 Yoshisuke desired to expand into Ōsumi and with that in mind supported clans antagonizing the Shimazu.Still the Shimazu were able to control Ōsumi and in 1572 offered battle to Yoshiaki in the plain of Kizaki, in the border between the two provinces.The armies at Kizaki had a great disparity in strength, the Shimazu only fielded 300 warriors while the Itō possessed as many as 3000.