Masakage Yamagata

Masakage Yamagata, a loyal Takeda general, is one of Shingen's Four Guardian Kings and considered to be one of his famed Twenty-Four Generals. He is one of the famous generals who ordered his armies to wear red armor in battle, an act later replicated by Naomasa Ii.

Role in Games
The Samurai Warriors series generally has him in the majority of Shingen's battles until Nagashino. During this battle, he is usually killed by Oda gunfire or is highlighted as a mission objective for the Oda forces to kill. Yukimura's scenario of this battle in the first game will allow Masakage to survive the fighting if Shingen is present. In the following sequels, he will charge in the frontlines alongside Yukimura to attack the Oda's main camp.

Similar to the Samurai Warriors series, Masakage will die at Nagashino in Kessen III. Before the battle, he cautions the reckless Katsuyori to bide his time as his late father suggested and to not attack the Oda. He is given a special cutscene for his death during the battle.

Voice Actors

 * Beau Billingslea - Kessen III (English)
 * Takahiro Yoshimizu - Kessen III (Japanese)

Quotes

 * "Have the gods forsaken the Takeda?"

Historical Information
Named among Takeda Shingen's 'Twenty-Four Generals', Yamagata Masakage was one of the fiercest of the Takeda warriors. Masakage's elder brother Obu Toramasa was charged with treason in 1565 and executed; some believe it was Yamagata who revealed his conspiratorial activities. Yamagata fought in many of Takeda Shingen's battles and was given a fief in Shinano. He was present at the Battle of Mimasetoge in 1569 and captured Yoshida Castle, a Tokugawa possession, during the Mikatagahara Campaign (1572-73) and was present for the following Battle of Mikatagahara. Borrowing from his late brother, Yamagata outfitted as many of his personal retainers as possible in bright-red armor, earning Yamagata's troops the nickname 'Red Regiment', or 'Red (Fire) Unit', though the phrase may have been coined later. At Nagashino (1575) Yamagata commanded the vanguard of the Takeda's left wing and was shot from his horse assaulting the Oda/Tokugawa lines. According to legend, Shingen called out to Yamagata from his deathbed in 1573 and ordered him to plant his banners at the Seta Bridge, the traditional eastern gateway to Kyoto.