Battle of Hitotoribashi

Battle of Hitotoribashi
Part of Sengoku period
Date January 6, 1586 Location Near Hitodori Bridge in Adachi County of Mutsu Province, modern-day Motomiya, Fukushima Result Date Masamune retreat Nihonmatsu and allies withdrew
Belligerents
Date clan Katakura clan	Nihonmatsu clan Sōma clan Satake clan Ashina clan Nikaido clan Iwaki clan
Commanders and leaders
Date Masamune Date Shigezane Katakura Kagetsuna Oniniwa Yoshinao †	Onamihime Sōma Yoshitane Satake Yoshishige Satake Yoshinobu Iwaki Tsunetaka
Strength
7,000	30,000
Casualties and losses
380	963

The Battle of Hitotoribashi (Japanese: 人取橋の戦い) or Battle of Hitadori Bridge was a battle during the Azuchi-Momoyama period (16th century) of Japan. Due to the death of Date Masamune's father, Date Terumune by the hands of Nihonmatsu Yoshitsugu, Masamune swore vengeance.^[1]

After succeeding to the throne of the Date clan, Masamune would effectively have his revenge by launching an attack against the Nihonmatsu clan and their allies at Hitotoribashi in January 1586. Despite a large imbalance between the forces (Date force: 7,000; Nihonmatsu forces: 30,000), the alliance assembled in support of the Nihonmatsu forces disintegrated and withdrew after beating Masamune back into the Motomiya Castle.^[2]