{{nihongo, Kaneko Ietada, 金子 家忠, extra=1138 – March 6, 1216 was a famed
samurai
The samurai () were members of the warrior class in Japan. They were originally provincial warriors who came from wealthy landowning families who could afford to train their men to be mounted archers. In the 8th century AD, the imperial court d ...
following the
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period, beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kammu, moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). means in Japanese. It is a ...
of the 12th century of Japan.
Ietada served under
Minamoto no Yoshitomo
(1123 – 11 February 1160) was the head of the Minamoto clan and a general of the late Heian period of Japanese history. His son Minamoto no Yoritomo became ''shōgun'' and founded the Kamakura shogunate, the first shogunate in the history o ...
during the
Hōgen Rebellion
The was a short civil war fought in order to resolve a dispute about Japanese Imperial succession. The dispute was also about the degree of control exercised by the Fujiwara clan who had become hereditary Imperial regents during the Heian p ...
of 1156. Throughout this rebellion, Ietada personally fought against two brothers known as the Takama brothers (Takama Saburo, and Takama Shiro). Even though the Takama brothers were widely known for their strength in combat, Ietada got on top of Shiro, holding on to him, about to take his head. Saburo who in turn, dropped on top of Ietada, trying to keep his brother from being killed, pulled at the helmet of Ietada to face him up, intending on taking his head. Ietada followed in holding down the left and right arms of the enemy currently beneath him with his knees, yanked up the left armor skirt of Saburo (who was on top), and turning upon him, stabbed him more than three times as if both hilt and fist should sink into him.
After he flinched back, Ietada cut off the head of Shiro and raising it stuck on his sword point shouted: "''In the presence of Minamoto Tametomo of
Tsukushi Tsukushi may refer to:
Places
*Tsukushi Province, old Japanese province, subsequently divided into
**Chikuzen Province, old Japanese province, part of Fukuoka Prefecture without south and east Fukuoka
**Chikugo Province, old Japanese province, th ...
, famed these days as a superhuman, Ietada has killed Takama Shiro and his brother''". Following this, Ietada remounted his horse ready to fight another battle, proclaiming: "''I, Kaneko no Juro Ietada, a resident of
Musashi province
was a Provinces of Japan, province of Japan, which today comprises Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolis, most of Saitama Prefecture and part of Kanagawa Prefecture. It was sometimes called . The province encompassed Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Kawasaki and Yokohama. ...
, have come forth before the renowned Minamoto Tametomo of Tsukushi, and with my own hands have taken both the heads of the two mounted warriors. Observe this, both enemy and allies! A feat rarely achieved either in ancient times or the present!...I am the Ietada who wishes to bequeth his name to generations to come. If there are warriors among Tametomo's band who feel they are my match, let them come and grapple with me.''".
Ietada is singled out as an example of the honor of samurai and prowess by the author of Hogen Monogatari:
:"''With his martial prowess, he has established his fame in this life. His loyalty will live throughout the ages, his name imprinted on future generations and his achievements bequeathed to his descendants.''"