Battle of Noheji

Battle of Noheji
Part of Boshin War
Battle of Noheji Memorial, Noheji, Aomori
Date November 7, 1868 Location Noheji, Aomori 40°31′N 141°05′E / 40.52°N 141.08°E / 40.52; 141.08Coordinates: 40°31′N 141°05′E / 40.52°N 141.08°E / 40.52; 141.08 Result indecisive Northern Alliance victory
Belligerents
Imperial faction: Hirosaki Domain Kuroishi Domain	Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei Morioka Domain Hachinohe Domain
Strength
180 combatants	400 combatants
Casualties and losses
29	45

The Battle of Noheji (野辺地戦争^?, Noheji sensō) was a minor battle of the Boshin War of the Meiji Restoration in Japan on November 7, 1868. It is considered a part of the larger Aizu campaign.

On September 20, 1868 the pro-Shōgunate Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei was proclaimed at Morioka, capital of the Nanbu clan who rule Morioka Domain. The territory of the Nambu extended along the northeastern half of Mutsu Province, as far north as Shimokita Peninsula, and the Nambu controlled a subsidiary domain at Hachinohe. The northeast of Mutsu Province was dominated by the Nambu clan's hereditary rivals, the Tsugaru clan of Hirosaki Domain, with a subsidiary domain at Kuroishi.

The Tsugaru first sided with the pro-imperial forces of Satchō Alliance, and attacked nearby Shōnai Domain. However, the Tsugaru soon switched course, and briefly became a member of the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei. However, for reasons yet unclear, the Tsugaru backed out of the alliance and re-joined the imperial cause after a few months.

The village of Noheji in what is now part of Aomori Prefecture was an important port for the Nambu clan on Mutsu Bay. Noheji was garrisoned by approximately 400 men from Hachinohe Domain after the defection of the Tsugaru back to the imperial side. The port was shelled by Kubota Domain warship Shunyo-maru commanded by Saga Domain's Nakamuta Kuranosuke on September 10, but with little damage to the village or reported casualties.

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