Battle of Hetsugigawa

Battle of Hetsugigawa
Part of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Kyūshū Campaign
Date January 20, 1587 Location Hetsugigawa (present-day Ōnogawa), Kyūshū Result Shimazu victory
Belligerents
forces of Toyotomi Hideyoshi	forces of Shimazu clan
Commanders and leaders
Chōsokabe Motochika Chōsokabe Nobuchika † Sengoku Hidehisa Ōtomo Yoshimune Sogo Masayasu †	Shimazu Iehisa
Strength
20,000	10,000 - 13,000
Casualties and losses
-

Battle of Hetsugigawa (戸次川の戦い Hetsugigawa no Tatakai) was the last battle before Toyotomi main army's arrival on Kyūshū during Japan's Sengoku period.

In 1586 at Hetsugigawa (present Ōnogawa) in Bungo province Toyotomi's vanguard divisions under Chōsokabe Motochika and Sengoku Hidehisa landed on Kyūshū with orders to act defensively until further troops were able to join them. But the advance party decided to disobey Hideyoshi's commands and relieve the castle of Toshimitsu. The Shimazu besieging army noted their approach, and redoubled their efforts to take Toshimitsu, so that when the invaders arrived at Hetsugigawa, which flowed within sight of the castle, they could see the flags of Shimazu flying from its towers.

Chōsokabe Motochika proposed a withdrawal, but his companions insisted on doing battle, so the Shimazu set their trap. The decoy force led by Ijuin Hisanori who led an attack across the river and then withdrew, which persuaded the allied left wing to follow them. They were met by arquebus and arrow fire, and the main body of the Shimazu then fell upon them. After much fierce fighting the invading force withdrew across the river and caused the confusion to its own right wing.

Chōsokabe Motochika was obliged to signal a full retreat, during which his son and heir Nobuchika was killed.

References

• Turnbull, Stephen (2012). Samurai Armies 1467-1649. Osprey Publishing.