Battle of Minatogawa

Troops disposition at Minatogawa

Date	5 July 1336
Location	near the Minato river, Kobe
Result	Ashikaga victory

Belligerents

Ashikaga rebels

Japanese imperial forces

Commanders and leaders

Ashikaga Takauji
Ashikaga Tadayoshi
Kō no Moroyasu

Kusunoki Masashige
Nitta Yoshisada

Strength

35,000

17,500

Casualties and losses

Kusunoki force decimated

The Battle of Minatogawa(湊川の戦い) also known as the Battle of Minato River was fought in July 4, 1336 between Japanese forces loyal to Emperor Go-Daigo and the Ashikaga clan. The battle took place near the Minato River of Settsu Province (present day, Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture). The Imperial force led by Kusunoki Masashige and Nitta Yoshisada attempted to intercept the Ashikaga force led by Ashikaga Takauji which had rebuilt its force by dominating forces of Kyushu through the victory at the Battle of Tatarahama.

Though a defeat for the Loyalists, the battle "is famous for the loyalty displayed by Kusunoki Masashige."

In Feb. 1336, the defeat of the Ashikaga clan forced Ashikaga Takauji to flee Kyoto for Kyushu. With this position of strength, Kusunoki Masashige attempted to persuade Emperor Go-Daigo to seek peace. Daigo refused, as he believed that the threat of the Ashikaga clan could be eliminated. Nitta Yoshisada was ordered to assemble the force to defeat the Ashikaga armies.

Yoshisada launched his campaign but Akamatsu Norimura who sided with Ashikaga clan forced the Imperial force into a protracted siege by defending Shirohata Castle in Harima Province, which gave Ashikaga clan time to regroup and consolidate Kyushu forces by winning the Battle of Tatarahama. Immediately, Takauji launched the counter-invasion, advancing by land and sea. Informed of Takauji's advance, Yoshisada ended the siege and attempted to find a better defensive position by retreating to Hyogo.

Emperor Go-Daigo ordered Masashige to gather his force and reinforce Yoshisada. After failing to argue for the strategy of letting Ashikaga clan into Kyoto and forcing them to defend it while harassing its supply route, Masashige ordered Kusunoki Masatsura, his eldest son to back to his domain to continue the war and advanced to successfully join Yoshisada. The Imperial force had no naval force to prevent itself from being surrounded but choose a defendable position near Minato River and extending its troop east to attempt to prevent a landing from sea to south.

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