July 2022

This is a story about a tomb of Masakado who died with a grudge. The tomb is considered sacred and must never be defiled, as it may offend the deceased. In 1924, the Ministry of Finance constructed a government building on the land where the tomb was located. However, the Minister of Finance and 18 other bureaucrats died, leading to the panic-induced demolition of the building. In 1945, after World War II, the GHQ (General Douglas MacArthur’s official general headquarters)…

Kanda Myoujin is a shrine dedicated to Okuninushi no Mikoto, the god who is said to have created the nation of Japan. According to legend, he was once the king of Japan, but was eventually subjugated when asked to hand over the country to the Yamato Imperial Court. The shrine was originally built by the people in 780 and is located in present-day Tokyo. In 935, the head of Taira no Masakado, a famous samurai, was buried nearby. In the…

Japanese history includes the conquests by the Yamato Imperial Court, which held influence over the Kinki region. However, history is written by the victorious, and future generations can only read what is recorded. In the 9th century, Japan was divided into three regions: western Japan (Kyushu), which was under the control of the Yamato Imperial Court (Kyoto and Nara); the Kanto region (around Tokyo), which followed the court reluctantly; and the Tohoku region, which did not follow the court at…

The Budokan is a training hall and stadium for Japanese martial arts, originally built as the venue for Judo competitions during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. It is considered a sacred place for Japanese martial arts. Since the Beatles’ concert in 1966, it has also become a sacred place for music and a coveted stage for many musicians. However, as it was not originally designed as a concert hall, the sound quality is not ideal, but it is believed that musicians…

One of the most feared places in Tokyo is the head mound of Taira no Masakado, located in Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku. Masakado was originally from the nearby Tokyo area and rebelled against the Imperial Court in the Heian period (794-1185), attempting to establish an independent state in the area. He was defeated and executed in Kyoto, but legend has it that his head flew back to this location. To show respect and avoid offending Masakado’s spirit, people who work in nearby…

The Shogitai was a unit intended to protect Shogun Yoshinobu Tokugawa but was defeated in the Ueno War of 1868. The Meiji government was extremely harsh on the Shogitai, and those who survived were imprisoned, with their remains not being allowed to be taken back by their families. A merchant named Mikawaya negotiated with the Meiji government and was finally able to cremate the bodies and bury them at Entsuji Temple. However, no public memorial service could be held at…