About the Battle of Ishigakibaru
The Battle of Ishigakibaru was fought in 1600 (13th day of the 9th month, Keichō 5) at Ishigakibaru (Beppu), Bungo Province. The "Sekigahara of Kyushu," fought in step with the main battle. Kuroda Yoshitaka (Josui) defeats Ōtomo Yoshimune, who had risen to recover Bungo, at Ishigakibaru near Beppu, taking his first step toward sweeping Kyushu. Remembered for the heroic death of Yoshihiro Muneyuki.
- Year
- 160013th day of the 9th month, Keichō 5
- Place
- Ishigakibaru (Beppu), Bungo Province
- Era
- Azuchi–Momoyama period
The two armies
Kuroda forces Commander-in-chiefKuroda Yoshitaka (Josui) 17,0003 units 
Ōtomo forces Commander-in-chiefŌtomo Yoshimune 13,0003 units Troop strengthTotal of the units shown in 3D
Fought 17,000
Fought 13,000
Kuroda forcesBy troop strength
- Kuroda Yoshitaka (Josui) 黒田官兵衛 Commander-in-chief 9,000
- Inoue Yukifusa 井上之房 4,000
- Mori Tomonobu 母里友信 4,000
Ōtomo forcesBy troop strength
- Ōtomo Yoshimune 大友義統 Commander-in-chief 6,000
-
Yoshihiro Muneyuki 吉弘統幸 4,000 - Munakata Shigetsugu 宗像鎮続 3,000
Portraits are public-domain images from Wikimedia Commons (some are later imagined depictions).
How the battle unfoldedTimes follow the 3D clock
- 7:00 AMCh. 1
RisingJosui Moves
The 9th month of Keichō 5. The realm is split between east and west. Kuroda Yoshitaka (Josui), at Nakatsu, seizes the opening of Sekigahara to gather masterless samurai, hastily forms an army and sets out to crush the Western Army's Kyushu supporters one by one. Even in old age his ambition for the realm had not died.
- 8:00 AMCh. 2
LandingThe Ōtomo Land in Bungo
Ōtomo Yoshimune, who had once ruled Bungo, lands in the province with Mōri backing under the banner of recovering his old domain. He advances to Ishigakibaru near Beppu and threatens Josui's rear. In Kyushu too, the war of east and west has caught fire.
- 9:30 AMCh. 3
LinesAcross Mount Jissō-ji
The two armies face each other on the alluvial fan of Ishigakibaru, with Mount Jissō-ji between them. Josui's troops are a scratch force but strong. On the Ōtomo side, brave former retainers have rallied, staking everything on the revival of the great house of Bungo.
- 11:00 AMCh. 4
ChargeYoshihiro Muneyuki Wields His Spear
The brave Ōtomo commander Yoshihiro Muneyuki leads from the front and cuts furiously into the Kuroda. His prowess is tremendous, and Josui's vanguard is pushed back for a time. The pride of the Bungo samurai strikes sparks across the fan.
- 12:30 PMCh. 5
HillTaking Mount Jissō-ji
Josui sends in the troops he had held back and seizes the high ground of Mount Jissō-ji, the key position. Commanding the heights, the Kuroda fire down and, little by little, push back the visibly tiring Ōtomo.
- 1:30 PMCh. 6
FallMuneyuki Falls
Fighting on, Yoshihiro Muneyuki is at last overwhelmed by numbers and killed. Having lost their standard-bearer, the Ōtomo collapse and Yoshimune surrenders. The dream of reviving the Ōtomo of Bungo is extinguished in a single day.
- 2:30 PMCh. 7
SweepRacing Across Kyushu
With the victory at Ishigakibaru, Josui presses on to sweep Kyushu. But the main battle at Sekigahara was decided in a single day, and his design on the realm came to nothing. Still, it was the last great work of a peerless strategist, of whom it is said: "If the war had lasted another half year..."
In Ultra detailBattle Pass
The same scene in the standard quality and in Ultra detail. Drag the line to compare, and switch between "Wide" and "Close-up". Ultra detail adds rugged mountains, forests and rocks in 3D, rippling seas and rivers, rows in the fields and soldiers as figures. Chapter 1 of every battle can be watched in Ultra detail without the Battle Pass.
FAQ
What was the Battle of Ishigakibaru?
The "Sekigahara of Kyushu," fought in step with the main battle. Kuroda Yoshitaka (Josui) defeats Ōtomo Yoshimune, who had risen to recover Bungo, at Ishigakibaru near Beppu, taking his first step toward sweeping Kyushu. Remembered for the heroic death of Yoshihiro Muneyuki.
When and where did the Battle of Ishigakibaru take place?
It took place in 1600 at Ishigakibaru (Beppu), Bungo Province (13th day of the 9th month, Keichō 5).
Who fought in the Battle of Ishigakibaru?
Kuroda Yoshitaka (Josui) of the Kuroda forces, Ōtomo Yoshimune of the Ōtomo forces were among the commanders.
Can I watch the Battle of Ishigakibaru in 3D?
Yes. This page plays a free three-minute 3D animated overview showing the deployments, the movements of each army and how the battle was decided.