[Poem by Emperor Jomei when he climbed Mount Kagu to view the land]
In Yamato there are many mountains, but most dependable and finely arrayed of all is heavenly Mount Kagu. I climb it and stand and look out over the land: on the wide plain, smoke from cooking fires rises here and there; on the wide waters, gulls take wing one after another. What a fine land it is, this land of Yamato, the Dragonfly Island.
Kunimi, "viewing the land," was a rite in which the emperor climbed to a high place, looked out over the realm and praised its prosperity in words. Rising smoke was a sign that the people lived well, and gulls in flight a sign of abundant blessings. The Haniyasu pond is said to have spread out at the foot of Mount Kagu.
[Poem by Empress Jito]
Spring has passed, and it seems summer has come without my noticing. White robes are hung out to dry on heavenly Mount Kagu.
Mount Kagu was a sacred mountain said to have come down from heaven, and so it was called "heavenly." Looking toward it from her palace at Fujiwara-kyo, Empress Jito saw the white of summer robes standing out sharply among the green leaves. The poem catches the turn of the season in that brightness. It is a sunny poem; the contrast of fresh green and white seems to rise before your eyes. Later it was taken into the Shin Kokinshu and the Hyakunin Isshu in a softer form: "Spring has passed and summer must have come; they say white robes are drying on heavenly Mount Kagu."
The three mountains of Yamato, Kagu, Unebi and Miminashi, are also known from Prince Naka-no-Oe's poem, "Mount Kagu, loving Unebi, quarreled with Miminashi." They were special mountains for the people of the Man'yo age.