9. Battle of Uedahara (1548)
The Battle of Uedahara, fought on February 14, 1548, in Shinano Province (now Nagano Prefecture), was the first defeat suffered by Takeda Shingen and marked the first field battle in Japan where firearms were used. Shingen’s forces, numbering 7,000, faced Murakami Yoshikiyo’s 3,000 troops. Murakami’s army utilized 50 ashigaru armed with Chinese matchlocks, which played a significant role in their victory. The battle resulted in approximately 700 casualties for the Takeda clan, including generals Itagaki Nobukata, Amari Torayasu, and Hajikano Den’emon (en.wikipedia.org). Despite the loss, Shingen’s subsequent campaigns led to the expansion of his power, as he gained control over several districts, including Kousaka, Inoue, Mennai, Suda, Takanashi, and Seba.
