At this time, the army of Prince Oama (Emperor Tenmu), led by MURAKUNI no Oyori with tens of thousands of soldiers, was heading west along the east coast of Lake Biwa.
村国男依らが率いる大海人皇子（天武天皇）側の軍は、数万の兵力でこのとき琵琶湖東岸を西進していた。