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The Man Who Fought Knowing He Could Not Win — Kusunoki Masashige at Minatogawa

In 1336, Kusunoki Masashige fought Ashikaga Takauji's army at Minatogawa knowing defeat was certain, out of loyalty to Emperor Go-Daigo. He and his brother vowed to 'serve the nation through seven lifetimes' before taking their own lives — the model of the loyal retainer.

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In 1336, knowing the battle was lost, Kusunoki Masashige obeyed the court’s order to fight Ashikaga Takauji’s army head-on at Minatogawa. He sent his son home at Sakurai (‘the parting at Sakurai’), then fought and lost. He and his brother vowed to ‘serve the nation through seven lifetimes’ before taking their lives. He became revered as the model loyal retainer, ‘Dai-Nanko.’

Statue of Kusunoki Masashige — 'Dai-Nanko,' who fought for loyalty knowing he could not win; equestrian statue at the Imperial Palace

Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain

Minatogawa Shrine, Kobe — built where Masashige fell at the Battle of Minatogawa, enshrining the model of loyalty

Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Portrait of Emperor Go-Daigo — the sovereign to whom Masashige stayed loyal, throwing himself into a hopeless battle for the emperor's sake

Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain

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Key Figures

Kusunoki Masashige