Takeda Shingen

1521 - 1573) of the Shinano and Kai provinces, was one of the preeminent daimyos who fought for control of Japan during that country's Sengoku or "warring states" period.

He fought a long series of famous battles with Uesugi Kenshin; of these particularly notable battles were those of the Kawanakajima. Both military leaders were also of high religious rank.

Upon Takeda's death, Uesugi Kenshin reportedly cried at the death of one of his strongest and most deeply respected rivals.

At Mitaka, Takeda Shingen easily defeated the combined armies of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu; but he could not defeat old age. After Shingen died in 1573 (due to an illness that resulted from a musket ball wound), Ieyasu seized the opportunity and defeated his son Takeda Katsuyori in Tenmokuzan. Katsuyori committed suicide after the battle, and the Takeda clan would never recover.

In addition to his battlefield prowess, Takeda was also a master of estate administration. He is credited with developing several improvements to agricultural practice and water control methods.

A dramatization of his life was made into a television series by the Japanese Broadcasting Corporation, NHK, Nippon Housou Kyoukai. Akira Kurosawa's 1980 movie Kagemusha was also inspired by his life.

Takeda Shingen is the player's persona in the NES game Shingen the Ruler. Shingen's conquest is also portrayed in the PC game, "Takeda".