Emperor Itoku

Hear this tale on Episode B13 of our Podcast, the Japan Archives.

• • Reign: 510-477BC
  • Born: 554/553BC
  • Period: Legendary Period
  • Family: Emperor Annei (father) Nunasoko Nakatsuhime (mother) Amatoyotsuhime (wife) Emperor Kōshō (son) Takeshihiko (son)
  • Burial place: misasagi on Mount Unebi
  • Order of Succession: Predecessor Emperor Annei  * Successor Emperor Kōshō

Emperor Itoku

Emperor Itoku (懿徳 天皇) was the fourth Emperor of Japan also known as Oyamatohikosukitomo (大倭日子鉏友命).¹² He ruled from 510-477BC.¹

Family

Emperor Itoku was the second son of Emperor Annei and Nunasoko Nakatsuhime¹²³ though we are not sure why he was chosen over his older brother to take the throne.¹ Itoku would go on to marry Amatoyotsuhime and together they would have the future Emperor Kōshō.¹²⁴ The Kojiki mentions an additional child by the name of Takeshihiko.⁴

Reign

Emperor Itoku ascended to the throne in 510BC,³ having been made heir to the throne in the “11th year, Spring, 1st month” of Annei’s reign. He is said to have been 16 at the time.²

Events from his reign detailed in the Nihongi are as follows:

• • 1st year, Spring, 2nd month, 4th day Itoku takes the throne.
  • Autumn, 8th month, 1st day. Emperor Annei is buried in his misasagi.
  • 9th month, 14th day. He gives the Empress the title Kodaigo.
  • 2nd year, Spring, 1st month, 5th day. Capital is moved to Karu residing in the Palace of Magario.
  • 2nd month, 11th day. Amatoyotsuhime is made Empress.
    • Two alternative versions say this was:
      • Idzuhime, daughter of Otoite, son of Haye, Agatanushi of Shiki.
      • Ihihime, daughter of Futomawakahiko, Agatanushi of Shiki.
  • 22nd year, Spring, 2nd month, 12th day. Kōshō is made heir.
  • 34th year, Autumn, 9th month, 8th day. Itoku passes away.²

Emperor Itoku died aged 77³ and is said to have reigned for 45 years in the Kojiki and not 34 years like in other sources.⁴

His misasagi is located on Mount Unebi.⁴

Footnotes

1. Ponsonby, F. (1959) “The Imperial House of Japan.” Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society.
2. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.
3. Varley, H.P (1980) “A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki of Kitabatake Chikafusa.” New York: Columbia University Press.
4. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.

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