Battles & Campaigns · 1180
Battle of Fujigawa
Fuji River, Suruga Province, Japan
What happened
Minamoto no Yoritomo and his Takeda allies from Kai Province faced a Taira army under Taira no Koremori. Yoritomo marched from Kamakura, passed below Mount Fuji and entered Suruga Province. His allies reached the rear of the Taira army in time, and Yoritomo attacked the large Taira camp at night. The Taira army broke and fled.
Why it matters
It was a Minamoto victory only weeks after Yoritomo's defeat at Ishibashiyama. Itō Sukechika, who had fought against Yoritomo there, was taken prisoner.
What came next
Yoritomo went on to defeat the Taira and his Minamoto rivals and founded the first shogunate at Kamakura.
Did you know?
Earlier that year, Yoritomo had sent Hōjō Tokimasa to persuade the Takeda clan of Kai to join him.
Timeline
- August 1180Hōjō Tokimasa is sent to win over the Takeda of Kai.
- 14 September 1180Yoritomo is defeated at Ishibashiyama.
- 1192Yoritomo takes the title of shogun.