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Ota Dokan (太田 道灌), 1432-1486, was born as Ota Sukenaga (太田 資長) into a daimyo family descending from Minamoto Yorimasa. In 1457 he built the castle of Edo and in 1458 he took the name Dokan, by which he is mainly known. The castle was chosen as the home of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1590, and was used as the seat for the government. The site of the castle is now occupied by the imperial palace. Every October 1, Tokyo celebrates its anniversary, in honor of the memory of the founder Ota Dokan.
Among the other monuments built by Dokan are the Hirakawa Shrine, which is celebrated with a festival on April 24-25. The shrine, located on the Edo-jo castle grounds, is dedicated to Michizane, the deity of poetry and scholarship.
Ota Dokan's death poem is as follows:
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Kakaru toki
sa koso inochi no
oshikarame
kanete nakimi to
omoishirazuba
Ota Dokan
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Had I not known
that I was dead
already
I would have mourned
my loss of my life.
(trans. Yoel Hoffmann)
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