The Battle of Awazugahara Historic Site Monument of Honor

The Battle of Awazugahara took place between Kiso Yoshinaka and Minamoto no Yoshitsune in Awazu, Omi Province [now Shiga Prefecture] in January 20, 1184. Yoshinaka who was defeated at the Battle of Rokujo (Rokujogawara) had planned to flee to the Hokuriku region; however, his army was completely destroyed. By the time he reached Awazu, only five mounted generals and warriors remained; Yoshinaka, Imai Kanehira, Tomoe Gozen, Tezuka Mitsumori and Tezuka Betto. Tomoe Gozen narrowly escaped, but four other generals met a tragic end.
This monument of honor was built near Kanehira’s grave in March 1974. On the monument, a tanka poem composed by Katsu Kaishu in autumn 1864 when he visited the place where Kanehira died, “Unevenly colored Japanese maple leaves of Awazu, as their color appeared after falling” is engraved.