Description

Murakami Yoshikiyo (1501-1573) was a Sengoku daimyo of Shinano Province (present-day Nagano Prefecture) and a renowned fierce warrior celebrated for repelling the famous Takeda Shingen twice. His victories at the Battle of Uedahara (1548) and the Toishi Castle defense (1550) brilliantly illuminate Sengoku history as great achievements that shattered the 'myth of Takeda's invincibility.'

As head of the Murakami clan based in Hanashiro County, Shinano Province (near present-day Sakaki Town, Nagano Prefecture), Yoshikiyo ruled northern and eastern Shinano. The Murakami were an influential clan, and upon inheriting leadership, Yoshikiyo overcame conflicts with other powerful families to become hegemon of northern Shinano. His sphere of influence centered on Sakaki and Katsurao Castles (present-day Sakaki Town), establishing his reputation as one of Shinano's strongest warriors.

The Battle of Uedahara in Tenbun 17 (1548) occurred as Takeda Shingen intensified his invasion of Shinano. In this battle, Yoshikiyo's Shinano forces fought valiantly, achieving great victory by killing Takeda's senior commanders Itagaki Nobukata and Amari Torayasu. Shingen himself is said to have been wounded—considered one of the rare defeats in his lifetime. At the Toishi Castle defense in Tenbun 19 (1550), Yoshikiyo again repelled the Takeda army (the 'Toishi Collapse'). However, after Tenbun 22 (1553) and subsequent repeated battles, Yoshikiyo lost Katsurao Castle and was forced to flee to Echigo, seeking refuge with Uesugi Kenshin.

Regarding Japanese swords, Yoshikiyo maintained deep ties to Shinano's sword-forging culture. Shinano was traditionally renowned for 'Shinshū tachi' blades, and under Yoshikiyo's rule, local smiths were protected. The sword he wielded at Uedahara was later known among Shinano warriors as the 'Murakami Tachi.' Even after exile under Uesugi Kenshin, he fostered connections with Echigo blade smiths, facilitating cultural exchange between the two provinces' sword craftsmanship. The valiant name of Yoshikiyo—who twice defeated the mightiest opponent in Takeda Shingen—is deeply engraved in Shinano and shines with particular brilliance in the legends of warriors who fought with Japanese blades.