I've previously told you about the Lost Tokugawa Gold and Yamashita's Gold. Today let's turn to another legend of hidden gold in Japan. This time...

The Legend of Takeda Shingen's Hidden Gold

Takeda Shingen was one of the most powerful daimyos of the Sengoku period, commonly known as “The Warring States period". This was the era in which all of Japan was divided into small states that were at constant war with each other as the leaders of each of them fought to control enough territory to march on Kyoto and have themselves declared shogun, military leader and de facto ruler of Japan.

Shingen was known for his military prowess and also his ambition to conquer all of Japan under his rule. His legacy includes not only that, however, but also rumors of buried treasure that he had amassed to finance his military campaigns.

The Legend of Takeda Shingen's Hidden Gold

Shingen’s territories in the mountainous regions of Kai Province (today’s Yamanashi Prefecture) were rich in precious metals, and he leveraged these resources to fund his military. Perhaps due to this, a legend arose suggesting that toward the end of his life, Shingen buried a large amount of gold in secret locations throughout these mountains. The purpose was to secure a reserve that could support his clan in future battles or to finance his planned push toward Kyoto.

The hidden gold was reportedly part of a strategic reserve to ensure the Takeda clan could continue to wage war and support its troops without interruption, especially during times when direct control over productive lands might be contested.

Is it real? Or simply a baseless legend? No one really knows. Historical records do not provide clear evidence of the existence of this gold, making it a subject of intrigue and skepticism. Like many legends of hidden treasures, the tale of Shingen’s gold might be embellished or entirely fictional, created posthumously to add to the mystique of a revered historical figure.

The treasure is said to be over several hundred million yen in gold, making it a very compelling dream for many. Over the centuries, there have been sporadic official searches for Shingen’s gold, and thousands of amateur treasure hunters with dreams of riches. There are a handful of "treasure hunting" clubs in Japan that make annual trips to try to uncover the gold. But much like those for other two I mentioned in Japan and in the Philippines. None of these searches have conclusively uncovered the rumored caches, leading to a mix of continued speculation and dismissals as mere myths.

What do you think? Is it possible a ruthless warlord who was fairly close at one point to making a run at being ruler of Japan might have hidden some of his treasure? If so, do you think it might still exist nearly 500 years later?

❦

David LaSpina is an American photographer and translator lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time and searching for the perfect haiku. He blogs here and at laspina.org. Write him on Twitter or Mastodon.