On May 24, 1872 (Meiji 5), Kobe Minatogawa Jinja was established to venerate Kusunoki Masashige (楠木正成, 1294-1336), a samurai who fought and gave his life for Emperor Go-Daigo (後醍醐天皇, 1288–1339).
He obeyed a strategically absurd command from Go-Daigo to meet a superior force at Minatogawa in what is now Kobe. The decision meant certain death for Kusunoki Masashige and his brother.
The two brothers supposedly said Shichisei Hokoku! (七生報國; Would that I had seven lives to give for my country!) before dying, making Kusunoki Masashige a symbol of loyalty to the emperor.
When the Law for the Preservation of Old Shrines and Temples (Koshaji Hozon-hou) was enacted on June 25, 1897 (Meiji 30), proposals were immediately made to designate Minatogawa Jinja a national treasure. Not because of its age—it had stood for only 25 years—, but because of its important role in transmitting a message that was considered crucial to Japan’s national identity at the time, loyalty to the emperor.
It was a message that was carefully drilled into every student’s head over the next half century and Shichisei Hokoku became an often used expression during WWII.
The shrine is located in the general area where the Battle of Minatogawa took place.