Siege of Noda Castle

Leading a mixed cavalry and infantry force of 30,000 men, Shingen skirted the northern shore of Lake Hamana before advancing inland into Mikawa.

His route was opposed by approximately 500 defenders of Noda Castle, situated on the Toyokawa river, commanded by Suganuma Sadamichi.

Suganuma had extensively increased the defensive capabilities of Noda Castle over the past two years with additional earthworks and a wooden palisade.

However, Shingen's kanabori-shū (sapper corps, composed of troops with mining experience) tunneled into the castle moat, draining it and depriving the defenders of their drinking water as well as their primary defense.

[1] Shingen extended an offer to spare the lives of the rank-and-file troops provided that Suganuma surrender on February 16.

Takeda Shingen listening to the singing of insects in the grass outside Noda castle during the battle. Tsukioka Yoshitoshi