Nitta Yoshisada's fortress at Kanegasaki was besieged for three months by forces in support of Ashikaga Takauji.

This failed, and the occupants of the besieged castle, having run out of food and water, were forced to eat horseflesh to survive.

In accordance with Buddhist belief, this was close to the worst disgrace one could face; eating horseflesh was believed to break one's karma, forcing them to be reborn in the next life as an animal or something worse.

[1] Nevertheless, the defenders held out for twenty days longer, and on April 7, Kō no Moroyasu, commander of the besieging army, broke through the walls and took the fortress.

Prince Takanaga and Nitta Yoshiaki, son of Yoshisada, were forced to take their own lives.