Sasaki Takatsuna

Sasaki Takatsuna (佐々木 高綱, 1160 – December 8, 1214) was a Japanese samurai commander in the Genpei War, the great conflict between the Minamoto and Taira clans.

[1] An infant at the time of the Heiji Rebellion (1159–1160), Takatsuna was spared the destruction of his family several years later.

Takatsuna saved Yoritomo's life at the battle of Ishibashiyama, and aided in the destruction of the Taira following the end of the war.

As a result, he was rewarded with the position of shugo or governor of Nagato province.

When depicted in tales or in art, Takatsuna is often shown racing Kajiwara Kagesue across the River Uji atop Shōgun Yoritomo's white horse, Ikezuki, to be the first to engage in battle at the 1184 battle of Uji.

Kajiwara Kagesue , Sasaki Takatsuna, and Hatakeyama Shigetada racing to cross the Uji River before the second battle of Uji , as depicted in a print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi .