lit. Close to Parent, CLose to Child) System and Providing Rewards Beyond Letters of Appreciation

※The “Yori-Oya Yori-Ko” System

Among the Go-Fudai Kachō (hereditary retainers), a select few, such as Yamagata Masakage, Naito Masahide, and Takasaka Danjo, were appointed as Oyakata (guardians). While the Oyakata included relatives and hereditary retainers, there were differences in their positions.

Takeda Shingen’s military forces were composed of hereditary retainers, local vassals within his domain, and vassals from other provinces, as was common among other warlords. Furthermore, Takeda’s direct subordinates (made up of military officers, foot soldiers, and prisoners) were mobilized through special permits issued to villages and towns.

The hereditary retainers were samurai from Kai, with prominent ones like the Samurai Daissho (chief commander) leading hundreds of soldiers. Notable hereditary retainers such as Yamagata, Hara, and Naito were appointed. The hereditary retainers commanded troops mobilized from their own territories and personally led their followers (these were referred to as “Matahikan” (Secondary Retainer)  by the Takeda clan). Many among the hereditary retainers were also appointed as foot soldier generals.

The local retainers (kokushu) were large samurai families with a castle and a landed estate of 1,000 kanbun or more, and they were led by “Kachu” retainers (Family of the hereditary retainers) (also controlling the “Kafu” (family culture) and “Douchu” (family members)) and soldiers in the fiefdom.

Shingen also hired the best prisoners from other countries and appointed those who had distinguished themselves in battle to the rank of general footman, while others were organized into groups as footmen. It is also estimated that military officers mobilized from villages and towns accounted for a large proportion of the army’s forces. Shingen combined them to form his army.

First, the core of the clan was made up of the Takeda clan and its retainers. They were appointed as yori-oya (Parent Position), and were in charge of the local people and military officers (yori-ko, Children Position).

Furthermore, some members of the Takeda Go-Ichimon-Shu and hereditary retainers were entrusted with Saki-Kata-Shu (foreign vassals), who were vassals from occupied territories such as Shinano, Nishinoshinano, and Suruga, forming a unit structure under Shingen’s command.

What Was the Organization of the Saki-Kata-Shu Mentioned in the “Koyō Gunkan”?

According to the same text, among the Takeda Go-Ichimon-Shu, only Takeda Shoyokken Nobutsuna (Shingen’s brother) and Ichijo Nobutatsu were entrusted with Saki-Gata-Shu (foreign vassals).

Among the hereditary retainers, Yamagata Masakage (Suruga Enoshiri Castle’s chief, eleven individuals from the Saku-Gata-Shu including Shinano, Nishinoshinano, and Mikawa regions), Naito Masahide (Nishinoshinano Minowa Castle’s chief, seven individuals from the Ueno Saki-Kata-Shu), Baba Nobuharu (Shinano Makinoshima Castle’s commander, six individuals from the Hida, Etchu, and Suruga Saki-Kata-Shu), Kasuga Toratsuna (Shinano Kaizu Castle’s chief, seventeen individuals from the Shinano Kan-Nakajima group), and Tsuchiya Masatsugu (close aide to Shingen, seven individuals from the Shinano Saki-Kata-Shu) were entrusted with Saki-Gata-Shu. The Ida (Ashida) Nobumori and Nobumoto father-son duo within Saki-Kata-Shu from Shinano were said to be entrusted with Maruko Castle (Shinano Maruko) and Takeishi clan (Takeishi Castle) respectively, suggesting they were trusted by Shingen.

The Shinano Sanada, Ida (Ashida) clan, and Nishishinano Obata clan had large territories and significant military forces, allowing them to independently organize a unit.

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