The warrior standing with bow at the ready is Minamoto no Tametomo (1139-1170, also known as Chinzei Hachiro) a prominent leader of the Heian period (794-1185). The inscription recounts Tametomo's triumphs and struggles from youth until his death by ritual suicide (seppuku). Tametomo's valiant stance depicts his bravery, extraordinary strength, and great skill at archery. According to legend, his left arm stretched four inches longer than his right, allowing him to send his arrows further than most men. The story continues that he sank a military boat with a single arrow in a final effort to avoid arrest by court officials. When Tametomo recognized his defeat, he committed seppuku-the first recorded account of a warrior committing suicide to maintain his honor.

The spirit of the Japanese warrior has its roots in Japans classical myths from as early as the 4th century. These tales featured characters of profound physical strength with a quick mind and fierce sense of dedication to the emperor or ruling clan. These prototypical warriors had impressive pedigrees, often linking them to Chinese royalty or even gods, and their ambitions and feats often exceeded the expectations of their forebears. While many of these characters can be seen as examples of extraordinary achievement and talent at an individual level, they are also celebrated for their selfless devotion to their families, clans, and masters. A number of warrior legends from this period involve an aggressive expulsion of rebels and barbarians from what was considered imperial land in an attempt to maintain the integrity of the ruling clan against external threats. During this era, Japanese notions of a tragic hero, or “loser-hero,” were created, an archetype defined as a warrior who suffers an inglorious death or defeat after a life spent winning and completing noble deeds.