Masakage Yamagata (1524-29 June 1575) was a general of the Takeda clan.
Biography[]
Masakage Yamagata was a personal friend of Shingen Takeda, and he was his most able general, leading his red-armored cavalry into battle on several occasions such as the Battle of Mimase Pass in 1569 and the 1573 Battle of Mikatagahara. While his lord besieged Noda Castle in 1573, Shingen called on Masakage for advice when Lord Yoshikage Asakura withdrew his forces, allowing for the Tokugawa and Oda to block his path. Masakage told the 53-year-old Shingen that he was behaving like a 5-year-old child, and said that he was a mountain monkey who should be gathering nuts in the mountains of Kai Province. He then informed him that the aqueduct was cut, but the leader of the garrison was a fine warrior and snow and rain were due to fall soon. While the Takeda army gathered to listen to the flute player, Shingen was shot. Shingen ordered the army to retreat, and Shingen died at his palanquin near Lake Suwa during the retreat, dying as he deliriously ordered Masakage to plant his banners in Kyoto. Masakage had the doctor's assistant executed to prevent rumors from spreading, and along with Nobukado Takeda he helped Takejiro Higa imitate his lord.
However, in 1574 Takejiro was discovered to be an impersonator, and Katsuyori Takeda became the new daimyo. Masakage was one of the generals at the Battle of Nagashino in June 1575, and he knew that he would die in the slaughter against the Oda riflemen during his charge. He was one of the Twenty-Four Generals of the Takeda that was killed during the battle, dying an honorable death.