Yoshino River
Ikezuki is believed to have been born in what is now Mima Town, Mima City, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. His mother was a captive horse from Mima and his father was a wild horse from Mount Tsurugi, south of the Yoshino River. Ikezuki's father taught him to swim in the strong currents of the Yoshino River. He grew up to be very strong. One day, his mother fell into a marshy pond and died. He stood at the bank of the pond and caught a glimpse of her (failing to realize that it was actually his own reflection). He jumped after her many times. Villagers saw the image of him jumping over and over again into the pond (ike 池) with a beautiful moon (tsuki/zuki 月) behind him and therefore named him "Ikezuki".