Murakami Yoshimitsu

Murakami Yoshimitsu was a warrior of the late Kamakura period from the Murakami clan of Shinano. His year of birth is unknown. He is said to have died on 17 March 1333 (1st day of the intercalary 2nd month, Genkō 3 / Shōkyō 2), though some sources give the 18th day of the 1st month, Genkō 3. His father is said to have been Murakami Nobuyasu. His common name was Hikoshirō, and his court rank was Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade, with the office of Sakon no Gon no Kami. His personal name appears as Yoshihi in the Sonpi Bunmyaku and as Yoshimitsu in the Taiheiki.

Relationship with Prince Morinaga

During the Genkō Incident he is said to have followed Prince Morinaga, together with his son Yoshitaka. Some studies hold that the historical circumstances of when and how he became one of the prince's attendants are unclear.

Death at Yoshino Castle

Prince Morinaga held out at Yoshino Castle. The Kamakura shogunate attacked with forces under Ōbutsu Takanao, Kudō Takakage and Ninokai Sadafuji, and the castle fell on the 1st day of the intercalary 2nd month. According to the Sonpi Bunmyaku, Yoshihi and his second son Yoshitaka were killed in battle. The Baishō-ron also names him among the commanders on the prince's side who died at Yoshino.

Anecdotes

The story that he took his own life in place of the prince so that the prince could escape is the loyal retainer portrayed in the Taiheiki. The contemporary record is limited to a few lines, and the Taiheiki's anecdotes cannot be treated as fact as they stand. It is also said that, while the prince was fleeing toward Kumano, he recovered the Nishiki no Mihata that had been seized by Imose no Shōja near Tsukigawa.

Worship

In 1908 (Meiji 41) he was posthumously granted Junior Third Rank. He is enshrined as the chief deity of the Murakami shrine at Kamakura-gū.