The last stand of the Kusunoki at Shijonawate

, along with his father Masashige and brothers

Masanori Masanori is a masculine Japanese given name. Kanji and meaning The name Masanori is generally written with two kanji, the first read and the second read , for example: *Starting with ("correct"): **: second kanji means "rule" or "regulation". ...

and Masatoki, was a supporter of the Southern Imperial Court during Japan's Nanbokucho Wars. Masatsura was one of the primary military leaders who revived the Southern Court in the 1340s. The Court had had little to no resources for three years; the strategy was too focused on defending their base at Yoshino, and not on gaining allies, land, or income. The Kusunoki family, and Masatsura in particular, fought to gain power and support for the Emperor. In 1347, Masatsura led an attack on ''bakufu'' (

shogunate , officially , was the title of the military dictators of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor, shoguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country, though during part of the Kamakur ...

) sympathizers in

Kii Province , or , was a province of Japan in the part of Honshū that is today Wakayama Prefecture, as well as the southern part of Mie Prefecture. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "''Kii''" in . Kii bordered Ise, Izumi, Kawachi, Shima, and Yamato Pro ...

and ended up attracting supporters from Kii, as well as Izumi and

Settsu is a city located in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. As of 2017, the city has an estimated population of 85,290 and a population density of 5,664 people per km². The total area is 14.88 km². Surrounding municipalities *Osaka Prefecture **Higa ...

Provinces. When the Shōgun's

Northern Court The , also known as the Ashikaga Pretenders or Northern Pretenders, were a set of six pretenders to the throne of Japan during the Nanboku-chō period from 1336 through 1392. The present Imperial House of Japan is descended from the Northern Cour ...

sent

Hosokawa Akiuji was a ''samurai'' general in the service of the Ashikaga Northern Court, during Japan's Nanboku-chō period. Life In 1338, he was sent by Ashikaga Takauji to assist in the defence of the Kuromaru, a fortress belonging to ''Kanrei'' Shiba Takats ...

to stop him, Masatsura met Hosokawa and defeated him at Sakainoura. Because of his loyalty

Emperor Go-Daigo Emperor Go-Daigo (後醍醐天皇 ''Go-Daigo-tennō'') (26 November 1288 – 19 September 1339) was the 96th emperor of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'')後醍醐天皇 (96) retrieved 2013-8-28. according to the traditional order ...

rewarded him with the most beautiful woman in the palace, called Ben-Naishi, as his wife. After several more campaigns against the ''bakufu'', Masatsura was killed in the Battle of Shijō Nawate, in February 1348 at the age of 22. Before he died, he composed a

death poem The death poem is a genre of poetry that developed in the literary traditions of East Asian cultures—most prominently in Japan as well as certain periods of Chinese history and Joseon Korea. They tend to offer a reflection on death—both in g ...

on the Nyoirin-ji temple door in Yoshino, the location of Go-Daigo's tomb: :帰へらじと :兼ねて思へば :梓弓 :亡き数に入る :名をぞとどむる :kaeraji to :kanete omoeba :azusayumi :nakikazu ni iru :na wo zotodomuru :I could not return, I presume :So I will keep my name :Among those who are dead with bows.

In popular culture

Equinox Flower is a 1958 color Japanese film directed by Yasujirō Ozu which is based on a novel by Ton Satomi. Plot Wataru Hirayama (Shin Saburi) is a wealthy Tokyo businessman. When an old schoolmate Mikami ( Chishū Ryū) approaches him for help concerning ...

(彼岸花, Higanbana), a 1958 color Japanese film directed by

Yasujirō Ozu was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. He began his career during the era of silent films, and his last films were made in colour in the early 1960s. Ozu first made a number of short comedies, before turning to more serious themes in t ...

, one of the characters declaims a poet "based on a death poem of patriot Kusunoki Masatsura". Whether it has to do with the above poem is unknown. An approximate translation is : :My father's precepts are engraved in my heart. :I will faithfully follow the emperor's edict. :10 years of patience, and finally the time has come. :Strike a powerful blow :for the emperor's cause we are struggling now. :To fight and die as men, we make an oath. :We, 143 companions of war, united as one, :determined to fight until victory, yes, we are. :By dying, heroes earn an immortal glory, :the cowards suffer an eternal shame. :With the edges of our arrows, we engrave our story, :the blades of our swords shine in the evening. :Against the approaching enemy, let's walk with the same step, :At their general, let's give the final blow.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kusunoki, Masatsura 1326 births 1348 deaths Samurai Japanese warriors killed in battle Deified Japanese people