Takeda Motoshige

• Died: 1517
• Son: Mitsuo
• Titles: Aki no kami
• Distinction: 7th lord of the Aki Takeda
• Japanese: 武田 元繁 (Takeda Motoshige)

Motoshige held Kanayama Castle [銀山城] in Aki Province. In 1508 he joined Ôuchi Yoshioki in the latter's expedition to Kyoto. Yoshioki was compelled to return to his domain when his lands were threatened by the Amako and, sensing the opportunity, Motoshige cut his ties with the Ôuchi and began to expand his power in Aki Province. He attempted to subdue the independent-minded Môri and took advantage of the death of Môri Okimoto in 1516 to attack Arita Castle [有田城] the following year with an army of 5,000 men. In the 10th month, Môri Motonari, allied with the Kikkawa and Kobayakawa families, moved to retake Arita. The Takeda suffered the defeat of their vanguard commander, Kumagai Motonao [熊谷元直], in the ensuing fighting. Motoshige himself brought the remainder of his army to attack Motonari and was pressing the latter hard but was killed on horseback by an archer. He was succeeded by his son Mitsuo [光和, d.1535]. The fortunes of the Takeda gradually waned after Motoshige's death at the Battle of Arita-Nakaide and ended with the capture of Kanayama by the Mori in 1541 and the flight of Takeda Nobuzane to Izumo province.

References

• Initial text from Sengoku Biographical Dictionary (Samurai-Archives.com) FWSeal & CEWest, 2005