The tales from the Heike Monogatari that remain in Yashima - those of Minamoto-no-Yoshitsune, Nasu-no-Yoichi, and others - are almost entirely centered on the Minamoto clan.

History is written by the victors. As it was then, so it is now. The winners were celebrated as heroes, and the losers were judged as war criminals. The names of those who fought for the Taira clan in the Battle of Yashima have faded, thus illustrating this truth.

From this observatory, you can see all the places you’ve traversed so far. Panorama artist Toyomi Hoshina is also said to have planned his work after looking out over this vista. When you look at this natural panorama, what do you think? Take a look back at your story so far. There may be people who think:

“Did the Genpei War actually happen?”

The truth is, there is no concrete evidence that the site of Emperor Antoku’s Shrine was once his residence. Komadateiwa, the Shikorobiki site, and the Yunagashi site are also historical places, but no one knows if those are the actual sites. The Gempei War happened at the end of the Heian period. It was so long ago that many things are bound to be lost to history.

If so, then you can also think of it this way: Yashima Temple existed before the Gempei War, so it must have also been drawn into the war. If you free your imagination, you’ll find it’s possible that the Taira clan relied on the Temple as it made its base on the Yashima mountaintops.

However, the Taira clan decisively lost the war, and in a world controlled by the Minamoto clan, Yashima Temple, which was allied with the Taira, would be lost if controlled by the Minamoto. Therefore, the sites were built as time passed to match the text that sings of the Minamoto clan’s exploits, the Heike Monogatari.

The Heike Monogatari was first composed by a blind minstrel. Then, the people on Yashima Island expanded on the tale. Maybe the Heike Monogatari is a monumental construction, built by influences passed down through generations of Japanese people across all corners of the nation. That is what makes it so intriguing.

Standing on this observatory now in the present day, you can look down over Yashima Island and freely weave the tale. Everyone who visits can expand their imagination in their own way. Perhaps this is the best way to enjoy the Gempei War and the site on Yashima Island.