Culture

September 1 — Japan's History and Today

September 4, 2026

On September 1, 1189, Minamoto no Yoritomo set out from Kamakura to attack Fujiwara no Yasuhira, and in 1615, the Tokugawa shogunate ordered the destruction of Toyokuni Shrine dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. These events significantly influenced Japan’s political and cultural landscape.

In 1189 (the 5th year of Bunji), Minamoto no Yoritomo departed from Kamakura to pursue Fujiwara no Yasuhira in Oshu Hiraizumi. This campaign expanded the Kamakura shogunate’s control over eastern Japan and marked the downfall of the Oshu Fujiwara clan, a critical milestone in the establishment of the samurai government. It remains a key event studied in Japanese history today.

In 1615 (the 1st year of Genna), the Tokugawa shogunate ordered the demolition of Toyokuni Shrine, which enshrined Toyotomi Hideyoshi. This political act followed the Battle of Sekigahara and was aimed at suppressing the Toyotomi clan while consolidating Tokugawa authority. It provides insight into the religious and political strategies of the Edo period.