Date Masamune Kabuto & Mempo
Takeda Shingen was born under the name of "Takeda Katsuchiyo".
He took the name of "Takeda Harunobu" at his coming of age ceremony,
and in the year of 1551 changed his name once again, this time to the well-known
"Takeda Shingen".
He was the eldest son of Takeda Nobutora, the ruler of Kai, a strategic province
in the center of Japan's main island.
Shingen's home life was remarkably troubled and mired in politics. Over the
years, Shingen exiled, imprisoned, or executed several close family members,
including his father, his guardian, his cousin and his son.
In his military career, Shingen showed himself to be outstanding. He was admired
by his adversaries as well as his followers. A common Japanese military trend
during Shingen's life was the construction of great castles. Shingen resisted
this trend, preferring instead to perfect a flexible and highly mobile military
force.
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