Learn about Minamoto no Yoritomo, the first shōgun or military ruler of Japan.

This video focuses on a sculpture believed to be a portrait of the shōgun made in the 13th or 14th century during the Kamakura period in Japan. Today, the sculpture is in the Tokyo National Museum.

The video takes a close look at this depiction of Yoritomo, which was made after his death, and looks at an earlier painted portrait for comparison. In the sculpture, Yoritomo is dressed as a warrior aristocrat, and this video explains his distinctive outfit and how it differs from the earlier depiction of the shōgun.

CHAPTERS

0:00 A sculpture of Minamoto no Yoritomo

0:15 Who was Minamoto no Yoritomo, and what is a shōgun?

1:03 A portrait sculpture of Yoritomo in the Tokyo National Museum