Database: Kubi-jikken

Since ancient times, enemies defeated in battle were beheaded as proof of their meritorious deeds. It was during the post-battle Kubi-jikken, or "head inspection," that the heads of important figures were identified by the commander in order to recognize the merit of his vassals. When the identified head was that of a high-ranking commander, it became taimen ("face to face encounter"), different from kubi-jikken, which confirms the head of middle-ranking commander. Those who brought the head were asked to tell how they killed their enemies, and after their testimony was confirmed in some cases, they were given war credit. When necessary, the heads were shown to those who had betrayed and changed sides, or to enemy prisoners of war to confirm their names.

Before the inspection, the head is washed, styled, and made up, as to not look unsightly. Oda Nobunaga distinguished himself with the make-up of the heads of Azai Hisamasa and Nagamasa, as well as Asakura Yoshikage, and by displaying them at a banquet in 1574, which some consider to be as another memorial service-based on the custom of head makeup. After the identification, the head was either placed in a special container then given to the enemy, displayed in a public place for all to see and know of the death, or simply discarded. In the cases of low-ranking enemies, the names were not checked and only the number of people killed was confirmed by cutting off their nose or ear. The Ear Mound is the most famous tomb located in front of Toyokuni Shrine in Kyoto, where the ears and noses of about 20,000 Korean and Chinese soldiers are buried after the invasion to the peninsula by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1597.