The took place in 1517 in Aki Province, Japan during the Sengoku period. During the battle, Takeda Motoshige was defeated by a young MÃ Âri Motonari. It was Motonari's first battle.
In the early 16th century Takeda Motoshige (also known as Motoshigeru), a local lord of Aki Province, accompanied the daimyà  à Âuchi Yoshioki, his liege lord, to restore Ashikaga Yoshitane to the shogunate in Kyoto. At some point around 1515 Motoshige returned to Aki and broke off from the à Âuchi, changing his allegiance to the Amago.
At this time the Mà Âri clan (a vassal of the à Âuchi), were neighbors of the Takeda in Aki. When Mà Âri Okimoto died in 1516, and was succeeded by his young son Komatsumaru, Takeda Motoshige took advantage of this and, in the following year, gathered an army of 5,000 and in October advanced into the territory of the Mà Âri's Yoshikawa allies and surrounded . A few weeks later, Motoshige dispatched a raid into the Mà Âri clan's territory and set fire to houses in . The Mà Âri clan's response was led by Mà Âri Motonari, younger brother to Okimoto and guardian of Komatsumaru.
With most of the à Âuchi forces preoccupied in Kyoto with à Âuchi Yoshioki, the Mà Âri were unable to call on them for assistance, and Motonari instead mobilized his clan and called on their supporters. Motonari was also supported in this by his younger brother, Mototsuna. In total the Mà Âri strength comprised around 850 men, reinforced by 300 from the Yoshikawa, for a total of around 1,000. This force marched towards Arita Castle and on the way encountered the Takeda vanguard of about 500 men, commanded by Kumagai Motonao. The Mà Âri and their allies stood off and engaged the Takeda with archery fire. Kumagai Motonao was in the front ranks and was encouraging his men when he was struck and killed by an arrow.
Takeda Motoshige was meanwhile with the main army at Arita Castle. Learning of Motojika's demise, he drew up his forces and marched to engage the smaller Mà Âri resistance. The Takeda encountered the Môri and Yoshikawa occupying the opposite bank of the Uchikawa River and a bitter struggle ensued. Heavily outnumbered, the Mà Âri-led forces began to falter and fall back, and rallied only when Motonari pleaded with them to stand their ground. Takeda Motoshige himself advanced forward across the river on horseback but was struck by an arrow and killed. The Takeda broke and retreated, leaving Mori Motonari the victor.