Shingen occupied the position of Shinano shugo and repeated confrontation between Kai and Echigo (battles of Kawanakajima) with the Nagao/Uesugi clan in Echigo, that supported gozoku of the northern Shinano.
信玄は信濃守護を兼ね、北信豪族を庇護した越後の長尾・上杉氏との甲越対決（川中島合戦）を繰り広げた。