Battle of Hitotoribashi

Battle of Hitotoribashi
Part of Sengoku period
DateJanuary 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]

  1. ^ Turnbull, Stephen (1998). The Samurai Sourcebook. London: Cassell & Co. p. 236. ISBN 9781854095237.
  2. ^ "Battle of Suriuehara - An easy-to-understand explanation of Date Masamune destroying the Ashina clan and becoming the ruler of Oshu | japan travel samurai with castle photos". en.tabi-samurai-japan.com. Retrieved 2024-08-27.