Battle of Nagashino

The Battle of Nagashino in 1573 took place in Nagashino in Mikawa of Japan.

Takeda Katsuyori besieged Okudaira Nobumasa at Nagashino Castle in 1573. Nobumasa was holding the castle for Tokugawa Ieyasu and this castle was situated in the strategic location that could endanger the line of supply for Takeda's troop.

Both Ieyasu and Oda Nobunaga sent troops and Katsuyori was defeated.

Battle

Traditionally, it was believed that Oda-Tokugawa troops constructed a wooden barricades to stop the attack by the fearsome cavaly of Takeda. Then they organaized 3000 rifle soldiers into three groups and fired in valleys from behind the barricades into charging ranks of soldiers. This battle was thus believed to be the complete departure from traditional duels that used to be popular back in Kamakura period.

However, many of recent studies contradict this belief. It is highly doubtable that even with massive amount of rifles as reported is the sole key to loss of the battle. The Oda-Tokugawa army outnumbered Takeda by 3 to 1 ratio, enough to win even with Takeda deeply entrenched in a fortification. There are also these three major doubts about the actual battle.

• Japanese horses of that time were much smaller than today's and unsuitable for charge on the horseback. Samurai is believed to have fought on foot in a battle.
• The Takeda army is known to have a deep knowledge of tactics and is unimaginable for them to attack head on into a well constructed barricades visible from far away.
• Most of Takeda's deaths are recorded while in the retreat and not at Nagashino.