wasÃÂ a battleÃÂ during Sekigahara campaign in 1600 AD that took place in the Hokuriku region betweenÃÂ Maeda Toshinaga, the daimyo of Kaga Domain,ÃÂ againstÃÂ Niwa Nagashige, head of Niwa clan.
After Toyotomi HideyoshiÃÂ 's death inÃÂ 1598,ÃÂ Tokugawa IeyasuÃÂ rose to power, competing for the position of next ruler of Japan.ÃÂ In response to this, inÃÂ 1600,ÃÂ Ishida MitsunariÃÂ , one ofÃÂ the Toyotomi'sÃÂ five magistrates, andÃÂ OtaniÃÂ YoshitsuguÃÂ boldly raised an army against Tokugawa Ieyasu and his Eastern Army, who at the time on their way heading to Aizu.
As the conflict broke out between Ieyasu and Mitsunari, many daimyo lords take different sides, with Maeda Toshinaga supported Ieyasu, while Niwa Nagashige supported Mitsunari. The two opposing forces' met in The Asai field, in the city of Komatsu,ÃÂ Ishikawa Prefecture.
On August 9, as the Maeda army marched through the constricted Asai Nawate, Eguchi Masayoshi's hidden Niwa troops struck. The narrow terrain prevented the Maeda forces from deploying effectively, inflicting heavy losses. Despite this, generals Naga Tsunetatsu and Yamazaki Naganori rallied the troops, repelled the Niwa force's attack, and managed a retreat to Kanazawa.
At this time, Toshinaga's younger brother, Maeda Toshimasa, who had participated in the previous battle, remained holed up in his castle,ÃÂ Nanao Castle, and did not helping his brother. It is said that Toshimasa had long been advocating joining the Western Army, in contrast with his brother, who fought on the side of the Eastern Army.
Nine of the subordinate officers of Chà  Tsuratatsu, vassal of the Maeda clan who was the rear guard of the Maeda army, were killed in the Battle of Azai-nawate, and stone monuments for them have been erected at the battlefield.
At the end of August, Toshinaga was ordered by Tokugawa Ieyasu once again took action to advance intoÃÂ Mino Province. Meanwhile, Niwa Nagashige ultimately surrendered to Toshinaga.
After the Western Army of Ishida Mitsunari was defeated in the main battle on September 15, the daimyo of Echizen and southern Kaga that accused of supporting the Western Army such as Nagashige and Toshimasa, were stripped of their from their domains by Ieyasu. However, Nagashige was pardoned from execution due to the intercession of Toshinaga.