Tsugunobu Sato - Tsugunobu Sato

A military commander in the early Kamakura period. He was the son of Shinobu Shoji Motoharu of Mutsu Province and the older brother of Tadanobu. He was called Yushoji. He was the wet-nurtured son of Minamoto no Yoshitsune and was also his vassal. He served Yoshitsune from when Yoshitsune was under Fujiwara no Hidehira of Oshu, and was counted as one of Yoshitsune's four heavenly kings along with his younger brother Tadanobu, Kamata Morimasa, and Mitsumasa. During the Battle of Yashima (Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture) on February 19, 2nd year of the Genryaku era (Juei 4), he protected Yoshitsune from the powerful bow of the Taira general Noto no Kami Noritsune, and was killed in battle while facing the brunt of the attack. After his death, he was buried in the forest of Mure near Yashima.

[Kunihiro Suzuki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

鎌倉初期の武将。陸奥国(むつのくに)信夫庄司元治(しのぶのしょうじもとはる)の子で忠信(ただのぶ)の兄。湯庄司(ゆしょうじ)とよばれた。源義経(よしつね)の乳母子(めのとご)で、かつその臣。義経が奥州藤原秀衡(ひでひら)の下にあったころよりこれに仕え、弟忠信、鎌田盛政(もりまさ)・光政(みつまさ)とともに義経四天王の一人に数えられた。元暦(げんりゃく)2年（寿永4）2月19日の屋島(やしま)（香川県高松市）の戦いに際し、平家の勇将能登守教経(のとのかみのりつね)の強弓から義経を守り、その矢面に立って戦死した。死後、屋島に近い牟礼(むれ)の林に埋葬された。

［鈴木国弘］

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