Samurai Battlefield Identification

Standards, Flags and Insignia

Although the samurai were generally well trained and disciplined in battle, and followed properly formulated strategies, often battles quickly became something of an orderly free-for-all. This can be seen at the Summer Siege of Osaka in 1615 when the ronin troops ignored the Sanada clan orders to stand fast, and surged ahead in the excitement of battle in the hopes of attaining glory, similarly at the Battle of Anegawa in 1570, a small unit under Isono Kazumasa had advanced well beyond their front lines, close enough to Oda Nobunaga’s headquarters to be of concern, but were stopped by the quick actions of Mori Yoshinari and Sakuma Nobumori who quickly redirected their troops to intercept the Isono advance and protect Nobunaga.