更新日：2024年1月5日

Ieyasu Tokugawa’s Reign Over Hamamatsu Castle 2

Ieyasu’s 17 years as lord of Hamamatsu Castle were nothing but days of continuous fighting against the Takeda clan.

2. Battles against the Takeda clan

With the fall of the Imagawa clan, the Totomi province (now the western part of Shizuoka prefecture) became the battle ground of Ieyasu and the Takeda clan of the Kai province (Yamanashi prefecture).

Ieyasu made Hamamatsu his strong hold, repairing and constructing the castle around the nearby area to expand his territory rapidly.

Meanwhile, Takeda forces invaded the Totomi area through the Suruga (the central part of Shizuoka prefecture) and Higashi-mikawa provinces (eastern Aichi prefecture), continuously winning their battles and approached Hamamatsu castle.

At the battle of Mikatagahara in 1572 (3rd year of the Genki era), the Takeda army attacked and pushed Ieyasu back to Saiga-gake, just northwest of the castle. It is said that he barely fled back to Hamamatsu Castle with his life.

Hamamatsu castle is believed to have played an important role not only as the base of attacks but as a key point of defence against the Takeda clan.