Arakawa Nagazane
was a head retainer under the Uesugi of Echigo Province throughout the Sengoku period of Feudal Japan. Being placed in high regard by Uesugi Kenshin through his many notable feats in the past and justifiable traits of trustworthiness, Nagazane was chosen to become his personal double ('Kagemusha') during the 4th Battle of Kawanakajima in 1561. In success to the notorious Kuruma Gakari formation employed by Kenshin during this battle, the Uesugi forces were able to pierce deeply into the ranks of the opposing forces of Takeda, at which Nagazane--according to the famed legend--drew his katana and, fully dressed in the clothing that would lead others to conclude that he was indeed Kenshin, slashed at Takeda Shingen, who parried such an immediate blow with his respective war-fan. To back ill-fortune in such opportunistical circumstances, Hara Torayoshi--a retainer of Takeda--thrusted his spear upon the Kagemusha, who managed to flee on horseback even while his mount received Torayoshi's blow. Following this incident, however, a former monk known as Tenkai would tell his lord,Tokugawa Ieyasu during one of their variable meetings, that within that conflict, Shingen was himself not present within his head encampment, causing many to justifiably consider that Nagazane--Kenshin's double--clashed against the respective double of Shingen. Regardless of the truth behind Shingen's tactics during such circumstances, Nagazane survived by means of his false identity, and was naturally rewarded for his courage following the conflict's conclusion.
References
- Arakawa Nagazane - SamuraiWiki. (Samurai Archives) FWSeal & CEWest, 2005
- Narumoto, Tatsuya. Sengoku Bushou Omoshiro Jiten, Japan, 1998
ja:荒川長実