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Selected chapters from Donald L. Philippi's translation of the Kojiki. University of Tokyo Press,1968.  This excerpt from The Kojiki was downloaded from http://ninpo.org/historicalrecords/kojiki.htm   PRINCE WO-USU KILLS HIS ELDER BROTHER AND IS SENT BY EMPEROR KEIKO TO CONQUER THE TWO BROTHERS KUMASO-TAKERU. WO-USU-NO-MIKOTO, DISGUISED AS A WOMAN, VANQUISHES THE BROTHERS KUMASO-TAKERU. HE IS GIVEN THE TITLE YAMATO-TAKERU. YAMATO-TAKERU-NO-MIKOTO KILLS IDUMO-TAKERU BY DECEIT.

       CHAPTER 79

PRINCE WO-USU KILLS HIS ELDER BROTHER AND IS SENT BY EMPEROR KEIKO TO CONQUER THE TWO BROTHERS KUMASO-TAKERU.

       The emperor said to Wo-Usu-no-mikoto : "Why does your elder brother not come to the morning and evening
       meals? Take it upon yourself to teach and admonish him." After this had been said, five days passed, but he still
       did not come. The emperor then asked Wo-Usu-no-mikoto: "Why has your elder brother not come for such a long
       time? Is it perhaps that you have not yet admonished him?" He replied : "I have already entreated him." Then he
       said: "In what manner did you entreat him?" He replied: '' Early in the morning when he went into the privy, I
       waited and captured him, grasped him and crushed him, then pulled off his limbs, and wrapping them in a straw
       mat, threw them away." At this, the emperor was terrified at the fearless, wild disposition of this prince and said :
       "Toward the west, there are two [mighty men called Kumaso-takeru. They are unsubmissive, disrespectful people.
       Therefore go and kill them." [Thus saying], he dispatched him. At this time, he was still a youth wearing his hair
       up on his forehead. Then Wo-usu-no-mikoto received from his aunt Yamato-hime-no-mikoto an upper garment
       and a skirt and, with a small sword in his bosom, set out.

       CHAPTER 80

WO-USU-NO-MIKOTO, DISGUISED AS A WOMAN, VANQUISHES THE BROTHERS KUMASO-TAKERU. HE IS GIVEN THE TITLE YAMATO-TAKERU.

       When he arrived at the house of the Kumaso-takeru, he found that the house was surrounded by three rows of
       warriors, and that they were building a pit dwelling and were inside it. At the time there was a great deal of noise
       about the coming feast [celebrating] the new pit dwelling, and food was being prepared. Walking around the
       vicinity, he waited for the day of the feast. When the day of the feast arrived, he combed his hair down in the
       manner of a young girl's and put on the upper garment and the skirt of his aunt. Thus, completely taking on a
       young girl's appearance, he mingled with the women and went into the pit dwelling. Then the two Kumaso-takeru,
       the elder and the younger, looked with admiration at this maiden and had her sit between them as the festivities
       continued. Then, when [the feast] was at its height, [Wo-usu-no-mikoto] took his sword from his bosom and,
       seizing the Kumaso's collar, stabbed him clear through the chest. Then the younger Takeru , seeing this, was
       afraid and ran out. Pursuing him to the foot of the stairs leading out of the pit dwelling, he seized him by the back,
       took the sword, and stabbed him clear through from the rear. Then Kumaso-takeru said : "Do not move the sword.
       I have something to say."

       Then holding him down, he allowed it for a while. Then he said : "Who are you, my lord?" Whereupon he said : "I
       am the son of Emperor Opo-tarasi-osiro-no-mikoto, who dwells in the palace of Pisiro and rules
       Opo-ya-shima-guni; and my name is Yamato-woguna-no-miko. Hearing that you Kumaso-takeru Were
       unsubmissive and disrespectful, he dispatched me to kill you." Then Kumaso-takeru said: "Indeed this must be
       true. For in the west there are no brave, mighty men besides us. But in the land of Opo-yamato there is a man
       exceeding the two of us in bravery! Because of this I will present you with a name. May you be known from now
       on as Yamato-takeru-no-miko!" After he had finished saying this, [Wo-usu-no-mikoto] killed him, slicing him up
       like a ripe melon. From that time, he was called Yamato-takeru-no-mikoto to praise his name. Then as he returned,
       he subdued and pacified all of the mountain deities, river deities, and deities of the sea-straits.

       CHAPTER 8 I

 YAMATO-TAKERU-NO-MIKOTO KILLS IDUMO-TAKERU BY DECEIT.

       At that time [Yamato-takeru-no-mikoto] entered the land of Idumo. Intending to kill Idumo-takeru he pledged
       friendship with aim on his arrival. Then he secretly made an imitation sword of tipi wood, which he wore at his
       side. They bathed together in the Pi River. At this time, Yamato-takeru-no-mikoto came out of the river first and
       put on the sword which Idumo-takeru had worn , saying : "Let us exchange swords !" Then Idumo-takeru came
       out of the river and put on the imitation sword which Yamato-takeru-no-mikoto had worn. Whereupon
       Yamato-takeru-no-mikoto invited him saying : '' Come, let us cross swords !" As they were unsheathing their
       swords, Idumo-takeru was unable to unsheathe the imitation sword. Then Yamato-takeru-no-mikoto, unsheathing
       his sword, struck and killed Idumo-takeru. Then he made a song, saying:
       The many-clouds-rising
       Idumo-takeru Wears a sword
       With many vines wrapped around it,
       But no blade inside, alas!

       Thus, having swept away and pacified [his foes], he went up and reported [on his mission].

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