Career
He came to be known for his greed and treachery. "A prominent eastern warrior", he supplied Yoshitsune with a number of ships after the Battle of Yashima. Originally from Suruga province, Kajiwara entered the Genpei War fighting under Oba Kagechika, against the Minamoto.
After the Taira victory at Ishibashiyama in 1181, he was sent to pursue the fleeing Minamoto no Yoritomo.
Having discovered him, Kajiwara switched sides, leading his forces in another direction, and turning to Yoritomo"s cause. In one particular episode related in The Tale of the Heike, Kajiwara suggests, during the Battle of Yashima, that Yoshitsune equip the Minamoto ships with "reverse oars" should they need to retreat quickly.
Yoshitsune responds with distaste to Kajiwara"s advice, humiliating him by saying such an act would be cowardice. From that point until Yoritomo"s death, the resentful Kajiwara did as much as he could to raise tensions between the brothers.
Even after this, when the shogunate was successfully and firmly established, Kajiwara still caused tensions at court.
Kajiwara Heima, a senior retainer of the Aizu domain in the 19th century, claimed descent from Kagetoki. His formal name, Kagetake (景武) shares a character with Kagetoki"s name.
