Yamagata Masakage
Encyclopedia
was one of the 24 generals of the Takeda clan. He was famous for his red armour and skill in battlefield, and was a personal friend of Takeda Shingen
. He was the younger brother of Obu Toramasa
who was also a retainer of Shingen leading the famous "red fire unit" (derived from Shingen's slogan Fūrinkazan
). After his brother committed Seppuku
as a cover for Takeda Yoshinobu
's failed rebellion, Masakage took the red fire unit title and outfitted his cavalry in bright red armor. It was said that his cavalry would always charge first in battle; sowing confusion and panic in the enemy ranks.
Yamagata was a fierce warrior who fought in many battles and was given a fief in Shinano. He was present at the Battle of Mimasetoge
in 1569 and captured Yoshida Castle, a Tokugawa
possession, during the Mikatagahara Campaign (1572–73) and was present for the following Battle of Mikatagahara
. His last campaign was in the ill fated Battle of Nagashino
in 1575 where he was shot down on horse while charging together with his famous red fire unit. All of them died together with him.
Yamagata tried to persuade Takeda Katsuyori to call off twice at the attack of Nagashino, as he knew there was a trap waiting for them, however Katsuyori didn't listen.
Ii Naomasa
from the Tokugawa clan was inspired by Yamagata's red colour, he made tribute to him by naming his army the "Red Devil Brigade."
According to legend, Shingen called out to Yamagata from his deathbed in 1573 and ordered him to plant his banners at the Seta Bridge, the traditional eastern gateway to Kyôto.
's epic Kagemusha
. In the movie he appears to be openly critical (albeit as a friend) towards the "real" Shingen.
Yamagata's role at Nagashino is often downplayed in video games based on the event (Samurai Warriors, Devil Kings and the like). He is usually replaced by Sanada Yukimura, although Yukimura does wear Yamagata's signature red armor.
(NOBUNAGAOU report)
Takeda Shingen
, of Kai Province, was a preeminent daimyo in feudal Japan with exceptional military prestige in the late stage of the Sengoku period.-Name:Shingen was called "Tarō" or "Katsuchiyo" during his childhood...
. He was the younger brother of Obu Toramasa
Obu Toramasa
, known as the "Wild Tiger of Kai", was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period, who served the Takeda clan. He was the tutor of Takeda Shingen's younger brother Takeda Nobushige. He later betrayed Shingen with Shingen's eldest child, the rebellious Takeda Yoshinobu. A historically accurate...
who was also a retainer of Shingen leading the famous "red fire unit" (derived from Shingen's slogan Fūrinkazan
Furinkazan
, literally "Wind, Forest, Fire and Mountain", was the battle standard used by the Sengoku period daimyo Takeda Shingen, quoting chapter 7 of Sun Tzu's The Art of War: "Move as swift as a wind, stay as silent as forest, attack as fierce as fire, undefeatable defense like a mountain."The original...
). After his brother committed Seppuku
Seppuku
is a form of Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment. Seppuku was originally reserved only for samurai. Part of the samurai bushido honor code, seppuku was either used voluntarily by samurai to die with honor rather than fall into the hands of their enemies , or as a form of capital punishment...
as a cover for Takeda Yoshinobu
Takeda Yoshinobu
was a Japanese daimyo of the Sengoku period. Born Takeda Tarō , he was the son of Takeda Shingen, by Shingen's wife,. He came of age in 1550, and took the formal name of Yoshinobu, receiving the "yoshi" from the 13th Ashikaga shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiteru. In 1552, to further Takeda-Imagawa ties, he...
's failed rebellion, Masakage took the red fire unit title and outfitted his cavalry in bright red armor. It was said that his cavalry would always charge first in battle; sowing confusion and panic in the enemy ranks.
Yamagata was a fierce warrior who fought in many battles and was given a fief in Shinano. He was present at the Battle of Mimasetoge
Battle of Mimasetoge
The battle of Mimasetōge took place in 1569, as the forces of Takeda Shingen withdrew from repeated failed sieges of the Hōjō clan's Odawara Castle in the Kanagawa Prefecture of Japan. The Hōjō forces, led by the brothers Ujiteru and Ujikuni, laid in wait for him in the pass of Mimase...
in 1569 and captured Yoshida Castle, a Tokugawa
Tokugawa clan
The was a powerful daimyo family of Japan. They nominally descended from Emperor Seiwa and were a branch of the Minamoto clan by the Nitta clan. However, the early history of this clan remains a mystery.-History:...
possession, during the Mikatagahara Campaign (1572–73) and was present for the following Battle of Mikatagahara
Battle of Mikatagahara
The ' was one of the most famous battles of Takeda Shingen's campaigns, and one of the best demonstrations of his cavalry-based tactics.-Background:...
. His last campaign was in the ill fated Battle of Nagashino
Battle of Nagashino
The ' took place in 1575 near Nagashino Castle on the plain of Shitaragahara in the Mikawa province of Japan. Forces under Takeda Katsuyori had besieged the castle since the 17th of June; Okudaira Sadamasa , a Tokugawa vassal, commanded the defending force...
in 1575 where he was shot down on horse while charging together with his famous red fire unit. All of them died together with him.
Yamagata tried to persuade Takeda Katsuyori to call off twice at the attack of Nagashino, as he knew there was a trap waiting for them, however Katsuyori didn't listen.
Ii Naomasa
Ii Naomasa
was a general under the Sengoku period Daimyo, and later Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu. He is regarded as one of the Four Guardians of the Tokugawa along with Honda Tadakatsu, Sakakibara Yasumasa and Sakai Tadatsugu.-Early life:...
from the Tokugawa clan was inspired by Yamagata's red colour, he made tribute to him by naming his army the "Red Devil Brigade."
According to legend, Shingen called out to Yamagata from his deathbed in 1573 and ordered him to plant his banners at the Seta Bridge, the traditional eastern gateway to Kyôto.
Yamagata in popular culture
He appears as one of the main characters in Akira KurosawaAkira Kurosawa
was a Japanese film director, producer, screenwriter and editor. Regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers in the history of cinema, Kurosawa directed 30 filmsIn 1946, Kurosawa co-directed, with Hideo Sekigawa and Kajiro Yamamoto, the feature Those Who Make Tomorrow ;...
's epic Kagemusha
Kagemusha
is a 1980 film by Akira Kurosawa. The title is a term used for an impersonator. It is set in the Warring States era of Japanese history and tells the story of a lower-class criminal who is taught to impersonate a dying warlord in order to dissuade opposing lords from attacking the newly vulnerable...
. In the movie he appears to be openly critical (albeit as a friend) towards the "real" Shingen.
Yamagata's role at Nagashino is often downplayed in video games based on the event (Samurai Warriors, Devil Kings and the like). He is usually replaced by Sanada Yukimura, although Yukimura does wear Yamagata's signature red armor.
The armor of red's preparation
- At present, the armor of Yamagata Sakae is in the Japanese name museum TENZAN which is in Hachioji City.
- The armor of red's preparation
(NOBUNAGAOU report)