From Exile to Shogun
As the third son of Minamoto no Yoshitomo, the leader of the prestigious Minamoto clan (Genji), Minamoto no Yoritomo was born at Atsuta Shrine in Nagoya. At twelve, he held a court position and seemed destined for a life of luxury like other nobles.
Minamoto no Yoritomo
(1147-1199)
However, that same year, his father Yoshitomo waged a war against the Taira clan, led by the brilliant Taira no Kiyomori, but was defeated and killed. Although Yoritomo and his brothers were spared, they were exiled to remote regions. Yoritomo was sent to Izu, where he was imprisoned and faced the constant threat of execution.
Minamoto no Yoshitomo
(1123-1160)
As Taira no Kiyomori's power grew, so did the discontent among those oppressed by the arrogant Taira clan. When Kiyomori imprisoned Emperor Go-Shirakawa, effectively seizing control of Kyoto, Prince Mochihito issued a call to arms against the Taira. Yoritomo responded, leveraging his noble status and rallying support from samurai families in the Kanto region.
Taira no Kiyomori
(1118-1181)
The Battle of Dan-no-ura
In the initial battle, Yoritomo and his allies were defeated by Taira loyalists, forcing him to flee by sea to Chiba, where he continued to recruit forces. He then returned to Izu and Sagami (now southwestern Kanagawa), defeating his previous adversaries and establishing Kamakura as his stronghold. From there, Yoritomo repelled a Taira expeditionary force from Kyoto and gradually secured the entire Kanto region.
Using Kanto as his base, Yoritomo eliminated his cousin Minamoto no Yoshinaka and took control of Kyoto. He then decisively defeated the Taira clan at the Battle of Dan-no-ura. Finally, Yoritomo subdued the Fujiwara clan in Oshu, bringing all of Japan under his control.
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
he Minamoto clan (Genji) claimed divine lineage from the Emperor and honored Emperor Ojin, the god of war, as their ancestral deity, known as Hachiman.
After becoming the leader of the Kanto region, Minamoto no Yoritomo brought a branch of Hachiman from Iwashimizu Hachimangu in Kyoto to establish Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. This shrine overlooked the entire city, and Yoritomo redesigned the city around it, placing his residence nearby. After establishing the Kamakura government, Yoritomo became the ruler of Japan, and Kamakura, centered around Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, became the de facto capital of Japan. The Hojo family、 Yoritomo's staunchest supporters, also established their political foundation in Kamakura. Today, from the steps of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, you can still see Wakamiya Oji, the main avenue that defined the layout of old Kamakura. On clear days, the Pacific Ocean and sailboats can be seen in the distance. In spring, the cherry blossoms along Wakamiya Oji bloom, creating a pink corridor of flowers.
Enoshima / Enoshima Shrine
Southwest of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu lies Enoshima Shrine, which holds significant importance for the Hojo family.
According to legend, the Hojo family leader, who assisted Minamoto no Yoritomo, encountered the goddess Benzaiten in the form of a serpent on Enoshima. After leaving prophecies for the Hojo family, the goddess vanished into the sea, leaving behind three scales that became the Hojo family crest. The Hojo family, seemingly blessed by the goddess, grew even more powerful than Yoritomo. After Yoritomo's death, the Hojo clan exiled the second shogun, Minamoto no Yoriie, and installed their own third shogun, becoming the true power behind the Kamakura shogunate. They even eliminated other loyal samurai families, turning Kamakura into a political battleground. Today, it is hard to imagine the harsh political struggles while gazing at Kamakura’s beautiful coastal scenery. During the Kamakura shogunate, the city flourished as Japan's effective capital. Notable landmarks such as the Great Buddha of Kamakura, Hase-dera Temple's Eleven-faced Kannon, and Kencho-ji Temple, which introduced Zen Buddhism from China, were all established during this period. The historic Kamakura, built by Minamoto no Yoritomo and the Hojo family, remains a popular destination for visitors from nearby cities.
