Baba Nobuharu

Baba Nobuharu (馬場 信春; 1514/15 – June 29, 1575), also known as Baba Nobufusa (馬場 信房), was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period. He was known as one of the "Twenty-Four Generals of Takeda Shingen".¹ When Takeda Shingen took Fukashi castle (now Matsumoto Castle) in 1550, he entrusted it to Baba.

According to records, he was in charge of the Suwa area in Shinano from around 1553.² This was a border area with the northern Daimyo, and was a defensive base to monitor invasions from the north. He was also an intermediary for the Shiina family of Etchu.³

Military life

In 1557, Baba fought in the Kawanakajima campaigns, and led the Takeda army that besieged and destroyed Katsurayama, a major Uesugi clan stronghold.

In 1562, he was allowed to take the name of "Mino no Kami", the guardian of Mino, in honor of Hara Toratane, a former "Mino no Kami" who had retired the previous year, and changed his name to Baba Mino no Kami Nobuharu. The Kōyō Gunkan states that Shingen often consulted Nobuharu on important matters.

In 1572, he took part in the Siege of Iwamura Castle against Oda clan garrison.

In 1573, he took part in the Battle of Mikatagahara,⁴ during which the troops under his command chased 's army back to Hamamatsu fortress; upon seeing the gates open and braziers lit, Baba mistakenly suspected a trap, and did not press the fleeing army further. Following Takeda Shingen's death, Baba served his successor .