Murakami Yoshikiyo and the Rise and Fall of Katsurao Castle
Resistance Against Takeda Shingen
During the Sengoku period, Murakami Yoshikiyo controlled territory in Shinano and resisted the advance of Takeda Harunobu, later known as Takeda Shingen, whose forces were expanding northward from Kai Province.
The Murakami clan demonstrated its military strength in two important battles. In 1548, Murakami forces defeated the Takeda army at the Battle of Uedahara. The following year, they again inflicted a major defeat on Takeda forces in the battle known as the Toishi Collapse.
These victories established Murakami Yoshikiyo as one of the most formidable military leaders in Shinano and temporarily halted Takeda’s expansion.
The Fall of Katsurao Castle in 1553
The situation changed dramatically in 1553. Several local families who had supported Yoshikiyo, including the Yashiro, Amemiya, and Shiozaki clans, switched their allegiance to the Takeda side. The defection was encouraged by Sanada Yukitaka, an important retainer of Takeda Shingen.
With his former allies turning against him, Yoshikiyo’s position became increasingly difficult. Katsurao Castle came under pressure from the north and was eventually abandoned. This episode is known as the Battle of Katsurao Castle.
Yoshikiyo fled to Echigo Province and sought the protection of Nagao Kagetora, later known as Uesugi Kenshin. His escape and alliance with Kenshin became one of the developments that eventually led to the famous series of conflicts known as the Battles of Kawanakajima.
The Chikuma River and the Castle’s Fate
A Region Shaped by Floods
The same year that Katsurao Castle fell, the Chikuma River is said to have experienced a major flood. Historical records indicate that the river suffered as many as 64 floods by the Edo period, averaging roughly one major flood every four to five years.
There is no definitive historical record showing exactly how the flood affected the fall of Katsurao Castle. Nevertheless, flooding may have influenced local military conditions, including movement around the castle and possible escape routes.
The Murakami Clan After the Fall
Katsurao Castle was temporarily recaptured after its initial fall, but Murakami Yoshikiyo never returned as its lord. The surrounding samurai families were caught in the shifting alliances of the Sengoku era, repeatedly changing sides between the Takeda, Murakami, and Uesugi factions as the balance of power changed.
Under Uesugi Kenshin’s protection, Yoshikiyo was later granted Nechi Castle on the Shinano-Echigo border in 1565, where he was entrusted with defending the frontier. He died in 1572.
The Final Battle of Katsurao Castle
The Campaign of 1600
More than four decades after the fall of the Murakami stronghold, Katsurao Castle once again became involved in military events during the turbulent year of 1600.
On his way toward the decisive Battle of Sekigahara, Tokugawa Hidetada based his forces at Komoro Castle and launched an attack against Ueda Castle, which was defended by the Sanada clan.
At this time, troops under the command of Ido Uemon, a castle deputy serving under Mori Tadamasa, were stationed at Katsurao Castle and nearby Jizo Pass. Their role was to monitor movements around Ueda Castle.
Sanada Yukimura’s Night Attacks
Sanada Nobushige, better known as Sanada Yukimura, launched attacks against Katsurao Castle twice, on September 18 and September 23, 1600. One attack came at night, while the other was an early-morning assault.
These attacks are considered the last recorded military engagements involving Katsurao Castle. According to tradition, Ido Uemon had a poor relationship with his superior, Mori Tadamasa, and opened the castle gates, allowing Sanada’s troops to enter. The attackers reportedly advanced as far as the castle’s second enclosure.
Historic Sites Connected with Katsurao Castle
The Castle Approach and Former Residence
Traces of the former mountain castle can still be found around the approach to Katsurao Castle. At the foot of the mountain was a residence used during peaceful periods, and Manseiji Temple was later established on this site.
Manseiji was founded in 1582 by Murakami Kunikiyo, also known as Yamaura Kagekuni, the son of Murakami Yoshikiyo, during the period when the area was under Uesugi Kagekatsu’s control.
The Grave of Murakami Yoshikiyo
The grave of Murakami Yoshikiyo is located near Manseiji Temple. Visiting the temple and grave provides an opportunity to reflect on the life of a samurai lord who lived through one of the most turbulent periods in Japanese history.
The Legend of Kogai-no-Watashi
A Lady’s Escape Across the Chikuma River
One of the most famous legends associated with Katsurao Castle is the story of Kogai-no-Watashi, or the “Kogai Crossing.” According to the tale, when Katsurao Castle fell, the wife of Murakami Yoshikiyo was forced to flee separately from her husband.
She attempted to cross the Chikuma River and escape toward Chikaraishi on the opposite bank. A boatman helped her cross the river, and in gratitude, she is said to have given him the kogai that she had been wearing in her hair. A kogai is a traditional hair ornament associated with historical Japanese hairstyles.
Legend or Historical Fact?
The story has survived as a romantic tale of a noblewoman fleeing a defeated castle, but its historical accuracy remains uncertain. Some researchers have pointed out that certain details do not fit well with customs before the Edo period.
For example, women generally did not wear their hair in the elaborate high styles associated with later periods, and crossing rivers on foot was reportedly more common than using a ferry in some circumstances. These points have led to the possibility that the story developed or was embellished after the Edo period.
There are also several versions of what happened to Yoshikiyo’s wife afterward. Some say that she successfully escaped to Echigo, while others claim that she was discovered by enemy forces, took her own life, or was captured and killed.
Another version tells of the boatman taking advantage of the fugitives’ vulnerable situation and demanding an excessive payment for the crossing. Such variations are characteristic of oral traditions that have been passed down and reshaped over generations.
Who Was the Lady?
The woman in the legend is known as Ofune. Sources and local traditions differ regarding her background. She is said to have been either a daughter of the Takanashi clan or a concubine of Murakami Yoshikiyo.
The uncertainty surrounding her identity and fate adds another layer of mystery to the story of Katsurao Castle.
Discovering the Sengoku Landscape
Katsurao Castle is a valuable historic site that reveals the intense struggles for territory that shaped Shinano during Japan’s Sengoku period. Its story is closely connected with Murakami Yoshikiyo’s resistance to Takeda Shingen, the rise of the Sanada family, Uesugi Kenshin’s involvement in northern Shinano, and the conflicts that ultimately led to the Battles of Kawanakajima.
Although the wooden buildings of the medieval castle have disappeared, the surrounding mountains still preserve traces of the landscape that once served as a powerful natural fortress. The nearby temple and grave of Murakami Yoshikiyo provide further connections to the people who shaped the region’s history.
A Journey into the History of Sengoku Japan
For visitors interested in Japanese castles, samurai history, and the Sengoku period, Katsurao Castle offers a fascinating journey beyond the famous castles of Japan’s major cities. Here, the mountains themselves form part of the story.
Standing amid the quiet hills of Sakaki Town, it is possible to imagine the strategic importance of this location centuries ago and to trace the stories of the warriors, families, and fugitives who passed through the landscape.
Katsurao Castle remains a place where the rise and fall of the Murakami clan, the struggles of the Sanada family, and centuries-old local legends come together to preserve the memory of medieval Shinano.