Continuing the Story of Jinmu's Eastern Expedition

While the Kojiki records the pre-enthronement Emperor Jinmu as "Kamu-yamato-iware-hiko-no-mikoto," for convenience I will refer to him here as "Iwarebiko"

Continuing from where Iwarebiko and his forces retreated to the Chinu-no-umi...
After that, they would go around the Kii Peninsula, but the wounded Itsuse-no-mikoto breathed his last at Kamayama in Wakayama.

Kamayama Jinja	Kamayama Tomb

Kamayama Jinja enshrines Itsuse-no-mikoto, and behind the Honden lies an ancient burial mound officially designated as his tomb.

Subsequently, the forces advanced to Kumano and landed at Odomari. The map below shows their route.

Although they faced various hardships along the way, with the guidance of Yatagarasu (the three-legged crow, a divine guide, also featured on the emblem of Japan's national football team), they reached Uda.

In Uda, there were two powerful regional rulers who were brothers: Eukashi (the elder) and Otoukashi (the younger). When ordered to submit, Otoukashi complied, but Eukashi, while feigning submission, plotted to assassinate Iwarebiko.

However, this plot was revealed by Otoukashi, and Eukashi perished by his own trap. Subsequently, Otoukashi held a grand banquet and became one of Iwarebiko's close associates.


According to the Nihon Shoki, after this event, Iwarebiko sought the divine will at Niu-Kawakami, in what is now Higashi-Yoshino Village. While this location was officially identified in the 1940 Survey of Emperor Jimmu's Sacred Sites, looking at the map, it appears to be quite a retreat from their position in Uda.

Monument to the Sacred Site of Emperor Jimmu, Niu-Kawakami

(Source: 2010 Tomb Exploration Report)

After the grand banquet hosted by Otoukashi, Iwarebiko traveled along the Yoshino River, meeting with various local powers, and returned to Uda. There, he climbed Mount Takakura to survey the land, only to discover in anger that all the strategic routes were under enemy control.

Then, Tenjin appeared in a dream and revealed the following:

"Make hiraka (flat ritual dishes) from the soil of Amanokaguyama, and craft itsube (sacred sake vessels). Enshrine the Kami with these vessels. Purify yourself and perform the ritual curse. Then, your enemies shall surrender and submit of their own accord."

Iwarebiko ordered his retainer Shiinetsuhiko and Otoukashi to collect the soil. Disguising themselves as an elderly man and woman respectively, they ventured to Amanokaguyama despite the danger. (Amanokaguyama is one of the three mountains of Yamato, located in present-day Kashihara City.)

Though they encountered many enemy soldiers along the way, their disguise proved effective, and they succeeded in bringing back soil from Amanokaguyama.

Greatly pleased, Iwarebiko had ritual vessels made from the soil, and proceeded to the upper reaches of the Niu River to enshrine the Kami. Then at last, he sought the divine will.

First he said, "Let us make rice syrup without water in many hiraka. If the syrup forms, I shall be able to pacify the realm without resorting to military force." Then, the syrup formed naturally.

And he said, 'Let us submerge the itsube in the Niu River. If fish of all sizes float up and drift like maki leaves in a drunken state, I shall surely rule this land. If not, all will fail.' With that, he cast in the vessels. After a while, fish rose to the surface, opening and closing their mouths.

maki leaves / Inumaki

When Shiinetsuhiko reported this, Iwarebiko was greatly delighted and pulled up many sakaki trees growing by the upper stream to offer them to the Kami in worship. It is also recorded that this established the practice of placing sake vessels during ritual ceremonies.

As foretold by Tenjin's oracle and the divination results, Iwarebiko defeated all opponents, including Nagasunehiko, and pacified the land. In 660 BCE, he ascended to the throne at Kashihara-no-miya and became 1st Emperor Jinmu.

Kashihara Jingu, where Emperor Jinmu is enshrined, was established at the foot of Mount Unebi, the site of his enthronement. Please visit the Kashihara Jingu official website for more information.

(Photo provided by Nara Visitors Bureau)