Sasaki Takatsuna

Sasaki Takatsuna was the fourth son of Sasaki Hidetsugu of the Ōmi Genji line; his common name was Shirō. His mother is said to have been a daughter of Minamoto no Tameyoshi, which made him a cousin of Yoritomo and Yoshitsune. When Yoritomo raised arms in 1180 (Jishō 4), Takatsuna followed him and fought across many regions.

The Vanguard at the Uji River

In the first month of 1184 (Juei 3), Yoritomo advanced to pursue Kiso Yoshinaka, and Takatsuna joined Yoshitsune's camp. At the Battle of the Uji River he rode the famous horse "Ikezuki", given to him by Yoritomo, and competed with Kajiwara Kagesue for the vanguard. Kagesue's horse is called "Surusumi."

The Girth Anecdote

According to legend, Takatsuna fell behind at first, but told Kagesue that his horse's girth was loose, and while Kagesue retightened it, Takatsuna took the lead. This story is treated as a tradition. The horse's name is written variously across sources. Ikezuki is said to be enshrined in a horse-head Kannon hall near Toriyama Hachiman Shrine, believed to be the site of Takatsuna's residence.

Rewards and Later Years

In 1185 (Bunji 1) he was appointed Sakon'emon-no-jō, and the following year he became military governor (shugo) of Nagato and Bizen. He is said to have died on the sixth day of the eleventh month of 1214 (Kenpō 2) in Chikuma District, Shinano Province. Details of his life after taking the tonsure are not well known.