Yoshishige became head of the Satake Clan in Hitachi due to his father's failing health in 1562 and became known as Oni (Demon) Yoshishige due to his aggression and relentless campaigning. He fought many of his neighboring clans, but his main rivals were the Houjou and Date Clans.

The Satake eventually submitted to Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1590 and later, after some hesitation which cost them more than half of their land, Tokugawa Ieyasu.