Osaka Pref. Keyhole-shaped mound IHA imperial tomb

Ota Chausuyama Kofun

LocationOsaka Pref.
ShapeKeyhole-shaped mound
Mound length226 m
PeriodMid 5th c.
IHA designationIHA-managed (no public entry)

Overview

226m in total length, ranking 21st largest nationally. The rear circle is ~135m in diameter and ~17m high; the front section is ~124m wide and ~17m high. A large keyhole mound with a surrounding moat, well preserved overall. Designated by the IHA as Emperor Keitai's mausoleum, but the archaeological date (mid-5th century) predates the emperor's death in 531 CE by approximately 70–80 years, fueling an ongoing identification dispute. It stands on a ridge in the Mishima (Settsu) region with a commanding view over the Yodo River corridor.The debate over whether this or Imashiroduka is the true tomb of Emperor Keitai remains unresolved. The IHA's attribution is based on historical geography studies of the Edo–Meiji period, predating modern archaeological dating methods. It was selected as the site of the "Aino-no-Misasagi" recorded in the Nihon Shoki and Kojiki, but the dating discrepancy has led most modern scholars to favor Imashiroduka. Without IHA permission for excavation, a definitive answer is unlikely. The contrast with Imashiroduka—a fully accessible public park and national historic site open to scholarly research—is stark. Emperor Keitai himself is a pivotal figure: summoned from distant Echizen (Fukui Prefecture) to restore the royal line, he embodies the regional expansion of early Japanese kingship, making the location of his true tomb a matter of fundamental importance to ancient history.

Finds & research

IHA-designated mausoleum (Mishima-Aino-no-Misasagi); entry and excavation are prohibited. From exterior observation, haniwa (cylindrical and figural types consistent with mid-5th-century typology) have been reported scattered around the perimeter. These haniwa types are compared with finds from Imashiroduka Kofun (Takatsuki City, same period) in scholarly debates over the mound's date relative to Emperor Keitai's reign. Interior burial chamber and grave goods remain unknown. Archaeological consensus currently favors Imashiroduka as the actual Keitai tomb; excavation of this mound could potentially yield decisive evidence.

Two views on the occupant

Archaeological view
Researchers date this mound to the mid-5th century (c. 450–460s), creating a gap of approximately 70–80 years with Emperor Keitai's death in 531 CE. Scholars including Kanekatu Inokuma and Taiichiro Shiraishi suggest the occupant may be Prince Ohohodonookimi, an ancestor of Emperor Keitai. The topography and haniwa typology are consistent with an earlier (transitional or middle) Kofun-period date. Because the IHA prohibits excavation, details of the stone chamber and grave goods remain unknown. The contrast with Imashiroduka's haniwa dating is the crux of the ongoing dispute.
Imperial Household Agency view
Formally designated by the IHA as the mausoleum of Emperor Keitai under the name Mishima-Aino-no-Misasagi. Managed by the IHA since the Meiji period; public entry is prohibited. No scholarly excavation has been conducted; only part of the outer moat survives, leaving the internal structure unknown.[IHA Visiting Info] Address: 大阪府茨木市太田3丁目 / Access: (バス停) 太田三丁目から徒歩約4分 / Hours: 原則、8時30分~17時 (open year-round in principle). Stamp storage: 桃山陵墓監区事務所.
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Sources

宮内庁猪熊兼勝『継体天皇と王権の謎』高槻市教育委員会

Related kofun

Daisen Kofun (525m) Kamiishizu Misanzai Kofun (365m) Haji Nisanzai Kofun (300m) Gobyoyama Kofun (203m) Tadeiyama Kofun (148m) Itasuke Kofun (146m)
← Imashiroduka Kofun Abuyama Kofun →