Masakado-zuka – The Soul of a Man Who Dreamed of the Throne, Now Rests Before the Imperial Palace: Coincidence or Fate?

When you visit the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, you’ll pass through sleek skyscrapers and bustling office blocks. But hidden in the heart of the financial district, you might stumble upon something truly unexpected: a small, ancient burial mound.

This is Masakado-zuka（将門塚）—the grave of Taira no Masakado（平将門）, a rebellious warrior from the 10th century.

Masakado ruled parts of the Kanto region (around modern Ibaraki Prefecture) and declared himself the “New Emperor,” aiming to challenge the authority of Kyoto’s imperial court.

It was an unprecedented act—one that would ultimately cost him his life.

His severed head was sent to Kyoto and put on public display. But according to legend, it didn’t stay there for long.

One night, Masakado’s head took flight—literally—and soared back to the east. It landed in what is now Tokyo’s Ōtemachi district.

Of course, this is just a legend. Yet the belief that his head fell here tells us something deeper—perhaps it was the wishes of those who admired him, or the fears of those who dreaded his wrath, that gave shape to the story.

At the time, the imperial capital was still in Kyoto. The Imperial Palace wasn’t moved to Tokyo until nearly 900 years later, during the Meiji era.

And now, by some strange twist of fate, the man who once dreamed of becoming emperor lies directly in front of the emperor’s gate.

Coincidence? Or destiny?

Masakado is remembered not only as a historical rebel, but also as one of Japan’s most feared vengeful spirits.

He’s counted among the “Three Great Vengeful Spirits” of Japan, alongside Sugawara no Michizane and Emperor Sutoku.

People believed that Masakado’s angry spirit could cause disasters if not properly appeased. Some say mysterious accidents happened near his grave, and during Tokyo’s redevelopment, no one dared to move the mound.

Today, the grave remains untouched, quietly preserved between glass towers. And for some, especially in the Kanto region, Masakado is still seen not as a villain, but as a hero who stood up against the distant Kyoto elite.

So if you’re walking through Ōtemachi, take a moment to stop by. You might just feel the weight of a thousand years pressing through the concrete.

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