Places associated with the Kamakura Shogun - Extra Edition

Although they were not among the 13 members of the council, many other individuals contributed to the defeat of the Taira clan and the establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate. This time, as a special feature, we will focus on individuals other than the 13 and introduce places in Kanagawa Prefecture associated with them.

The first person is Sanehira Doi.
When Yoritomo, who raised an army to overthrow the Taira clan, was defeated and forced to retreat at the Battle of Ishibashiyama, it was Doi Sanemitsu who came to his aid. His loyalty earned him the trust of Minamoto no Yoritomo, and during the campaign to defeat the Taira clan, he was appointed as a magistrate of the Kamakura army and as the governor of Kibi, Mikuni, Nagato, and Suo provinces. He is said to have died in November 1191 (although there are various theories), but if he had lived, he might have participated as one of the 13 elders.

Spot 1: Jōganji Temple

It is located about 500 meters up the mountain north of Yugawara Station. Its origins lie in the fact that Doi Sanehira built a private Buddhist hall to pray for the long-lasting prosperity of his family. The current sect is Soto Zen (it has changed several times in the past), but the temple has deep ties to the Doi clan, as evidenced by the statues of Doi Sanehira and his son Tohira, the Shichikido (Seven Knights Hall) which houses statues of the seven warriors who, after the defeat at Ishibashiyama, sailed from the coast of Manazuru in the Doi territory to Awa with only seven men (the Seven Horsemen's Escape), and later supported the great achievement of establishing a samurai government, as well as the graves of the Doi family.

Shichikido

A 900-year-old juniper tree (designated as a natural monument by the Ministry of Education)

Jōganji Temple 📍252 Jōbori, Yugawara-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture 259-0305

Spot 2: Goshō Shrine

Goshō Shrine
It is located about 1 kilometer southwest of Yugawara Station. Founded during the reign of Emperor Tenji (626-672), it was revered by the local people, including the Doi clan. In 1060, it is said that Arai Sanetsugu, who accompanied Minamoto no Yoshiie on his campaign against Oshu under the protection of Goshō Shrine, achieved military success, making it a shrine with ties to the Minamoto clan. In 1180, when Minamoto no Yoritomo raised an army, it is said that Doi Sanehira enshrined his sword here and performed a goma ritual to pray for victory.

Sacred tree

Goshō Shrine 📍359-1 Miyashita, Yugawara-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture 259-0304

The second person was Hatakeyama Shigetada.
He was known as the "model of a Bando warrior" due to his high level of education, martial prowess, and character. When Minamoto no Yoritomo raised an army, he fought on the side of the Taira clan against Yoritomo's army. Afterwards, he pledged allegiance to Minamoto no Yoritomo and achieved great merit in the defeat of the Taira clan and the conquest of Oshu. Combined with his upright and honest character, he became a man respected by all as the "model of a Bando warrior." However, even Hatakeyama Shigetada was inevitably drawn into the political struggles of Kamakura, and in the end, he was falsely accused of treason and killed by Hojo Yoshitoki in what is now Asahi Ward, Yokohama City.

Spot 1: Tsurugamine/Futamatagawa Battlefield

Shigeyasu, the son of Hatakeyama Shigetada, got into a drinking party with Hiraga Tomomasa, the son-in-law of Maki no Kata, the second wife of Hojo Tokimasa. Maki no Kata resented this and asked Hojo Tokimasa to punish Hatakeyama Shigetada. Hojo Masako and Yoshitoki objected, saying that "Hatakeyama Shigetada would never rebel," but ultimately the third shogun, Minamoto no Sanetomo, issued an order to eliminate Hatakeyama Shigetada. At that time, Hatakeyama Shigetada had received word that "there has been trouble in Kamakura, so please go there immediately," and was on his way from his castle in Sugaya, Musashi Province, to Kamakura. Hatakeyama Shigetada's army then clashed with the punitive force (led by Hojo Yoshitoki) that had left Kamakura at Tsurugamine and Futamatagawa (present-day Asahi Ward, Yokohama City). Hatakeyama Shigetada's army, numbering only a little over 100 cavalrymen, fought valiantly against tens of thousands of Kamakura troops, but they were outnumbered and ultimately perished when they and their family committed suicide.
Thus, Hatakeyama Shigetada, a model warrior of the Bando region, was killed, but this incurred the displeasure of many Bando warriors and later became one of the major factors in the expulsion of Hojo Tokimasa and Maki no Kata from Kamakura.

Upside-down bamboo arrow

Tsurugamine-Futamatagawa Battlefield Site 📍1-1 Tsurugamine Honcho, Asahi-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture 241-0021

Over the past few installments, I've introduced several spots in Kanagawa Prefecture that are associated with the "Kamakura Shogun."
Kanagawa Prefecture is home to many places that have played a significant role in history, from being the political center during the Kamakura period to becoming a symbol of modernization after the Meiji Restoration.
Why not visit historical sites and landmarks that evoke a sense of history and experience the diverse charms of Kanagawa Prefecture?

*Please note that there are various theories regarding the content of the column described.

Check out past articles as well.
A tour of places associated with the Kamakura Shogun
Places associated with Hojo Yoshitoki
A tour of places associated with Hojo Tokimasa and Kajiwara Kagetoki
Places associated with the Kamakura Shogunate – A tour of places associated with Miura Yoshizumi and Wada Yoshimori
Places associated with the Kamakura Shogunate – A tour of places associated with Oe no Hiromoto and Adachi no Morinaga