The Greatest Rivals of the Sengoku era ― Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen

Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen were two legendary warlords who defined the Sengoku era.
Kenshin, the “Dragon of Echigo,” was famed for his deep sense of honor and righteousness
while Shingen, known as the “Tiger of Kai,” was a master of strategy.

One of the most well-known stories about their rivalry is the “Gift of Salt.”
When the Imagawa clan cut off Shingen’s salt supply,
Kenshin reportedly declared, “War should be fought with swords, not with salt,” and sent him salt himself.
This episode stands as a symbol of Kenshin’s noble spirit even toward an enemy in need.

The two clashed five times in the famed Battles of Kawanakajima, yet none of those fierce encounters ended in a clear victory.
Their relentless confrontations are remembered as epic duels without a winner etched into history as battles of unmatched intensity.
Their overwhelming presence and fearsome reputation were such that even later unifiers of Japan,
Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu, are said to have feared them.
Indeed, both men have come to be rightfully known as the mightiest warriors of the Sengoku era.

Their rivalry and unyielding pride continue to captivate people to this day.

“Three Strikes, Seven Scars”
The Legendary Duel

Among the many stories from Kawanakajima, none is more legendary than this dramatic duel.

A lone warrior wearing a white headscarf and armored robe charged on horseback
toward Shingen, who was seated on a camp stool.
The rider Kenshin slashed at him three times with a sword.

Shingen instinctively blocked the strikes with his gunbai (a war fan used for battlefield command),
avoiding death but sustaining two wounds to his arm.

A nearby retainer tried to retaliate with a spear, but it only struck Kenshin’s shoulder armor.
The impact startled the horse, causing it to rear and flee the battlefield.

Later, Shingen’s gunbai was found to bear seven deep sword marks a testament to the force and fury of the assault.

This legendary clash stands as a symbol of the unmatched skill and spirit of these two warrior titans.