The memorial site known as the tomb of Tora Gozen, or Lady Tora, in the foothills of Mt. Kasugayama is dedicated to the mother of the famed warlord Uesugi Kenshin (1530–1578).

Not much is known about the early life of Lady Tora (1512–1568), other than that she was of noble birth and became the wife of Nagao Tamekage (1486–1542), the military governor of Echigo Province (present-day Niigata Prefecture). Together they had several children, including Kagetora, who later in life would become known as Uesugi Kenshin. After Tamekage’s retirement, the Nagao family went through a period of turmoil, and Kagetora was sent to Rinsenji Temple for protection. At this time, Lady Tora is said to have taken the Buddhist name Seigan-in. Kagetora returned to the Nagao family in his late teens and eventually rose to power. He took the name Uesugi Kenshin, and became one of the most powerful warlords of his time.

Although the tomb is known as the grave of Lady Tora, the size and other characteristics of the five-tiered Buddhist memorial (gorinto) at the site suggest it was likely built in the fourteenth century, before Tora’s time. Historians also believe the tomb to be a memorial rather than an actual grave site. Despite the ambiguities surrounding the site, local residents have embraced it as the grave of Lady Tora, the mother of Kenshin. Artifacts unearthed around the tomb suggest that the area was a place of religious significance.