About the Battle of Nagashino
The Battle of Nagashino was fought in 1575 (21st day of the 5th month, Tenshō 3) at Nagashino–Shitaragahara, Mikawa Province. Palisades and three thousand arquebuses shattered the Takeda cavalry: the decisive battle that changed how the Sengoku wars were fought.
- Year
- 157521st day of the 5th month, Tenshō 3
- Place
- Nagashino–Shitaragahara, Mikawa Province
- Era
- Azuchi–Momoyama period
The two armies
Takeda forces Commander-in-chiefTakeda Katsuyori 9,4008 units 
Oda–Tokugawa forces Commander-in-chiefOda Nobunaga 37,0009 units Troop strengthTotal of the units shown in 3D
Main camp 3,000Fought 6,400
Main camp 18,000Fought 18,500Did not fight 500
Takeda forcesBy troop strength
- Takeda Katsuyori 武田勝頼 Commander-in-chief 3,000
-
Yamagata Masakage 山県昌景 1,500 - Obata Nobusada 小幡信貞 1,000
- Naitō Masatoyo 内藤昌豊 1,000
- Sanada Nobutsuna & Masateru 真田信綱・昌輝 800
- Takeda Nobukado 武田信廉 800
-
Baba Nobuharu 馬場信春 700 - Tsuchiya Masatsugu 土屋昌続 600
Oda–Tokugawa forcesBy troop strength
- Oda Nobunaga 織田信長 Commander-in-chief 10,000
-
Tokugawa Ieyasu 徳川家康 Commander-in-chief 8,000 - Sakuma Nobumori 佐久間信盛 4,000
-
Sakai Tadatsugu (detached force) 酒井忠次(別働隊) 4,000 -
Takigawa Kazumasu 滝川一益 3,000 -
Hashiba Hideyoshi 羽柴秀吉 3,000 -
Niwa Nagahide 丹羽長秀 2,500 -
Ōkubo Tadayo 大久保忠世 2,000 - Okudaira Sadamasa 奥平貞昌 Did not fight 500
Portraits are public-domain images from Wikimedia Commons (some are later imagined depictions).
How the battle unfoldedTimes follow the 3D clock
- 4:00 AMCh. 1
NightNight Raid on Mount Tobigasu
Before dawn on the 21st day of the 5th month, Tenshō 3. A detached force of 4,000 under Sakai Tadatsugu slipped south through the mountain paths and stormed the Tobigasu forts that hemmed in Nagashino Castle. With his rear cut off, Takeda Katsuyori had no choice but to give battle on the plain of Shitaragahara.
- 6:00 AMCh. 2
LinesFacing Off at Shitaragahara
Daybreak. Across the Rengo River the Oda–Tokugawa army of 38,000 faced the Takeda army of 15,000. Nobunaga had built a triple line of palisades across the fields and hidden three thousand arquebuses (by the traditional count) behind them.
- 6:30 AMCh. 3
ChargeThe Takeda Cavalry Charges
Just after six in the morning the Takeda began their charges in waves, led by the red-armoured troops of Yamagata Masakage. But what awaited the horsemen who crossed the Rengo River was the palisade, and behind it a line of blazing arquebuses.
- 8:00 AMCh. 4
VolleyA Storm of Volleys
The brothers Sanada Nobutsuna and Masateru fell, then Tsuchiya Masatsugu, and still the Takeda kept charging. Even the elite of Naitō Masatoyo and Baba Nobuharu could not break the palisade, and one famous commander after another went down to the bullets.
- 10:00 AMCh. 5
SpentThe Takeda Are Spent
Eight charges in all were thrown back. The fierce Yamagata Masakage died in the hail of fire. Having lost its veteran commanders, the Takeda army no longer had the strength to break the line.
- 12:00 PMCh. 6
PursuitCollapse and Pursuit
Shortly after noon the allied army came out from behind the palisades and counterattacked. The Takeda broke completely. Baba Nobuharu volunteered for the rearguard, saw Katsuyori safely away, then stood his ground and was killed.
- 1:00 PMCh. 7
SunsetSunset of the Takeda
Katsuyori fled north along the Hōrai-ji road with a handful of retainers. Most of the veteran Takeda commanders had vanished on Shitaragahara. The age of the cavalry army once called the strongest of the Sengoku ended that day.
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 Nagashino?
Palisades and three thousand arquebuses shattered the Takeda cavalry: the decisive battle that changed how the Sengoku wars were fought.
When and where did the Battle of Nagashino take place?
It took place in 1575 at Nagashino–Shitaragahara, Mikawa Province (21st day of the 5th month, Tenshō 3).
Who fought in the Battle of Nagashino?
Oda Nobunaga of the Oda–Tokugawa forces, Tokugawa Ieyasu of the Oda–Tokugawa forces, Takeda Katsuyori of the Takeda forces were among the commanders.
Can I watch the Battle of Nagashino 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.