Yamato Takeru

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Yamato Takeru, also known as Prince Ousu, is a famous Japanese legendary prince from the imperial line. He was the son of Emperor Keikō, who is traditionally counted as the 12th emperor of Japan. The stories about him appear mainly in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, with some variations between the two.

In legend, Yamato Takeru killed his older brother and angered his father, who then sent him far away to defeat rebellious lands in the east. Along the way, he used clever tricks to overcome his enemies. In Kumamoto he disguised himself at a drinking party and killed the rulers there. In Izumo he defeated foes through cunning and even fought several gods.

Yamato Takeru’s fame grew after he received a sacred sword from his aunt, Princess Yamato-hime, who served Amaterasu. The sword, Ame no Murakumo no tsurugi, later became known as Kusanagi no Tsurugi or the Grass-Cutting Sword. Susanoo, the storm god, is connected to the sword’s origin. With the sword, Takeru learned to control the wind and fire to defeat his enemies. He also killed a deity at the Ashigara Pass.

He married Miyazu-hime, and during his campaigns in the east he faced many dangers, including a treacherous trap where his life was saved by the wind-summoning power of the sword. He fell seriously ill after fighting a god of Mount Ibuki, and he died.

After his death, his sword and other relics were kept by his widow and later moved to Atsuta Shrine. Some legends place his death in Ise Province, and his soul is said to have turned into a great white bird. His tomb is called the Mausoleum of the White Plover, and a statue of Yamato Takeru stands in Kenroku-en garden in Kanazawa.

Because of the legend of his death, he is worshipped as Otori-sama, the Great Bird, with Otori shrines across Japan. Every November, a festival called Tori no Ichi is held at many shrines, where people pray for prosperity and buy lucky charms. Some scholars even compare Yamato Takeru’s story to Arthurian legends, noting shared motifs like magical swords, heroic journeys, and a fall or death that echoes in later memory.