Yamato Takeru

Yamato Takeru is a mythical Japanese hero. He is traditionally called the 12th Emperor of Japan, but he never reigned since he died before his father. He was given the title to honor his heroic deeds.

He died in the 43rd year of his father Emperor Keikō's reign.Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1953) Studies in Shinto and Shrines, p. 433.

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. So in Japanse literature he is often called simply ヤマトタケルノミコト

 Legend 
Prince Takeru killed his older brother, Prince Ōusu. This made his father Emperor Keikō not trust him. To keep him away, the emperor sent him to Izumo Province and then to Kumaso Province. Takeru managed to defeat his enemies in both places. At Kumaso, he dressed as a maid to get close to the chieftain and kill him. One enemy praised him and gave him the title "Yamato Takeru," meaning "The Brave of Yamato." Despite his success, his father still didn't trust him.

Emperor Keikō sent Yamato Takeru to fight rebels in the eastern land. Before going, Takeru visited his aunt, Princess Yamatohime-no-mikoto, the priestess of Amaterasu at Ise Grand Shrine. He asked her, "Does my father want me to die?" She felt sorry for him and gave him a sacred sword called Kusanagi no Tsurugi. His wife, Oto Tachibana-hime, died in a storm on their way east.  She sacrificed herself to calm the sea god. Takeru defeated many enemies in the eastern land and composed a poem with a local man about Mount Tsukuba. 

On his way back, Takeru offended a god at Mount Ibuki and was cursed with illness. He died in Ise Province,Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1953) Studies in Shinto and Shrines, p. 433. and his possessions, including the sacred sword, were later moved to Atsuta Shrine. People say his spirit became a white bird and flew away. There's a statue of Yamato Takeru at Kenroku-en, a garden in Kanazawa, Ishikawa.Ponsonby-Fane, p. 434.

 References 

Sources
Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1953).  Studies in Shinto and Shrines. Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. OCLC 470294859

Category:Gods and goddesses
Category:Mythology