Yamamoto Kansuke

This is a "Nishiki-e", or multi-colored woodblock print, entitled "Yamamoto Kansuke Nyudo Kisai" by the artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi. It is one of the artworks from the print seri

es "Eiyu Rokka-sen" ("Six Selected Heroes", from the National Diet Library archives).

Yamamoto Kansuke (1493-1561) was a general who served Takeda Shingen and is one of Shingen's most trusted Twenty-Four Generals. He performed well in Shingen's battles to invade Shinano province. He took part in the fourth Battle of Kawanakajima against Uesugi Kenshin's army, and conceived the "Woodpecker Strategy" in which a detachment force acts as a decoy to lure the opponents to where the main force awaits. However, Kenshin became aware of this plan and outmaneuvered Kansuke who died in the ensuing battle.