Imai Kanehira
Encyclopedia
Imai Kanehira was the milk brother of Minamoto no Yoshinaka
. He became joint commander of Yoshinaka's faction during the Genpei War
after Yoshinaka met up with him at Seta
. He fought with the forces of Minamoto no Yoshitsune
, who wanted to bring an end to Yoshinaka's tyranny. Imai commanded Yoshinaka's forces when the two cousins met at the Battle of Awazu
in 1184. He held off the attacks of Minamoto no Noriyori
for a long time. However, when he heard of Yoshinaka's death from an arrow, he committed suicide by leaping off his horse while holding his sword in his mouth. He was the husband of legendary female samurai, Tomoe Gozen
.
Minamoto no Yoshinaka
was a general of the late Heian Period of Japanese history. A member of the Minamoto samurai clan, Minamoto no Yoritomo was his cousin and rival during the Genpei War between the Minamoto and the Taira clans....
. He became joint commander of Yoshinaka's faction during the Genpei War
Genpei War
The was a conflict between the Taira and Minamoto clans during the late-Heian period of Japan. It resulted in the fall of the Taira clan and the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate under Minamoto Yoritomo in 1192....
after Yoshinaka met up with him at Seta
Seta
Seta is a biological term derived from the Latin word for "bristle". It refers to a number of different bristle- or hair-like structures on living organisms.-Animal setae:In zoology, most "setae" occur in invertebrates....
. He fought with the forces of Minamoto no Yoshitsune
Minamoto no Yoshitsune
was a general of the Minamoto clan of Japan in the late Heian and early Kamakura period. Yoshitsune was the ninth son of Minamoto no Yoshitomo, and the third and final son and child that Yoshitomo would father with Tokiwa Gozen. Yoshitsune's older brother Minamoto no Yoritomo founded the Kamakura...
, who wanted to bring an end to Yoshinaka's tyranny. Imai commanded Yoshinaka's forces when the two cousins met at the Battle of Awazu
Battle of Awazu
Minamoto no Yoshinaka made his final stand at Awazu, after fleeing from his cousins' armies, which confronted him after he attacked Kyoto, burning the Hōjūjiden, and kidnapping Emperor Go-Shirakawa...
in 1184. He held off the attacks of Minamoto no Noriyori
Minamoto no Noriyori
was a late Heian period general, who fought alongside his brothers Minamoto no Yoritomo and Minamoto no Yoshitsune at a number of battles of the Genpei War. The sixth son of Minamoto no Yoshitomo, he was spared along with his brothers in 1160 by Taira no Kiyomori following Yoshitomo's death.He...
for a long time. However, when he heard of Yoshinaka's death from an arrow, he committed suicide by leaping off his horse while holding his sword in his mouth. He was the husband of legendary female samurai, Tomoe Gozen
Tomoe Gozen
, pronounced , was a late twelfth-century concubine of Minamoto no Yoshinaka.Tomoe was a rare female samurai warrior , known for her bravery and strength...
.