[About the Book]

ーHe won the war, only to be pursued by his own brother-

After his decisive victory at the Battle of Dan-no-ura, Minamoto no Yoshitsune found himself hunted by his elder brother, Yoritomo. Yet why did Yoshitsune not immediately flee far away, and instead remain near the capital, evading capture for as long as two years? And why did Yoritomo move to eliminate Yoshitsune in the first place, despite his astonishingly swift destruction of their rivals?

This historical novel casts new light on the ideals Yoshitsune sought to uphold throughout his life, as well as on his deep bond with Yoritomo. Based on historical fact, it vividly portrays the turbulent era from the fall of the Taira clan to the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate, all from Yoshitsune’s perspective.

The image of a young warrior striving to bloom where fate has placed him, resisting destiny with all his strength, resonates deeply with readers across time and borders.

Now, more than 900 years later, “another truth” hidden within the legends of Yoshitsune is brought to life with striking clarity.


[Author Biography]

Yuko Nakatsu

Born in Asakusa, Taitō Ward, Tokyo. Graduated from Tokyo Gakugei University.
Councilor of Chiba University of Commerce; former councilor of Ichikawa Gakuen.
Member of the Japan PEN Club, Japan Writers’ Association, Haiku Poets’ Association, and National Historical Research Society.
Recipient of the Ichikawa Citizens’ Cultural Encouragement Award, the Nakamura Seiko Literary Prize, and the Ichikawa Municipal Distinguished Service Award.
Awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for Cultural Promotion from Kitakami City and a Certificate of Appreciation for Cultural and Sports Contributions from Ichikawa City.
Her publications include: Learning from the Spirit of Buddhism: Living under the Light of Buddha’s Compassion, The Turmoil of the Tempyo Era as Told in the Manyōshu and the Love of Nakamaro, Learning Ancient History from the Manyōshu in the Reiwa Era”, “Pilgrimage to War Sites (all from Coal Sack Press); The Elegies of the Manyōshu, Princess Kaguya and the Mysteries of Ancient History, Novel: Matsuo Bashō, Tekona of Mama, Brilliance of Michinoku (all from Shin Jinbutsu Ōraisha); Path of the Wind (Kadokawa Shoten); The Secret Story of Izumi Shikibu (Kodansha Publishing Service Center); Biographical Dictionary of Historical Figures in Shimōsa, Hello, China (both from Ron Shobō); Towns with Kannon Pilgrimage Temples: Gyōtoku and Urayasu (Nakayama Shobō); The Women of Takeda during the Warring States Period (Yamanashi Furusato Bunko); Tōhoku, the True Utopia of the Nation: Traces of the Land of Hitakami (Jiji Press Publishing Bureau); Panorama of Bōsō (Chiba Nippo Co., Ltd.), among many others.
This book is based on New Theory: The Truth about Minamoto no Yoshitsune (2022), published by Coal Sack Press, and has been adapted into a digital edition.