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

• • Reign: 475-393BC
  • Born: 507/508BC
  • Period: Legendary Period
  • Family: Emperor Itoku (father) Amatoyotsuhime (mother) Yosotarashi hime (wife) Emperor Kōan (son) Ameoshitarashihiko (son) Takeshihiko (brother)
  • Burial place: misasagi on Hakatayama in Waki no Kami
  • Order of Succession: Predecessor Emperor Itoku  * Successor Emperor Kōan

Emperor Kōshō

Emperor Kōshō (孝昭 天皇) was the fifth Emperor of Japan also known as Mimatsuhiko Kaweshine (真津日子訶恵志泥命).¹² He ruled from 475-393BC.¹

Family

Emperor Kōshō was one of two sons of Emperor Itoku and Amatoyotsuhime.¹² Kōshō would go on to marry Yosotarashi hime¹²³ and together they would have two sons, these being the future Emperor Kōan and Ameoshitarashihiko.²³

Reign

Emperor Kōshō ascended to the throne in 475BC,⁴ after having been made heir to the throne in the ”22nd year, Spring, 2nd month, 12th day,” of Itoku’s reign. He is said to have been 18 at the time.²

Ponsonby states he was made heir in the 12th year of his fathers reign.¹

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

• • 1st year, Spring, 1st month, 9th day Kōshō takes the throne.
  • Summer, 4th month, 5th day. He gives the Empress the title Kodaigo.
  • 7th month. The capital is moved to Waki no Kami, residing in the Palace Ikegokoro.
  • 29th year, Spring, 1st month, 3rd day. Yosotarashi hime is made Empress.
    • Two alternative versions say this was:
      • Nunakitsuhime, daughter of Haye, Agatanushi of Shiki.
      • Ohowihime, daughter of Toyoakisatao from Yamato.
    • The Empress gives birth to Emperor Kōan and Ameoshitarashihiko.
  • 68th year, Spring, 1st month, 14th day. Kōan is made heir.
  • 83rd year, Autumn, 5th day. Kōshō passes away.²

Emperor Kōshō died aged 114¹⁴ and is said to have reigned 93 years in the Kojiki and not 83 as in other sources.⁵

His misasagi is located on Hakatayama in Waki no Kami.⁵

He was buried in his misasagi in the 38th year, Autumn, 8th month, 146th day of the reign of Emperor Kōan.²

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. Chamberlain, B. H. (1932) “Translation of the Kojiki.” Kobe: J.L. Thompson & Co.
4. Varley, H.P (1980) “A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki of Kitabatake Chikafusa.” New York: Columbia University Press.
5. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.

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• Period: Legendary Period
• Occupation: Prince
• Family: Emperor Itoku (father) Amatoyotsuhime (mother) Emperor Kōshō (brother)
• Birth: –
• Death: –

Takeshihiko

Takeshihiko (武石彦奇友背命) was a son of Emperor Itoku and Amatoyotsuhime.¹

He is listed as the ancestor of the Lords of Chinu, Lords of Take in Tajima and the District Heads of Ashii.²

Footnotes

1. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.
2. Chamberlain, B. H. (1932) “Translation of the Kojiki.” Kobe: J.L. Thompson & Co.

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• Period: Legendary Period
• Occupation: Empress
• Family: Emperor Itoku (husband) Emperor Kōshō (son) Takeshihiko (son) Ikishimimi (father)
• Birth: –
• Death: –

Amatoyotsuhime

Amatoyotsuhime (天豊津媛命) was the wife of Emperor Itoku and together they would have the future Emperor Kōshō.¹² The Kojiki includes another son by her and Itoku by the name of Takeshihiko.²

She was the daughter of Ikishimimi³ and was ancestor to the District Heads of Shiki.²

She was made Empress in the 1st year, 2nd month, 11th day of Itoku’s reign and was later given the title of Kodaigo in the 1st year, Summer, 4th month, 5th day of Kōshō’s reign.¹

Footnotes

1. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.
2. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.
3. Ponsonby, F. (1959) “The Imperial House of Japan.” Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society.

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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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• Period: Legendary Period
• Occupation: Prince
• Family: Emperor Annei (father) Nunasoko Nakatsuhime (mother) Amatoyotsuhime (daughter)
• Birth: –
• Death: –

Ikishimimi

Ikishimimi is a possible son of Emperor Annei. He is not mentioned in the Kojiki.

However, he is mentioned as a son on Annei in the main text of the Nihongi, as one of two sons. His mother is said to have been Nunasoko Nakatsuhime.¹

He is listed as the father of Amatoyotsuhime.²

Footnotes

1. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.
2. Ponsonby, F. (1959) “The Imperial House of Japan.” Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society.

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	Check out our Gaming Channel on Youtube. Instagram (Minecraft): @mycenria
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