• • Affiliation: Shinto
  • Kami of: –
  • Family: Kotoshironushi (father) Himetatara Isuzuhime (sister) Isuzuyorihime (sister) Nunasoko Nakatsuhime (daughter)

Kamo no Ōkimi

Kamo no Ōkimi (鴨王) is said to have been the father of Nunasoko Nakatsuhime¹² and a son of Kotoshironushi.²

Footnotes

1. Ponsonby, F. (1959) “The Imperial House of Japan.” Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society.
2. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.

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

• • Reign: 548-511BC
  • Born: 568/567BC
  • Period: Legendary Period
  • Family: Emperor Suizei (father) Isuzuyorihime (mother) Nunasoko Nakatsuhime (wife) Tokotsuhikoirone (son) Emperor Itoku (son) Shikitsuhiko (son) Ikishimimi? (son)
  • Burial place: misasagi on Mount Unebi
  • Order of Succession: Predecessor Emperor Suizei  * Successor Emperor Itoku

Emperor Annei

Emperor Annei (安寧 天皇) was the third Emperor of Japan also known as Shikitsuhiko tamatemi (師木津日子玉手見命).¹² He ruled from 548-511BC.¹

Family

Emperor Annei was the son of Isuzuyorihime and Emperor Suizei.²³⁴ He was married to Nanasoko Nakatsuhime²³⁵ and together they had three sons.

The sons differ depending on the source.

In the Kojiki the three sons are said to have been Tokotsuhikoirone, Emperor Itoku and Shikitsuhiko. This is agreed in an alternate narrative in the Nihongi²⁵ but the main text of the Nihongi lists only two sons, these being Ikishimimi and Emperor Itoku.²

Reign

Annei ascended to the throne in 548BC²⁴ taking the throne two months after his fathers death. He was made heir to the throne in 557BC.²

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

• • 1st year, Winter, 10th month, 11th day. Emperor Suizei buried in his misasagi. He also gives the Empress the title Kodaigo.
  • 2nd year, capital moved to Katashio residing in the Palace of Ukiana.
  • 3rd year, Spring, 1st month, 5th day. Nunasoko Nakatsuhime made empress.
    • Two alternative versions say this was:
      • Kahatsuhime, daughter of Haye, Agatanushi of Shiki.
      • Daughter of Ohama no Sukune.
    • Before making her Empress she bore him two sons, Ikishimimi and Itoku.
      • An alternative version says Tokotsuhikoirone, Itoku, then Shikutsuhiko.
  • 11th year, 1st month, 1st day. Itoku made Prince Imperial.
  • 38th year, Winter, 11th month, 6th day the Emperor passes away.²

Emperor Annei died aged 57³⁴ and his misasagi is located on Mount Unebi.⁵

He was buried in his masasagi in the 1st year, Autumn, 8th month, 1st day of Emperor Itoku’s reign.²

The Kojiki satates he reigned for 49 years and not 38 like in other sources.⁵

Footnotes

1. Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth (2002) “Japan Encyclopedia”. London: Harvard University Press.
2. Aston. W.G. (1896) “Nihongi Volume 1: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to AD697”. Tuttle Publishing.
3. Ponsonby, F. (1959) “The Imperial House of Japan.” Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society.
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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• • Affiliation: Shinto
  • Kami of: –
  • Family: Kotoshironushi (father) Emperor Suizei (husband) Emperor Annei (son) Himetatara Isuzuhime (sister) Kamo no Ōkimi (brother)

Isuzuyorihime

Isuzuyorihime (五十鈴依媛命) is said to have been the daughter of the kami Kotoshironushi. She was the wife of Emperor Suizei and together they had Emperor Annei.¹

She was appointed Empress on the 2nd year, Spring, 1st Month of Suizei’s reign. Emperor Annei then gave her the title of Kodaigo in the 1st year, Winter, 10th month, 11th day of his reign.²

She is stated as the ancestor of the Masters of Shiki.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.

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• • Affiliation: Shinto
  • Kami of:
  • Family: Mizokuhi (wife) Himetatara Isuzuhime (daughter) Isuzuyorihime (daughter) Kamo no Ōkimi (son)

Kotoshironushi

Kotoshironushi (事代主神) is a Shinto kami seen in the Nihongi as husband to Mizokuhi and father of Himetatara Isuzuhime (wife of Emperor Jimmu). It is said he was transformed into a Wani before joining with Mizokuhi to have their child.¹

Isuzuyorihime is stated as another daughter of Kotoshironushi. This kami being the mother of the second Emperor Suizei.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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• • Affiliation: Shinto
  • Kami of:
  • Family: Ōmiwa (father?) Kotoshironushi (father) Mizokuhi (mother) Emperor Jimmu (husband) Emperor Suizei (son) Isuzuyorihime (sister) Kamo no Ōkimi (brother)

Himetatara Isuzuhime

Himetatara Isuzuhime (媛蹈鞴五十鈴媛) is a Shinto kami said in one version of the Nihongi to have been the daughter of Ōmiwa.

In another version she is stated as the child of Kotoshironushi and Mizokuhi. It is said her father was transformed into a Wani and then married Mizokuhi before they had their daughter.

Himetatara later goes on to marry the first Emperor Jimmu and together they have the second Emperor Suizei.¹²³

Suizei gives the Empress the title of Kodaigō (Great Empress) on the 1st year, Spring, 1st Month, 8th Day of his reign.¹

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.
3. Varley, H.P (1980) “A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki of Kitabatake Chikafusa.” New York: Columbia University Press.

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

• • Reign: 581-549BC
  • Born: 633/632BC
  • Period: Legendary Period
  • Family: Emperor Jimmu (father) Himetatara Isuzuhime (mother) Isuzuyorihime (wife) Emperor Annei (son) Kamiyawimimi (brother) Tagishimimi (half-brother)
  • Burial place: Tsukidaoka
  • Order of Succession: Predecessor Emperor Jimmu  * Successor Emperor Annei

Emperor Suizei

Emperor Suizei (綏靖 天皇) was the second Emperor of Japan and is also known as Kamu-nunagahaha-mimi (神沼河耳命). In the Nihongi this Emperor is described as being of distinguished manners and appearance and that he was gigantic. He ruled from 581-549BC.¹

Family

Suizei was a son of Emperor Jimmu and Himetataraisuzuhime.¹²³

He would later marry Isuzuyorihime and together they would have Emperor Annei.¹³⁴

Prior to Reign

It is said in the Nihongi that upon his fathers death he made the funerary arrangements his great care.¹

His elder brother Tagishimimi wished to see the end to his two brothers, however, Suizei and Kamiyawimimi learn of this plan. Taking a bow they find Tagishimimi alone and in the end Kamiyawimimi is to afraid to take the shot. Suizei then takes the bow and kills their brother. Because of this Kamiyawimimi says Suizei should take the throne due to his bravey, even though he was the youngest of the two of them.

He then ascends, four years after his fathers death.¹³

The Nihongi makes some expansions on this saying they had Yumi Be no Wakahiko create the bow, Yamato no Kanuchi Amatsumara make a true-deer arrow-point and the Ya Be to make arrows. It also states Suizei shot his brother twice, the first time in the breast and the second in the back.¹

Reign

Suizei ascended to the throne in 581BC.¹²

Events from his reign detailed in the Nihongi as follows:

• • 1st year, Spring, 1st Month, 8th Day: Ascends to the throne with his capital at Katsuragi residing in the Palace of Takaoka. He also gives the Empress (Himetatara) the title of Kodaigō (Great Empress)
  • 2nd year, Spring, 1st Month. Isuzuyori is appointed Empress.
    • Two alternative versions say this was:
      • Kahamatahime, daughter of Agatanushi of Shiki.
      • Itorihime, daughter of Ohohimoro, Agatanushi of Kasuga.
    • She bore him a son, the future Emperor Annei.
  • 4th year, Summer, 4th Month Kamiyawimimi dies, buried on the Northern side of Mt. Unebi.
  • (557BC) 25th year, Spring, 1st month, 7th day. Annei made heir.
  • 33rd year, Summer, 5th month. The Emperor falls ill, 10th day of the same month he passes away.¹

Suizei died aged aged 84.¹²³ and his misasagi was located at Tsukidaoka.⁴

He was buried in his misasagi in the 1st year, Winter, 10th month, 11th day of Annei’s reign.¹

The Kojiki states he reigned for 45 years and not 33 as other sources claim.⁴

Footnotes

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

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