Although Tango Tanabe Castle was surrounded by an army of 15000 solders led by Shigekatsu ONOGI and Shigekatsu MAEDA, the resistance of the besieged army led by Yusai was severe, and there were many of Yusai's poetry students among the besiegers who were reluctant to fight, so the battle became a prolonged struggle.
田辺城は小野木重勝、前田茂勝らが率いる1万5000人の大軍に包囲されたが、幽斎が指揮する籠城軍の抵抗は激しく、また攻囲軍の中に幽斎の歌道の弟子も多く戦闘意欲が乏しかったこともあり長期戦となった。