Attributed Site of Asuka Itabuki no Miya: A quiet site today.

　The name of this site is Den Asuka Itabuki no Miya Ato (Attributed Site of Asuka Itabuki no Miya). Den or “attributed” is attached to the name because the ancient structural remains are in three layers. The possibilities that the first period is that of Emperor Jomei and Asuka no Okamoto no Miya (630 on), the second period is that of Empress Kōgyoku and Asuka no Itabuki no Miya (643 on), and the third period is that of Empress Saimei and Nochi no Asuka no Okamoto no Miya, and Emperor Tenmu and Emperor Jitō and Asuka no Kiyomihara no Miya (672–694) have been pointed out (Nihon rekishi chimei taikei). Therefore, it is difficult to prove that this was the site of Asuka Itabuki no Miya.

　It was, however, without a doubt, located in the vicinity. That statement can be made because after Iruka was assassinated, Naka no Ōe immediately entered Hōryūji temple (Asukadera) and fortified it. The Shoki entry says, 中大兄即入法興寺、為城而備 (the actual distance between Itabuki no Miya and Asukadera was about 500m).

　The Isshi Incident was carried out under the greatest tension.

　At first, the assignation of Iruka was to be done by Saeki no Muraji Komaro and Katsuragi no Wakainukai no Amita, but they froze out of fear when the time came. As Kurayamada no Ishikawa no Maro was reading aloud the memorials his voice faltered, and Iruka looked at the suspicious scene, and just as he asked Yamada no Maro why his voice faltered Naka no Ōe no Ōji himself jumped out and cut at Iruka’s head and shoulder with a sword. If the initial act was even just a moment late,

it may have been Naka no Ōe no Ōji and his loyal retainer Kamatari who would have been killed.

　The entry in the Shoki is 出其不意、以剣傷割入鹿頭肩.