A small round mound (32.5m diameter) in the northern part of the Mozu group. 5th century. Not designated by the IHA; managed by Sakai City as a World Heritage constituent monument. The Buddhist name "Shichikanon" (Seven Kannon) suggests the mound was used as a place of worship long after the Kofun period, illustrating its role as a site of enduring cultural significance across eras. A small but important component of the northern Mozu landscape.Constituent monument of the "Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group" UNESCO WHS (2019). The name "Shichikanon Kofun" appears to have been established in the modern era but reflects a tradition linking this ancient burial site to the Seven Forms of Kannon in Buddhist belief. This is a classic example of how medieval and early-modern popular religion inherited ancient burial mounds as sacred places—a phenomenon of cultural layering seen at ancient tombs throughout Japan.
Finds & research
No excavation permitted under IHA mausoleum regulations. Internal structure and grave goods remain unknown. Exterior viewable from public paths.
Two views on the occupant
Archaeological view
A round mound, 32.5m in diameter. 5th century. Located in the northern part of the Mozu group (northwest of Kamiishizu Misanzai Kofun), presumed to be a satellite or small independent chieftain's tomb. The simple round form suggests a relatively lower-ranking occupant. Detailed excavation records—including confirmation of stone covering and haniwa—are limited, but the mound contributes to the World Heritage landscape as a constituent of the Mozu group ensemble.
Imperial Household Agency view
Not designated by the IHA. Managed by the Sakai City Board of Education. Not an IHA-designated site. Protected by Sakai City as a World Heritage constituent monument. The name "Shichikanon" (Seven Kannon/Guanyin) likely derives from a Buddhist tradition involving seven statues of Kannon, illustrating the religious layering of this ancient site in later Buddhist eras.