Imai Kanehira’s Grave

Imai Kanehira was a general in the late Heian Period [in the 12th century]. It is known that he loyally served his milk brother, Kiso Yoshinaka. In 1184, he was chased by the army of Minamoto no Yoshitsune and others, and fled to Awazu with Yoshinaka. Having known that Yoshinaka was killed, Kanehira killed himself by jumping from his horse, pointing his sword to his mouth. This courageous death is described in The Tale of Heike, and Noh play “Kanehira”.
It is said that Honda Toshitsugu, a feudal lord of the Zeze domain, who respected Kanehira built the grave in the Edo Period [between the 17th and mid-19th centuries]. The existing grave was built by descendants of the Imai family, and was made of a rounded stone engraved “Imai Shiro Kanehira”.