Itagaki Nobukata (板垣 信方, 1489 – March 23, 1548) was a retainer of the Takeda family. He was known as one of the "Twenty-Four Generals of Takeda Shingen".[1] His name is also seen with different kanji as 信形. Nobukata served under both Takeda Nobutora and Takeda Shingen and also was tasked with young Shingen.[2]

Itagaki Nobukata
Painting of Japanese samurai, Itagaki Nobukata, possibly from the 1860
Native name
板垣 信方
Nickname(s)信形
Born1489
DiedMarch 23, 1548
Allegiance Takeda clan
Battles / warsBattle of Ankokuji (1542)
Battle of Odaihara (1547)
Siege of Shika Castle (1547)
Battle of Uedahara (1548)
RelationsItagaki Taisuke

Military life

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In 1541 Nobutora, along with Amari Torayasu, was driven out from the position of the head of Takeda clan, and he served as the general for Shingen often leading the troops into a battle when Shingen could not.

In 1542, he would personally finish off Takato Yoritsugu at Battle of Ankokuji, shortly after the Siege of Fukuyo.

In 1545, he successfully besieged and captured Takato castle.

In 1546, he defeated Uesugi Norimasa at Usui Toge in Battle of Odaihara. With these victories, he was instrumental in gaining the control of Shinano Province and proved himself a skilled tactician. He was known as one of the "Twenty-Four Generals of Takeda Shingen".[1] After these victories, Nobukata increasingly became selfish and started to hold victory ceremonies without firmly winning a battle. These victories rapidly became fewer. As Nobukata was the eldest of the Takeda retainers and having educated Shingen, few could criticize his actions.

In 1547, during Siege of Shika Castle, Nobukata and his troops were almost completely wiped out in a battle and without a timely rescue by Hara Toratane, Nobukata himself would have been in danger as well. Shingen offered the following waka to Nobukata to encourage him to correct his act.

In 1548, at the Battle of Uedahara, Nobutaka satisfied with a victory, had his troops stand down to hold a ceremony. Murakami Yoshikiyo's troops regrouped and counterattacked, killing Nobutaka and Amari Torayasu.[2][3]

Personal life

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The Meiji era politician Itagaki Taisuke was Nobukata's direct descendant, 12 generations removed.[citation needed]

Dare mo Miyo Mitsureba Yagate Kaku Tsuki no Izayofu Ana ya Hito no Yo no Naka
誰もみよ 満つればやがて 欠く月の 十六夜ふ穴や 人の世の中
(Translation) "Everyone sees that even a beautiful full moon starts to change its shape, becoming smaller as the time passes. Even in our human lives, things are as it is."

In fiction

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In NHK's 2007 Taiga drama Fūrinkazan, Itagaki is played by Sonny Chiba. Like in the novel it was adapted from, Nobukata was portrayed more heroically, supposedly the one who was trying to rein in the young Takeda Harunobu (Shingen) from his arrogance and chose to sacrifice himself so that Harunobu may survive the Battle of Uedahara.

Genealogy

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Takeda Nobuyoshi[4]
Ichijo Tadayori1Itagaki KanenobuHenmi AriyoshiTakeda Nobumitsu[5]
Itagaki Yoritoki2Itagakiyorishige
3Itagaki YorikaneItagaki NobuyoriItagaki sanekaneTakeda Nagakane
4Itagaki YukiyoriTakeda Nobusada
5Itagaki NagayoriNakamura Kanekuni
6Itagaki SaburozaemonNakamura Kanesada
7Itagaki Shiro
8Itagaki saburo
9Itagaki Shokei
10Itagaki Kanemitsu
11Itagaki Zenman-bo
12Itagaki Bishu13Itagaki Nobuyasu
Itagaki Hokinokami14Itagaki Nobukata[6]Morozumi Genbanojowoman
15①Itagaki Nobunori[7]Sakayori Masamitsu16Itagaki Nobuyasu[8]wife of Itagaki Nobuyasu
Itagaki Masanobu[9]Itagaki Masatorawoman17Itagaki SurinosukeItagaki Hayato
Inui MasayukiItagaki MasayoshiSakayori Masayoshi
Inui Masasuke1Inui MasanaoInui Tomomasa
Inui MasakataInui Jujiro2Inui MasafusaInui Muichi[10]
Inui KasukeInui Masakiyowife of Kondo MichikataInui Jusuke3Inui Yoshikatsu
Inui NaotakeInui NaokowaNakayama HidenobuInui Kowamasa4Inui MasafusaInui Masanaru
Inui Masa-akira5Inui Masahisa
Inui NobutakeNomoto Nobuteruwoman6Inui MasaharuMotoyama Shigeyoshi
Inui Masashigewife of Hirai Masazanewife of Nagaya HikodayuInui Masakatsu7Inui Masa-atsuInui Masa-atsu[11]
Itagaki TaisukeInui Kyubawife of Hino Shigeyoshiwomanwoman8Inui Seishi[12]
Itagaki Hokotaro8Inui Seishi[13]Itagaki MagozaburoItagaki MasamiInui Muichi[14]Kataoka HyokoMiyaji GunkoOgawa EnkoAsano ChiyokoOyama Ryoko
Itagaki TakeoItagaki MorimasaItagaki MasatsuraKawase MiyoshiNakamura Choshi9Inui IchiroMiyaji ShigeakiMotoyama NobukoAsano KazuharuAsano FusakoOyama Tomomitsu
Ozaki TadashiMishima TakukoItagaki Masa-akiAkiyama NorikoItagaki TaitaroItagaki NaomaroKawase KatsuyoSugisaki MitsuyoNakamura Junko10Takaoka MarikoOyama Tomokazu
Ozaki KimimasaAkiyama TakeoAkiyama TakeshiAkiyama YuriItagaki YukoItagaki AkihiroNakamura NaotakaNakamura KazutakaIbuka MikaTakaoka KoutaroOyama TomoakiOyama Tomohide

Source "Kai Kokushi". Matsudaira Sadayoshi. 1814. Japan.(Aduchi-Momoyama period part) "Kwansei-choshu Shokafu". Hotta Masaatsu, Hayashi jyussai. 1799. Japan.(Aduchi-Momoyama period part) "Osamuraichu Senzogaki-keizucho"(Edo period part)

References

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  1. ^ a b Inoue, Yasushi. (2006). The Samurai banner of Furin Kazan, p. 7.
  2. ^ a b 武家家伝_甘利氏
  3. ^ Turnbull, Stephen (1998). The Samurai Sourcebook. Cassell & Co. p. 211. ISBN 1854095234.
  4. ^ (1128-1186)
  5. ^ (1162-1248)
  6. ^ (1489-1548)
  7. ^ (1523-1553)
  8. ^ Son-in-law(daughter's husband) of Itagaki Nobukata. son of Ozo Genpachiro. 永祿元年(1558年)、武田信玄の命に依って、板垣家を再興
  9. ^ ( -1608)
  10. ^ 板垣退助五男、絶家再興
  11. ^ adopted child of Inui Masaharu
  12. ^ second son of Itagaki Taisuke
  13. ^ adopted child of Inui Masa-atsu
  14. ^ 乾友正家の絶家再興
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