Battle of Kurikara Pass

Battle of Kurikara Pass
Part of the Genpei War

Battle of Kurikara Pass by Katsukawa Shun'ei
DateJune 2, 1183
Location
Kurikara Pass, Tonamiyama, Etchū Province
36°39′42.1″N 136°49′15.7″E / 36.661694°N 136.821028°E / 36.661694; 136.821028
Result Minamoto victory; turning point in the war
Belligerents
Minamoto clan Taira clan
Commanders and leaders
Strength
5,000 40,000
Location within Japan

The battle of Kurikara Pass (倶利伽羅峠の戦い, Kurikara tōge no tatakai), also known as the battle of Tonamiyama (砺波山), was a crucial engagement in Japan's Genpei War; in this battle the tide of the war turned in the favour of the Minamoto clan.

"Yoshinaka won by a clever strategy; under cover of nightfall his troops enveloped the main body of the Taira, demoralized them by a series of tactical surprises, and turned their confusion into a disastrous, headlong rout."