Battle of Suriagehara
Background. The Battle of Suriagehara served as the aftermath of the Siege of Kurokawa, in which Satake Yoshinobu with his 16,000 men stole the moment to enact revenge for their previous defeat at Kurokawa Castle. Battle. Date Masamune, with his superior 23,000 troops, defeated the Ashina. While some Ashina forces withdrew across the Nippashi River to Kurokawa, the bridge gave out amidst their retreat, leaving many Ashina troops to be cut down when the Date forces overtook them. According to the 17th century text "Ōū Eikei Gunki," there were around 500 Ashina troops killed at the Nippashi  River alone. Aftermath. This battle helped seal the Date clan's hegemony over southern Mutsu Province. However, despite the victory, resistance after the battle continued, notably from the pro-Ashina, Nikaidō and Ishikawa clans. The battle later served as the basis for the Noh play "Suriage." According to local lore, the Tohoku folk song "Sansa Shigure" was written by Masamune in the celebrations following this Date victory.