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Late in life, Takakura Nagatsugu, who had renounced the world and adopted the religious name of Jōyū, recounted the impressive actions of Kiyohisa’s father Kiyonori in rescuing the ceremonial clothes to an otherwise unknown monk named Sonshin. Grateful for the interest in these events, Nagatsugu (Jōyū) ordered Awazu Kiyohisa to dispatch his original documents to the court so as to prove the veracity of this story, and make it more widely known.
A letter from Takakura Nagatsugu
Having distinguished yourself in the struggle, you have bought praise to my aged self. Sonshin was most grateful, for at that time, he was curious (onyukashiku zonji sōrō) [about those events].
In earlier years, Kiyohisa’s father exerted himself to the utmost rescuing the ceremonial robes and you certainly have the communiqué and the other documents [proving this]. I am truly grateful for their renown among people of today. They should be dispatched to the court for viewing. Of course, the official records should be shown. Someone must in any case go and speak of them.
Respectfully,
Ninth month, twenty first day, Jōyū
高倉永継書状
返々可然様御取合
候者愚老も祝着ニ可仕候
御床敷存候折節
芳信恐悦候兼又御
礼服事先年清久親
至粉骨候事奉書なと
定而可所持候当時人
者存知方もありかたく候
左様物被召出候て可被
御覧候定而證文可入
見参候何様旁可参申
入候恐々謹言
九月廿一日 「永継法名」
常祐