Origins & Early Life

Yamato Takeru (ヤマトタケルノミコト, Yamato Takeru no Mikoto), originally Prince Ousu (小碓命, Ousu no Mikoto), was a Japanese folk hero and semi-legendary prince of the imperial dynasty, son of Emperor Keikō, who is traditionally counted as the 12th Emperor of Japan. The kanji spelling of his name varies: it appears in the Nihon Shoki as 日本武尊 and in the Kojiki as 倭建命. The story of his life and death are told principally in the Japanese chronicles in Kojiki (712) and Nihon Shoki (720), but also mentioned in Kogo Shūi (807) and some histories like the Hitachi no Kuni Fudoki (常陸国風土記) (721). One of his sons became Emperor Chūai, the 14th Emperor of Japan.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

His history is uncertain but based on the chronicles his life can be calculated. He was born circa 72 and died in 114. Details are different between the two books, and the version in Kojiki is assumed to be loyal to the older form of this legend. Prince Takeru slew his elder brother Prince Ōusu (大碓皇子, Ōusu no Miko). His father, Emperor Keikō, feared his brutal temperament.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

To keep him at a distance, the emperor sent his son to the land of Kumaso, today Kumamoto Prefecture, and then the Izumo Province, today the eastern part...

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