Minatogawa Shrine Swords

Bruce Pennington · August 4, 2019

Reading the book "A Tomb Called Iwo Jima", written from interviews with several Japanese soldiers, sailors, and airmen who were on Iwo at various stages. One of the interviewees stopped by the Minotogawa shrine on his way to shipping out, and the author noted the significance of the shrine and the adoption of the Kikusui crest by the navy:

"They hefted their sea bags for the ten-minute walk to the grave of Masashige Kusunoki (1294-1336), located inside Minatogawa Jinja Shrine. They entered the main gate, and headed to the right to pay their respects at Kusunoki's grave. Kusunoki was a 14th-century samurai who gained fame for his support of the Emperor Go-Daigo during a one-sided, losing battle at Minatogawa River in 1336. This battle gave birth to his phrase, "But that I had seven lives to give to the Emperor."[18] The Japanese military used the Kusunoki family crest of a mum floating on water, called Kikusui, as a symbol of devotion and self-sacrifice. The Navy adopted Minatogawa Jinja as their patron shrine."