Nobutora Takeda (2/2)Kai no Tora's father

In 1543, he toured from the southern part of Yamashiro Province to Mt. Koya and Nara, where he interacted with influential people from all over the country. In 1550, Nobutora's daughter died in Yoshimoto Imagawa's room. Nobutora himself also moved his base of life from Suruga Province to Kyoto in 1558.

Nobutora Takeda moved to Kyoto and became a close aide to Shogun Yoshiteru Ashikaga. He was given the high rank of ``Tosama, Daimyo,'' and as Yoshiteru Ashikaga expanded the number of Gosobanshu, an official position in the shogunate, Nobutora was also appointed to Gosobanshu.
At this time, the daimyo who were appointed as gosobanshu included Yoshishige Otomo from Kyushu, Motonari Mori, Takamoto, and Terumoto from the Chugoku region, Yoshitatsu Saito from Mino Province, and Ujimasa Imagawa from Suruga Province. Ta.
While Nobutora Takeda was living in Kyoto, Yoshimoto Imagawa was killed in the Battle of Okehazama and the head of the family was replaced by Ujizane. The Takeda family fought with the Uesugi family of Echigo Province over the Hokushin region during the Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima.

After that, from 1564 onwards, Nobutora lived with the Koga clan, head of Shima Province. During this time, the ``Eiroku Incident'' occurred, in which Shogun Yoshiteru Ashikaga was defeated by the Miyoshi family. Due to the Eiroku Incident, the issue of succession to the shogun arose, and Oda Nobunaga of Owari Province supported Yoshiaki Ashikaga and went to Kyoto.
Nobutora Takeda, who was exiled from Kai Province, lived in Suruga Province and Kyoto, but the situation in the surrounding Takeda family, Imagawa family, and Shogun Ashikaga family changed rapidly.

its end

Yoshiaki Ashikaga was supported by Oda Nobunaga and became shogun, but after that the relationship between Oda Nobunaga and Yoshiaki Ashikaga deteriorated. Yoshiaki Ashikaga requested Takeda Shingen to go to Kyoto and defeat Nobunaga.
Takeda Shingen accepted this request and headed west. However, in 1573, when he came to Mikawa Province, he died of illness.

Nobutora Takeda returned to Kai Province the following year. In 1574, he moved to Takato Castle, the residence of his third son, Nobunaga Takeda, and met his grandson, Katsuyori Takeda. In the same year, he passed away in Takato, Shinano Province, under the protection of his son-in-law, Masanao Nezu. Passed away at the age of 81.
Eight years later, in the 10th year of Tensho (1582), the Takeda family, the feudal lords of Kai Province, also fell.

Places related to Takeda Nobutora

Sekisuiji Temple and ruins of a stronghold castle

Sekisuiji Temple is located about 15 minutes by bus from the north exit of Kofu Station. Originally, it was called Sekisui-dera because water gushed out from the huge stones in the temple grounds, but it was later renamed Sekisui-dera.
It is said that Takeda Nobutora's wife, Oi, gave birth to Takeda Shingen when she escaped from the war and came to this temple, and the well where she drew her birth bath and the Utsuyu Tenjin still remain today.
The ruins of a stronghold castle were located on the mountain behind Sekisuiji Temple. It is said that when Nobutora Takeda built Tsutsujigasaki Castle, a fort and a smoke tower were built to protect the castle. Currently, as a national historic site, the ruins and stone walls are almost completely preserved, and you can see the ruins of the castle.

Portrait of Nobutora Takeda

Tensho 2 (1574), the year Nobutora Takeda passed away.
A portrait of Nobutora was created by Nobutora's fifth son, Nobunaga Takeda (Shoyoken). This portrait, said to have been commissioned by Nobutora's grandson Katsuyori, depicts a large-eyed monk, painted on silk (a Japanese painting painted and colored on cloth), and depicts an energetic life. It received the approval of Harukuni, the chief priest of Chozenji Temple in Kofu, and was dedicated to Daisenji Temple, the family temple of the Takeda family, on May 5th. It is still kept at Daisenji Temple in Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture.

Bronze statue of Nobutora Takeda

In 2019, 500 years have passed since Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, became the center of Kai Province in 1519, when Nobutora Takeda set up his mansion in Tsutsugasaki.
To commemorate the 500th anniversary of the founding of Kofu, the Kofu Chamber of Commerce and Industry erected a bronze statue of Nobutora Takeda at Yotchabare Square at the north exit of Kofu Station.
The statue of Nobutora, who was the first to establish the town of Kofu, stands dignified, holding a military guard in his hand, with Tsuchigasakikan (currently Takeda Shrine), the stronghold of the Takeda clan, in the background. This statue is said to be modeled after the portrait of Nobutora Takeda at Daisenji Temple.
Following the previous statue of Takeda Shingen at the south exit of Kofu Station, a new spot now stands featuring Nobutora Takeda staring at Mt. Fuji.

Azalea Gasaki Museum

Tsutsujigasakikan was built by Nobutora Takeda.
Tsuchigasakikan was built in 1519 in Yamanashi District, Kai Province (currently Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture). Until then, the Isawadate area, which had been the political and economic center of Kai Province, had been frequently affected by floods, so it was decided to move to the Aikawa alluvial fan in the center of the basin.
The shape of the castle was modeled on Kyoto's Shogun's Palace and the Flower Palace (Muromachi No. 1), with a square residence and strongholds such as Sekisuiji Temple Maruyama in the background, making it the political, economic, and defense center of Kai Province. Tsuchigasakikan was used as a residence for three generations: Nobutora, Shingen, and Katsuyori.

However, in the Sengoku period, Oda Nobunaga rose to power and the Takeda family was destroyed. Kai Province also came to be ruled by the Oda family. Hidetaka Kawajiri was dispatched there as a magistrate. Hidetaka tried to rule Kai Province centering on Tsutsujigasakikan, but the Honnoji Incident that occurred immediately afterward led to Hidetaka's death and the end of the Oda family's rule.
After Hidetaka was defeated, it was the Tokugawa family that entered Kai. The Tokugawa family made Tsutsujigasakikan their main castle during the reign of Kai, and the castle was developed to resemble a modern castle. However, in 1590, Kofu Castle was built by Chikayoshi Hiraiwa of the Tokugawa family, and the center moved from Tsuchigasakikan. From there, it developed as the political and economic center of Kai Province.
Currently, Takeda Shrine, which was built in 1919, is located on the site of Tsutsugasakikan.