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HAKATA BAY & THE DIVINE WIND "KAMIKAZE"

Staging Mongol Invasion of Japan

By Kim Lau

The Mongols under Kublai Khan invaded Japan in 1274 and 1281, and for both times, the Mongol troops landed at Hakata Bay. This part of history is referred to as Genko (元寇), a very important one that marked victories of the Samurai, and the last invasion on Japan until World War II (WWII). The Japanese were unprepared for the first invasion, and where fought sparsely by the Samurai from the Shogunate at Kamakura. Typhoon strike during the night and the Mongol troops were wiped out. The Japanese were more prepared for the second invasion, but the size of the Mongol troop was enormous albeit poor and unsynchronized attack. Once again, the Samurai fought the Mongols at Hakata, and then Typhoon strike again, decimated the Mongol Troops. Japanese credited their victories to the Divine Wind, Kamikaze, a term coined much later during World War II, for Japanese aircraft loaded with explosives and making a deliberate suicidal crash on an enemy target. Fukuoka is the name of the city nowadays, and the capital of the Fukuoka prefecture. It is a vibrant city with many historic shrines, and some dates back to the Mongol Invasion of Japan.

HAKATA BAY

Hakata bay (博多湾) was the landing point of the Mongol troops invading Japan.

HAKATA BAY & THE DIVINE WIND "KAMIKAZE"

HAKATA (Fukuoka) BY NIGHT

Fukuoka (福岡) is the capital of Fukuoka prefecture, and itself a vibrant city. Hakata often refers to Fukuoka city. This view was captured from the same spot as above, featuring Fukuoka tower and the city centre.

HAKATA BAY & THE DIVINE WIND "KAMIKAZE"

MONGOL FORCES LANDING ON HAKATA BAY

At the Mongol Invasion Museum, 元寇史料館 in Fukuoka. Left paints Mongol landings with scarce number of Samurai, right paints Samurai defending Japan at sea.

HAKATA BAY & THE DIVINE WIND "KAMIKAZE"

HAKATA BAY & THE DIVINE WIND "KAMIKAZE"

Genko period shrines

Genko (元寇) translates as Mongol Invasion of Japan. Also during the Genko period, built stone wall along the coast to slow down the invasion. Many of the stones were reused to built the castle later. There remain some stretches at Hakata bay.

櫛田神社 Kushida Shrine temple interior.

Hakozaki Shrine (筥崎宮) was burnt to the ground during the first Mongol Invasion of Japan.

Genko Song

Stone pin used by the Mongol ships during the Mongol invasion of Japan.

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Footnotes

Captured with OLYMPUS digital systems camera, E-systems from 2004, mirrorless PEN from 2009 and the OM-D from 2013

FootNotes

Captured with OLYMPUS digital systems camera, E-systems from 2004, mirrorless PEN from 2009 and the OM-D from 2013

© 2026 Kim Lau

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