Takeda Shingen

The Innovative Tiger of Kai

Takeda Shingen was one of Japan's greatest tactical geniuses, an innovator who changed Japan through clever economic, military and social development, including laws, taxes and public works.

Takeda Shingen was born December 1, 1521. Known as Taro and Katsuchiyo during childhood, and following his Genpuku, (coming of age ceremony) by the name of Harunobu, he assumed the Buddhist name of Shingen (a reading of the inverted kanji for Harunobu) in early 1559. As a descendant of the noble Minamoto clan, he is remembered as Minomoto no Harunobu in official Imperial court records. Takeda Shingen was referred to as "The Tiger of Kai while his main rival, Uesugi Kenshin , was called "The Dragon of Echigo”