The Genpei War (1180–85) saw the rise of the Minamoto clan and the fall of the Taira clan in a prelude to the Kamakura period (1185–1333). Here we summarize the major events of the conflict. The ...

Lord Yoshii Toranaga’s connection to the Minowara bloodline in Shōgun gets a shoutout in Episode 1, “Anjin” – so, what is it? And why is it so important to the FX historical drama’s remaining episodes ...

Japan’s first shogunate ruled the country from Kamakura in the middle ages, although for much of this period real power lay with the regents of the Hōjō clan. This year’s NHK historical taiga drama ...

The chronicles of the life of Minamoto no Yoshitsune (1159 - May 17th, 1189). He was a late Heian and early Kamakura general of the Minamoto clan of Japan. Yoshitsune was the ninth son of Minamoto no ...

Following the ascension to power of Taira no Kiyomori, the Minamoto clan is exiled. Minamoto no Yoritomo meets Masako, the sister of Hōjō Yoshitoki and later marries her. Following this marriage, the ...