At this point the Murakami and Ogasawara finally entered the fray, and Murakami Yoshikiyo succeeded in defeating Shingen at Uedahara (1548), but Shingen regrouped and went back on the offensive. Identifying Yoshikiyo as the greater threat, he decided to concentrate his initial efforts on the weaker Ogasawara, and in 1550 he seized their principal castle at Fukashi, in modern Matsumoto, forcing their daimyo Ogasawara Nagatoki to flee and seek sanctuary with his ally Murakami Yoshikiyo at Katsurao.
Murakami and Ogasawara joined forces to counter their foes, and Murakami Yoshikiyo emerged victorious over Shingen at Uedahara (1548). However, Shingen regrouped and resumed his campaign. Recognizing Yoshikiyo as the more powerful adversary, he concentrated his efforts on the weaker Ogasawara clan, capturing their key fortress in Fukashi (1550) and compelling Nagatoki to flee and seek refuge with Yoshikiyo at Katsurao.