Busetsu Castle

And it's Role in the Battle of Nagashino

Busetsu was a small but prominent castle built circa 1504 – 1520 by Suganuma Sadanobu, lord of nearby Damine Castle on a 70m high hill in Inabu, modern-day north eastern Aichi Prefecture. Also known as Chifuku -Jo, Busetsu Castle lay on the border of Mikawa, Shinshu and Mino provinces, overlooking the important Chuma-Kaido highway, which branched off to the equally strategically important Iida-Kaido trade route. 450m north of the castle is the site of the Kamakura period (1185 -1333) Busetsu Ko-jo, or Old Busetsu Castle, built by the Nakura clan high on a mountain overlooking the present site.

Surrounded by Kawate Castle, Natsuyake Castle, Oshiyama Castle, Naka Castle, Noiri Castle and other fortificated mountaintops, Busetsu Castle was active for around 100 years and played an important role at the center of the information network, conveying enemy information via smoke signals.