Osprey- Campaign 130

Kawanakajima 1553-64
By Stephen Turnbull

The Osprey campaign Series seeks to provide the reader with an in-depth study of a famous campaign or perhaps infamous historical campaign. The choice of the near legendary five battles of Kawanakajima would be a challenge to any writer, as trying to separate the fact from the mythology is a real challenge. However Osprey are lucky to have the services of Stephen Turnbull, who is probably the World's foremost military historian writing about the warfare of ancient Japan.

The battles of Kawanakajima, were part of the ongoing clan feuds that permeated Japanese history. This time the fighting was between two rival Daimyo ( or feudal warlords) Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kinshen who struggled for dominance of the fertile mountainous provinces of central Japan.

Turnbull studies the personalities of the rival commanders in detail, as he realises it is their peronal ambitions that were the principle drivers behind the campaigns. And fascinating colourful characters they undoubtably were. He also tries hard to unpick the fact from the fiction of the story and points out that depending on your viewpoint there was actually only one battle of Kawanakajima.... or perhaps as many as eight! 

The text is fascinating, well written, and easy to digest. The pleasure of reading is heightened by the host of excellent photographs, contemporary illustrations, and the superb print from the talented brushwork of Wayne Reynolds. Essential reading for the samurai wargamer this volume is also recommended to the general reader because of the unusual and interesting subject, and the lively way in which the topic is covered.

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