Battle of Mimikawa

Japanese: 耳川の戦 - みみかわのたたかい

A battle between the Shimazu and Otomo clans took place on November 12, 1578 (Tensho 6) in the area from Taka Castle in Hyuga Province (present-day Kijyo Town, Miyazaki Prefecture) to the Mimi River (a major river in the northern part of the prefecture). It is also called the Battle of Taka Castle and Mimi River. In 1577, Shimazu Yoshihisa, a warlord who ruled both Satsuma and Osumi provinces, drove the Ito clan, who had been allied with the Otomo clan, out of Hyuga. As a result, the Otomo clan's vassals were isolated in Hyuga, and Otomo Yoshimune decided to confront Yoshihisa. In November of the following year, the Otomo army surrounded Taka Castle, which was defended by the Shimazu side, so Yoshihisa mobilized all his forces to rescue them. On the 12th of the same month, the two armies clashed, and the Otomo army, riding on their victory, crossed the Mimi River, but collapsed when they were attacked from the side and suffered a major defeat. As a result, the Shimazu clan gained complete control over Hyuga Province, while the Otomo clan lost their power thereafter, after losing some of their most powerful vassals.

Source : Heibonsha Encyclopedia About MyPedia Information

Japanese:

天正６年（1578年）11月12日に日向国高(たか)城（現宮崎県木城町）から耳川（同県北部の主要河川）にかけての地で行われた島津氏と大友氏との合戦。〈高城・耳川の戦〉ともいう。1577年薩摩・大隅両国を支配する戦国大名島津義久は，大友氏と同盟関係にあった伊東氏を日向から駆逐した。そのため大友氏の被官(ひかん)が日向で孤立することになり，大友義統(よしむね)は義久との対決を決意。翌年11月に大友軍が島津方の守る高城を包囲したため，義久は全軍をあげて救援に向かった。同月12日両軍が激突し，勝ちに乗じた大友軍は耳川を渡ったが，横合いからの伏勢にあって崩れ，大敗北を喫した。これにより島津氏は日向国を完全に押さえることになったのに対し，大友氏は有力家臣を失うなどして，以後勢力を失った。

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