A fierce commander and brilliant of the Oda Clan, renowned as "Demon Shibata", Shibata Katsuie was born in Owari and served as a vassal of Oda Nobuyuki, Nobunaga's younger brother. He became Oda Nobunaga's vassal after the Battle of Ino, in which Nobunaga executed his younger brother for treason but spared Katsuie.

After Nobunaga's death, Katsuie supported Oda Nobutaka as Nobunaga's successor, but was defeated by Hideyoshi Toyotomi and forced to commit seppuku.