Kikuchi Takanao

Kikuchi Takanao (菊池隆直, died 1185) was a Japanese samurai and nobleman. He can also can be referred to as Kikuchi no Jiro Takanao or Kikuchi Higo-Gon-no-Kami Takanao.

When Kikuchi Takanao sided with Minamoto no Yoritomo and began levying troops in Kyūshū in 1180, at the beginning of the Genpei War, Sadayoshi marched against him and defeated Takanao.^[1]^[2] Kikuchi Takanao was present at the Battle of Dan-no-ura. Shortly after the battle in the same year, he was turned over to Minamoto Yoshitsune by his lord Ogata no Saburo Koreyoshi. He was taken to the Rokujo riverbed and his head was cut off.

"One of your retainers, Kikuchi no Jiro Takanao, has been my enemy for years ... You may rely on me if you will turn Kikuchi over for execution." -Minamoto no Yoshitsune

^ Benneville, James Seguin De (1910). Saitō Musashi-bō Benkei. (Tales of the Wars of the Gempei). The author. p. 97.
^ Mass, Jeffrey P. (1997). The Origins of Japan's Medieval World: Courtiers, Clerics, Warriors, and Peasants in the Fourteenth Century. Stanford University Press. p. 66. ISBN 978-0-8047-4379-2.

[1] Benneville, James Seguin De (1910). Saitō Musashi-bō Benkei. (Tales of the Wars of the Gempei). The author. p. 97.

[2] Mass, Jeffrey P. (1997). The Origins of Japan's Medieval World: Courtiers, Clerics, Warriors, and Peasants in the Fourteenth Century. Stanford University Press. p. 66. ISBN 978-0-8047-4379-2.

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