Minamiuonuma

The Uonuma valley lies among the mountains of southern Echigo, watered by the Uono River. Sakado Castle stood above the valley as the stronghold of the Ueda Nagao family. Uesugi Kagekatsu spent his childhood there with Higuchi Kanetsugu, later known as Naoe Kanetsugu, who became one of his closest retainers. After Uesugi Kenshin died in 1578, Kagekatsu fought a succession struggle against Kagetora, whose supporters held Kabasawa Castle across the river.