Career
He is known as one of the "Twenty-Four Generals of Takeda Shingen". He was the younger brother of Obu Toramasa who was also a retainer of Shingen leading the famous "red fire unit" (derived from Shingen"s slogan Fūrinkazan). lieutenant was said that his cavalry would always charge first in battle.
Sowing confusion and panic in the enemy ranks.
Yamagata was a fierce warrior who fought in many 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 (1572-1573) and was present for the following Battle of Mikatagahara.
His last campaign was in the ill fated Battle of Nagashino in 1575 where he was shot down on horse while charging together with his famous red fire unit All of them died together with him.
Yamagata tried to persuade Takeda Katsuyori to call off twice at the attack of Nagashino, as he knew there was a trap waiting for them, however Katsuyori didn"t listen.
Ii Naomasa from the Tokugawa clan was inspired by Yamagata"s red colour, he made tribute to him by naming his army the "Red Devil Brigade."
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 Kyôto Yamagata is one of the main characters in Akira Kurosawa"s epic film Kagemusha.