Battle of Hasedo

In September of Keicho 5 (1600), at the very moment when the Battle of Sekigahara—the battle that would determine the realm's fate—was unfolding in Mino Province (present-day Gifu Prefecture), in the Oku-u region, the allied forces of Uesugi Kagekatsu, Mogami Yoshiaki, and Date Masamune were waging a fierce struggle over Hasedo Castle. This was the Battle of Hasedo.

The Naoe Letter and the Uesugi's Resolve

To understand the Battle of Hasedo, one must look back to the year before. In Keicho 4 (1599), the incident began when Uesugi Kagekatsu refused Tokugawa Ieyasu's summons to the capital. Kagekatsu's senior retainer Naoe Kanetsugu responded to Ieyasu's questioning with a fierce rebuttal known as the "Naoe Letter," criticizing Ieyasu in such vehement language that it became the object of ridicule throughout the realm.

The "Naoe Letter" was Uesugi's declaration of refusal to accept Tokugawa dominance and its readiness for total confrontation. Kanetsugu was renowned as a commander of both civil and military talents. The single character "ai" (love/compassion) on his helmet is said to represent his faith in benevolence or the Buddhist deity Aizen Myoo, and on the battlefield he served as a spiritual pillar for the samurai.

As the Uesugi clan prepared for war in Aizu, Ishida Mitsunari organized the western coalition and raised arms. Kagekatsu sided with the western forces and, seeking to secure the eastern flank of the anti-Tokugawa encirclement, ordered Kanetsugu to subdue the Ou region—specifically, to eliminate Mogami Yoshiaki, who had sided with the Tokugawa.

The Siege of Hasedo Castle

In August of Keicho 5 (1600), approximately 20,000 Uesugi troops led by Naoe Kanetsugu invaded Dewa Province (present-day Yamagata Prefecture), successively capturing Hataya Castle, Kamiyama Castle, Hasedo Castle, and others. However, at Hasedo Castle near Mogami Yoshiaki's main base, a defensive garrison centered on castle commander Shimura Mitsuyasu mounted fierce resistance.

Hasedo Castle was a fortress built on a ridge approximately 229 meters in elevation and could not be easily taken by frontal assault. Though the Uesugi surrounded it with overwhelming numbers, they could not bring down the castle, and by September the siege had reached a stalemate.

In this siege, the swords carried by Uesugi soldiers were primarily direct blades crafted by smiths of Echigo and Aizu, made for practical battle use. The Uesugi clan had been known since the era of Uesugi Kenshin for its strict standards regarding sword quality and devoted considerable effort to securing high-quality blades for its forces. Kanetsugu himself was known for his discerning eye for swords and blades, and is said to have possessed several renowned swords.

The News of Sekigahara's Defeat and the Rearguard Withdrawal

On September 15, news arrived at the Uesugi camp that the western forces had suffered a great defeat at Sekigahara and that Ishida Mitsunari had been captured. This report fundamentally overturned the military situation of the Battle of Hasedo. With the western forces defeated, the Uesugi clan now stood alone without allies.

Naoe Kanetsugu made his decision instantly: they must retreat. Yet a rearguard action is more difficult than an assault. If 20,000 troops withdrew before the enemy, a collapse could bring catastrophic defeat. It was here that Kanetsugu's leadership proved its true worth.

Kanetsugu commanded the rearguard himself, holding back the pursuing combined forces of Mogami and Date while executing an orderly retreat. This "Hasedo Rearguard Battle" came to be highly regarded by military historians of later ages as demonstrating Kanetsugu's true genius as a commander. The feat of drawing his sword to engage the enemy while shepherding 20,000 troops to safety exemplified the finest expression of generalship.

Particularly renowned is "the valiant struggle of Shida Yoshihide." To check the fierce pursuit of the Mogami and Date forces, Shida Yoshihide drew his sword and fought fiercely, providing cover for Kanetsugu's retreat. His actions in this rearguard battle are remembered as one of the most dramatic sword contests of the Battle of Hasedo.

The Uesugi's Survival and the Birth of Yonezawa Domain

After Sekigahara, Uesugi Kagekatsu surrendered to Tokugawa Ieyasu and accepted a severe reduction in holdings, from 1.2 million koku in Aizu to 300,000 koku in Yonezawa. Nevertheless, Kagekatsu was not ordered to commit seppuku, and the Uesugi clan survived. Naoe Kanetsugu retained his position as senior retainer and devoted himself to the administration and development of Yonezawa Domain.

Kanetsugu's legacy in Yonezawa extended to sword culture. A school of swordsmithing called "Yonezawa-uchi" was nurtured in Yonezawa, producing blades of practical utility and strength. Combined with Kanetsugu's own passion for swords and the Uesugi clan's tradition of warrior culture, Yonezawa maintained its standing as a center of sword production throughout the early modern period.

The Battle of Hasedo, often overshadowed by the Battle of Sekigahara, was the last great battle of the Sengoku era in the Ou region and a historically significant conflict in which the three great northeastern powers—Uesugi, Mogami, and Date—clashed. And the splendid rearguard battle displayed by Naoe Kanetsugu, the commander of "love," remains today highly esteemed as a demonstration of a warlord's true ability.