To Kill a Shogun: The Sad Tale of Minamoto no Sanetomo

In 1219, the shogun Minamoto no Sanetomo, samurai lord of all Japan, was slain — by his own nephew, no less.

By Noah Oskow

Snow blanketed the steps of Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine as Shogun Minamoto no Sanetomo descended. By his side walked a single guard. It was a happy day for the ostensible samurai lord of all Japan; the emperor in distant Kyoto had just nominated Sanetomo to the post of Udaijin, Minister of the Right, one of the greatest honors the Japanese nobility could confer to one of the warrior class.

After years of anxiety, of feeling disempowered, the imperial court had recognized Sanetomo’s importance as the shogun of the warrior capital of Kamakura. Sanetomo’s visit to the shrine celebrated this momentous occasion.

But the celebration would soon turn to tragedy.

Suddenly, a figure darted out from the side of the steep stone stairway. Sanetomo would have recognized the man — for not only was he the head priest of Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine, he was also the Shogun’s own blood nephew and adopted son. Dressed in his flowing priest’s robes, Kugyō, once called Minamoto no Zensai, raised a sword aloft. Sanetomo’s guard had no time to react; Kugyō screamed, “With this, I avenge my father!” The sword flashed downwards, and blood flowed out…