Grave of Takeda Shingen & Katsuyori武田信玄・勝頼墓所たけだしんげんかつよりぼしょ

Grave of Takeda Shingen & Katsuyori

The stone fence of this monument encloses two gorintō towers. The one on the left is for Takeda Shingen (1521–1573), who was one of the most powerful and skilled warlords of the Sengoku, or Warring States, Era (1467-1615).

Known as the “Tiger of Kai,” in reference to his home province (present-day Yamanashi Prefecture), Shingen is best remembered for a series of indecisive battles against his arch-rival Uesugi Kenshin (1530-1578) who is said to have wept when he learned of Shingen’s death. Their fabled rivalry is a favorite among students of Japanese history. Kenshin’s above-ground mausoleum is now located at Oku-no-in only a short distance away.

The gorintō on the right is for Takeda’s son Katsuyori (1542-1582) who, after succeeding his father, was defeated by the allied forces of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu. Katsuyori’s monument is engraved with the date of his suicide by ritual disembowelment (seppuku).

View of Grave of Takeda Shingen and Son Katsuyori — View of Grave of Takeda Shingen & Son Katsuyori

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