#74
            74. OKAMOTO (?) NORISHIGE'S PETITION, 1333

           (Okamot docs.; also KK, VII, SK, XII, and Dai Ni-hon shi-ryo, VI, i, 9.)
ABRUPT was the downfall of the feudal government at Kamakura. It is needless here either to
analyze the causes of the upheaval or to narrate the stirring events which had led up to this culmi-
nation. It is enough for our purpose to note the bare facts, that the emperor Go-Daigo had plotted
an overthrow of the feudal government, in 1324 and 1331, and failed and been exiled to the island
of Oki; that suddenly men of varied motives and aspirations had risen in revolt in many parts of
Japan, and Go-Daigo was safely restored to the throne at Kyoto; and that Hojo Takatoki, the
regent, having lost to the enemy strategic points which formed his outer defenses, and been closely
invested in his own stronghold at Kamakura, died gallantly with his followers, on 4 July 1333-a
century and a half after the establishment of the feudal government by the first sho-gun Minamoto
no Yoritomo. The deputy(tan-dai) in Kyu-shu, Hojo Hidetoki, succumbed to local insurgents three
days after.
  In this war in Kyu-shu, which resulted in the death of the deputy, go ke-nin from many parts
of the island participated. Among them were men of the Shibuya family. In the following docu-
ment will be seen one of them referring with pride to the services he had done on the field of battle,
and pleading for a permission, as was the custom that had spread all over the country with remark-
able rapidity, to go up to the imperial Capital with a view to laying his case before the government
of the restored emperor for consideration and reward. This little instance is an index to a general
scramble which was fast gathering its force, for hundreds and hundreds of men to besiege the in-
experienced court at Kyoto with claims for recognition and recompense in the form of grants in
land and shiki.
   It should be remembered that the feudal government had vanished, and that the warriors who
had till lately been nominal go ke-nin of the sho-gun at Kamakura had suddenly found themselves
released from ties of vassalage to any suzerain, but subject directly to the emperor, while still more
or less under the supervision of the shu-go of the kuni in which they lived. This state of things
could continue but for a short while . This and the next few documents date from that abnormal
intermission in the feudal history of Japan.

"SHIBUYA KURO NORISHIGE1 respectfully petitions
    "That at once, both in accordance with similar examples and for the reason of his
    loyal merits, a leave of absence be granted, so that he might repair to the Capital
    and report in detail that he rendered loyal services in war on the 5th month 25th
    day [7 July] of this year.
"That, in the battle aforementioned, [Norishige] rendered at different places loyal
services to the best of his ability, Muto Chikugo Mago-zhiro and Tsushima Sa-kon no
sho-gen witnessed with their own eyes. Accordingly, [Norishige] would appeal [to
the Imperial government], but since [His Highness]2 has come to this place, [Nori-
shige's] visit to the Capital for the purpose of presenting a petition has been delayed
to this day. It is hereby petitioned respectfully that at once in accordance with similar
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examples and for reason of his loyal merits, a leave of absence be granted him, so that
he might repair to the Capital.
   "Gen-ko 3 y. 8 m.-d. [September 1333]."




  1Norishige might be an early name of Okamoto Shigeoki, who, as will be seen in subsequent
documents, was a warrior of considerable military power.
  2The phrase in the brackets has been supplied, for the personage here referred to must be, as
the editors of the Dai Ni-hon shi-ryo suppose (VI,i, 10), the imperial prince Takanaga, who arrived
at Da-zai Fu on 8 July, the day after the fall of Hakata (ibid., 33-38).