Kensunoki Mashashige at the age of 22 gave both his life and death in support of his Emperor, embodies all that I should endeavor to bring forward of the greatness of Japan's feudal history and begin the tales of this nations great warriors ,The Samurai.

The Warrior Kensunoki Mashashige rose to leadership in his clan rather a young age and was called to the side of the Emperor and the Emperor's cause by a dream that the Emperor Go-Diago Had have of Taking refuge under the Camphor tree. This dream and the events to fallowed are recorded in the chronicle called the Taiheiki, The Chronicle of Great Peace.

Kensunoki came to the side of his Emperor and lead his Entire clan to war in Defense of The Emperor and his cause. Making use of the Yamabushi and militant temple priests he waged battle in the name the Emperor's cause. His strategy , methods, and tactics surprised the Imperial generals time after time much to his advantage. He was known to use stealth and deceit to attain his goals and deployed numerous covert operations to gain entry to castles. At least five different Schools of martial arts attribute their roots to this young innovative warrior. Kensunoki Mashashige is referred directly as a Master of Ninjistu by the School of Kusunoki-ryu.

Even in the face of the capture of the Emperor Go-Diago this warrior continued to fight for the cause retreating with the Prince Morinaga to the mountains . Wagging guerrilla war from the numerous mountain forts haring and diverting the troupes and recourses of the Hojo Shogunate. In 1333 the Hojo power collapsed after Emperor Go-Diago escaped and Kensunoki Mashashige was received into the city of Kyoto as Hero.Then in an act of defiance a traitor switched sides in protest and a grand play to rise as the next Shogun even at this warrior stood loyal to the very end. Kensunoki Mashashige remained loyal even in death.

Esteemed a paragon of Loyalty Kensunoki Mashashige engaged and held his own against a vastly superior set of forces , it is said he and his partisans stood against 60,000 troupes divided in to three armies. Kusunoki Masashige received eleven wounds in battle against the future Shogun at the Battle of Minatogawa, after making his last stand withdrew to take his Seppuku, leaving his son Masatsura to continue the struggle in the name of the Emperor.

Kusunoki Masahige (c. 1294-1336) at the Battle of Minatogawa in that afternoon heat , July 5, 1336 after sustaining eleven wounds in battle retreated to Nyoirin-ji Temple and carved his Jisei or death poem upon the door of the temple with and arrow ................

"I could not return - I presume So I will keep my name... with those of departed archers"

The door is even now 2003, in the treasure room of the Nyoirin-ji Temple. ..

The Hiato or personal sword of Kusunoki Masahige is OSAFUNE KAGEMITSU KO-RYU "The Little Dragon" and is designated a national treasure.

• Here is a link to acopy of the Sword Made by a "Living National National Treasure" of Japan Tachi made by Sumitani Masamine
• Nyoirin-ji Temple tied to the Yamabushi
• Jisei ~ Death Poems of the Samurai *note there are 2 pages