Japan 5

JAPANESE IMPERIAL

GENEALOGY

(The Early Asuka Period)

(From this point it is convenient to treat the records as accurate. This is not unreasonable; Keitai's reign predates surviving histories by only two hundred years)

507 - 531 Keitai Ōdo no Mikoto, Twenty-Sixth Emperor of Japan. Born in 449 at Mio in Takashima, a distant descendant of Emperor Ojin, he was raised at Takamuku in Echizen, and chosen to succeed the childless Buretsu as Emperor. He ruled from the Palace of Tamaho at Ihare. In his reign there was war with Silla, which was absorbing Japan's tributary states in Korea. He married  (first) Wakahime, younger sister of Mio no Tsunoori no Kimi, the Lord of Mio. He married (second) Meko no Iratsume, daughter of Ohari no Kusaka and sister of Ohari no Ofushi, both Muraji of Ohari. He married (third) Tashiraka no Iratsume, Empress, daughter of Emperor Ninken (see above). He married (fourth) Okumi no Iratsume, also caled Omi no Iratsume, daughter of Okinaga no Mate no Miko, a prince, and, his surname suggests, a descendant of Emperor Ojin's seventh son. He married (fifth) Kurohime, also called Hirohime, daughter of Sakata no Ōmata no Miko, a prince, and, his surname suggests, a descendant of Emperor Ojin's seventh son. He married (sixth) Sekihime, daughter of Mamuta no Omochi, Omi or Muraji of Mamuta. He married (seventh) Yamatohime, daughter of Mio no Katabi no Kimi and younger sister of Mio no Katabu no Kimi, both Lords of Mio. He married (eighth) Abe no Haehime, daughter of Wani no Kawachi no Omi, Omi of Wani. He married (ninth) Hirohime, daughter of Ne no Miko. He died in 531 and was buried at Ai ni Mishima.

• 1) Ōiratsuko no Mikoto (son of Wakahime)

• 2) Ankan Hirokuni Oshitakekanahi no Mikoto, also called Magari no Ohine no Mikoto, Twenthy-Seventh Emperor of Japan (son of Meko) - see below.

• 3) Senka Takeo Hirokuni Oshitate no Mikoto, also called Hi no Kuma Takeda no Mikoto, Twenty-Eighth Emperor of Japan (son of Meko) - see below.

• 4) Kinmei Amekuni Oshiharuki Hironiwa no Mikoto, Twenty-Ninth Emperor of Japan (son of Tashiraka) - see below.

• 5) Maroko no Mikoto (son of Yamatohime), ancestor of the Lord of Mikuni.

• 6) Mimi no Mikoto (son of Yamatohime)

• 7) Azu no Mikoto (son of Hayehime)

• 8) Usagi no Mikoto (son of Hirohime), ancestor of the Lord of Sake-makers.

• 9) Naka no Mikoto (son of Hirohime), ancestor of the Lord of Sakada.

• 1) Izumo no Iratsume (daughter of Wakahime).

• 2) Sasage no Iratsume (daughter of Okumi), High Priestess of Amaterasu at Ise.

• 3) Kamusaki no Iratsume (daughter of Kurohime)

• 4) Mamuta no Iratsume (daughter of Kurohime)

• 5) Umatsuta no Iratsume (daughter of Kurohime).

• 6) Mamuta no Ōiratsume (daughter of Sekihime)

• 7) Shirasaka no Ikuhi no Iratsume (daughter of Sekihime)

• 8) Onu no Iratsume, also called Nagamehime (daughter of Sekihime).

• 9) Ōiratsume (daughter of Yamatohime)

• 10) Akahime no Iratsume (daughter of Yamatohime).

• 11) Wakayahime no Iratsume (daughter of Hayehime)

• 12) Tsubura no Iratsume (daughter of Hayehime)

534 - 536 Ankan Hirokuni Oshitakekanahi no Mikoto, also called Magari no Ohine no Mikoto, Twenthy-Seventh Emperor of Japan. Born 466. He ruled over a prosperous empire from the Palace of Kanahashi in Magari. He was buried in Takaya Village in Furuch, Kafuchi. He married (first) Kasuga no Yamada no Iratsume, Empress, also called Akami no Iratsume, daughter of Emperor Ninken (see above). He married (second) Kose no Satehime, daughter of Kose no Obito no Omi, Omi of Kose and Chief Omi of Japan (499-529). He married (third) his second wife's sister, Kose no Kagarihime. He married (fourth) Mononbe no Yakahime, daughter of Mononobe no Itai, Chief Muraji of Japan. He died in 536 and had no issue. 

536 - 539 Senka Takeo Hirokuni Oshitate no Mikoto, also called Hi no Kuma Takeda no Mikoto, Twenty-Eighth Emperor of Japan. He ruled from the Palace of Ihorinu at Hinokuma. He married (first) Ōshi Kafuchi no Wakugohime. He married (second) Tachibana no Nakatsuhime, Empress, daughter of Emperor Ninken (see above). He died in 539, and was buried on Tsukijima, Musa in Yamato. He had issue:

• 1) Honoo no Miko (son of Wakugohime), ancestor of the Lords of Shihida.

• 2) Kamūeha no Mikoto, also called Mariko (son of Nakatsuhime), ancestor of the Lords of Tajihi and Ina.

• 3) Eha no Miko (son of Wakugohime), ancestor of the Lords of Ina and Tajihi.

• 4) Yakabe no Miko. He was executed in 572 for supporting the revolt of Prince Anahobe. He had issue, including:

  • a) Kamutsuhime.

• 1) Ishihime no Mikoto (daughter of Nakatsuhime). She married Kinmei, Twenty-Ninth Emperor of Japan and had issue (see below)

• 2) Koishihime no Mikoto, also called Karuwakayahime no Mikoto (daughter of Nakatsuhime) She married Kinmei, Twenty-Ninth Emperor of Japan and had issue (see below)

• 3) Hikage no Mikoto (daughter of Nakatsuhime) She married Kinmei, Twenty-Ninth Emperor of Japan and had issue (see below).

539 - 571 Kinmei Amekuni Oshiharuki Hironiwa no Mikoto, Twenty-Ninth Emperor of Japan. He ruled from the Palace of Kanazashi in Shikishima, Shiki. During his reign Japan invaded Silla and Goguryeo in Korea, but was defeated. It was in this reign that Buddhism was first introduced to Japan by the Soga family, but it was blamed for a plague and rejected by the establishment. He married (first) his niece, Ishihime no Mikoto, Empress, daughter of Emperor Senka (see above). He married (second) Koishihime no Mikoto, also called Karuwakayahime no Mikoto, sister of his first wife (see above). He married (third) Hikage no Mikoto, sister of his first & second wives (see above). He married (fourth) Soga no Kitashihime, daughter of the Soga no Iname no Sukune, Omi of Soga and Prime Minister of Japan, a descendant of Kogen, Eighth Emperor of Japan, through the famous Prime Minister Takeuchi; she was buried in Shinaga Kofun at Kafuchi and later reintered in Sakahi Kofun at Hinokuma. He married (fifth) Soga no Onanegimi, daughter of Soga no Iname, or Soga no Oehime, sister of the same Soga no Iname. He married (sixth) Kasuga no Nukako no Iratsume, daughter of the Kasuga no Hitsuma, Omi of Kasuga. He died in 571 and was buried in Sakahi Kofun at Hinokuma, but had issue:

• 1) Yata no Tamakatsu no Ōe no Miko (son of Ishihime)

• 2) Bidatsu Nunakura Futotamashiki no Mikoto, Thirtieth Emperor of Japan (son of Ishihime) - see below.

• 3) Kasanuhi no Miko (son of Ishihime).

• 4) Iso no Kami no Miko (son of Koishihime).

• 5) Kura no Miko (son of Hikage or Nukako).

• 6) Yōmei Tachibana no Toyohi no Mikoto, Born Ōe no Miko, Thirty-First Emperor of Japan (son of Kitashihime) - see below.

• 7) Atori no Miko (son of Kitashihime)

• 8) Mariko no Miko (son of Kitashihime or Nukako).

• 9) Iso no Kamibe no Miko (son of Kitashihime)

• 10) Matamaroko no Miko (son of Kitashihime)

• 11) Imigako no Miko (son of Kitashihime)

• 12) Yamashiro no Miko (son of Kitashihime).

• 13) Sakurai no Yumihari no Miko (son of Kitashihime)

• 14) Manu no Miko (son of Kitashihime)

• 15) Tachibanagamoto no Wakugo no Miko (son of Kitashihime)

• 16) Tone no Miko (son of Kitashihime)

• 17) Umaki no Miko, also called Mubaragi no Miko (son of Onanegimi/Oehime). He conspired against the Emperor, with his sister, the High Priestess of Amaterasu.

• 18) Kazuraki no Miko (son of Onanegimi/Oehime)

• 19) Sakikusabe no Anahobe no Miko, also called Sumeirodo (son of Onanegimi/Oehime). He attempted to break into the palace, marry his sister Suiko and thereby become Emperor in 586. He was prevented, but whipped up a conspiracy with the support of the Mononobe and Nakatomi families, in 587 after Emperor Yomei's death. He was slain in that year by supporters of the Soga Family.

• 20) Shushen Hatsusebe no Wakasazaki no Mikoto, Thirty-Second Emperor of Japan, also called Hasetsukabe Anahobe no Miko, Amatsuka no Ko no Miko and Sumato no Miko. (son of Onanegimi/Oehime) - see below.

• 21) Hasebe no Miko (son of Onanegimi/Oehime)

• 22) Tachibana no Maro no Miko (son of Nukako).

• 1) Kasanubi no Miko, also called Satake no Miko (daughter of Ishihime).

• 2) Ihakumo no Miko , also called Ihane no Miko and Ime no Miko (daughter of Kitashihime). She was High Priestess of Amaterasu at Ise, but was dismissed after she intrigued against the Emperor.

• 3) Suiko Toyomike Kashikiyahime no Mikoto, Thirty-Third Emperor of Japan (daughter of Kitashihime) - see below.

• 4) Ōyake no Miko (daughter of Kitashihime)

• 5) Ōtomo no Miko (daughter of Kitashihime)

• 6) Katano no Miko (daughter of Kitashihime)

• 7) Toneri no Miko (daughter of Kitashihime). She married Tahema no Maroko no Miko, son of Emperor Yomei (see below). She died in 603 at Akashi in Harima.

• 8) Hasetsubekabe no Anahobehime no Miko (daughter of Onanegimi/Oehime). She married Yōmei, Thirty-First Emperor of Japan and had issue (see below).

• 9) Kasuga no Yamada no Iratsume (daughter of Nukako)

571 - 585 Bidatsu Nunakura Futotamashiki no Mikoto, Thirtieth Emperor of Japan. He ruled from the Palace of Osada or Ōi in Kudara. During his reign Japan invaded Silla in order to reestablish the Confederacy of Gaya, but was unsuccessful. In his reign the conflict over the introduction of Buddhism to Japan began; the Soga family constructed a pagoda, and the Mononobe family demolished it, both with Bidatsu's permission. He married (first) Hirohime no Mikoto, Empress, sister of Emperor Keitai's fourth wife (see above), she died in 576. He married (second) Omunakimi no Otoshi, also called Kusukimi no Iratsuko, daughter of Kasuga no Nakatsu Wakugo. He married (third) Unako no Otoshi, also called Okumako no Iratsume, daughter of Ise no Okuma no Ōka no Obito, Muraji of Ise. He married (fourth) his sister, Suiko, Thirty-Third Emperor of Japan (see above & below). He died of the plague in 585 and was buried at Shinaga in Kafuchi. He had issue:

• 1) Osako no Hikohito no Mikoto, also called Maroko no Miko (son of Hirohime). He was Crown Prince to Emperor Yomei, but was prevented from succeeding to the throne by the Mononobe and Nakatomi Families. He married (first) his sister Takara no Miko (see below). He married (second) Ōmata no Miko, sister of an Aya no Miko, and presumably a member of Imperial Family, she died in 643 and was buried on Mayumi Hill. He married (third) his sister Oharita no Miko or his other sister Sakurai no Yumihari no Miko (see below) He had issue:

  • a) Jomei Okinaga Tarashihi Hironuka no Mikoto, Thirty-Fourth Emperor of Japan (son of Takara) - see below.

  • b) Nakatsu no Miko (son of Takara)

  • c) Tara no Miko (son of Takara)

  • d) Chinu no Miko (son of Ōmata). He married Kibihime and had issue, including:

    • i) Kōgyoku / Saimei Ametoyotakara Ikashihi Tarashihime Takara no Miko, Thirty-Fifth & Thirty-Seventh Emperor of Japan - see below.

    • ii) Kōtoku Ameyorozu Toyobi Karu no Miko, Thirty-Sixth Emperor of Japan - see below.

  • e) Yamashiro no Miko (son of Yumihari)

  • a) Kuwada no Miko (daughter of Ōmata)

  • b) Kasanuhi no Miko (daughter of Yumihari)

• 2) Naniwa no Miko (son of Omunakimi). He supported the Pro-Buddhist Soga Clan's war against the Anti-Buddhist Mononobe Clan in 572, which led to the appointment of Emperor Sushen.

• 3) Kasuga no Miko (son of Omunakimi). He supported the Pro-Buddhist Soga Clan's war against the Anti-Buddhist Mononobe Clan in 572, which led to the appointment of Emperor Sushen.

• 4) Ōmata no Miko (son of Omunakimi)

• 5) Shizukai no Miko, also called Kaidako (son of Suiko)

• 6) Takeda no Miko, also called Okai no Miko (son of Suiko). He supported the Pro-Buddhist Soga Clan's war against the Anti-Buddhist Mononobe Clan in 572, which led to the appointment of Emperor Sushen.

• 7) Ohari no Miko (son of Suiko)

• 1) Sakanobori no Miko (daughter of Hirohime)

• 2) Uji no Shitsukai no Miko, also called Uji no Kaitako (daughter of Hirohime or Suiko). She was to be appointed High Priestess of Amaterasu at Ise, but this was cancelled when she conspired with Yomei against Emperor Bidatsu (578).

• 3) Kuwada no Miko (daughter of Omunakimi)

• 4) Futohime no Mikoto (daughter of Unako)

• 5) Takara no Miko, also called Nukadehime no Miko and Tamura no Miko (daughter of Unako).

  • 6) Oharita no Miko (daughter of Suiko). She married her brother, Osako no Hikohito no Mikoto and had issue (see above)

• 7) Umori no Miko, also called Karu no Mori no Miko (daughter of Suiko). He married a lady of the Abe Clan.

• 8) Tame no Miko (daughter of Suiko). She married Jomei, Thirty-Fourth Emperor of Japan and had issue (see below).

• 9) Sakurai no Yumiharihime no Miko (daughter of Suiko). She married her brother, Osako no Hikohito no Mikoto and had issue (see above)

585 - 587 Yōmei Tachibana no Toyohi no Mikoto, Thirty-First Emperor of Japan. Born Ōe no Miko. He ruled from the Palace of Ikenobe no Namitsuki in Ihare. He was a Buddhist. He married (first) Soga no Ōgitashihime, also called Soga no Ishikina, daughter of the Soga no Iname no Sukune, Omi of Soga, Prime Minister of Japan, a descendant of Kogen, Eighth Emperor of Japan, through the famous Prime Minister Takeuchi. He married (second) his sister, Hashibito no Anahobehime, Empress (see above). He married (third) Katsuragi no Hiroko, daughter of Katsuragi no Iwamura, Atahe of Katsuragi. He married (fourth) Tagima no Ihime no Ko, daughter of Tagima no Kurabitohiro. He died in 587 and was buried near Lake Ihare, but later reintered in Shinaga Kofun at Kafuchi.

• 1) Tame no Miko , also called Toyora no Miko (son of Ōgitashihime)

• 2) Mimito Shōtoku, also called Kamutsumiya no Miko, Uhe no Miya, Umayado no Miko and Toyotomimi no Miko (son of Hashibito). He supported the Pro-Buddhist Soga Clan's war against the Anti-Buddhist Mononobe Clan in 572, which led to the appointment of Emperor Sushen. He was, famously Regent of Japan (592-621) for Empress Suiko. He was a Buddhist, and presided over the successful introduction of Buddhism to the country. Noted for his wisdom, he authored Japan's first code of laws and its first history, the Kujiki. He died in 621 at the Palace of Ikaruga and was buried at Shinaga Kofun in Kafuchi. He had issue, including:

  • a) Yamashiro no Ōe no Miko. He was the Soga Clan's candidate for Emperor following the death of Empress Suiko in 628, but they had a falling out. In 643, the Soga Clan attempted to kill him, he escaped, but realising the hopelessness of his situation he committed suicide. He had issue, including

    • i) Hatsuse no Miko. He gave refuge to an enemy of the Soga Clan in 628 and thereby cost his father the throne. He probably committed suicide with his father in 643.

  • b) Takamuka no Miko. He married Kōgyoku / Saimei Ametoyotakara Ikashihi Tarashihime Takara no Miko, Thirty-Fifth & Thirty-Seventh Emperor of Japan (see above). He had issue:

    • i) Aya no Miko.

  • a) Kamutsumiya no Ōiratsume. She became enraged with the Soga Clan after they used her family's serfs to build their Clan temple. She was ultimately involved in that Clan's downfall.

• 3) Kume no Miko (son of Hashibito). He was placed in charge of the invasion of Silla in 602, but became ill and died in 603 in Kyushu during the initial stages of the invasion. He was buried at Saba in Suō. 

• 4) Eguri no Miko (son of Hashibito)

• 5) Mamuta no Miko, also called Mata no Miko (son of Hashibito).

• 6) Tahema no Maroko no Miko (son of Hiroko), Lord of Tahema. He was placed in charge of the invasion of Silla in 603, following the death of his brother. He married Toneri no Miko, daughter of Emperor Kinmei (see above); she died on the way to Silla, and Maroko returned to Yamato, distraught.

• 7) Tagima no Miko (son of Ihime)

• 1) Nukadehime no Miko (daughter of Hiroko). She was High Priestess of Amaterasu at Ise (585-622). She retired to Katsuragi, where she died.

• 2) Sugashiroko no Iratsume (daughter of Ihime).

587 - 592 Shushen Hatsusebe no Wakasazaki no Mikoto, Thirty-Second Emperor of Japan, also called Hasetsukabe Anahobe no Miko, Amatsuka no Ko no Miko and Sumato no Miko. He supported the Pro-Buddhist Soga Clan's war against the Anti-Buddhist Mononobe Clan in 572, which led to his appointment as Emperor. He ruled from the Palace of Shibabaki at Kurahashi. During his reign, the Great Temple of Shitennōji at Osaka, the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan  was built. He married (first) Ōtomo no Oteko, Empress, daughter of Ōtomo no Nukade, Muraji of Ōtomo. He married (second) Soga no Kawakami no Iratsume, daughter of Soga no Umako, the very pro-Buddhist Prime Minister of Japan (572-626); she ran off with her husband's assassin, which ended tragically. He was assassinated in 592 by Yamato Aya no Kome, Atahe of Yamato Aya, at the bidding of Soga no Umako, and was buried at Kurahashi Kofun. He had issue:

• 1) Hachiko no Miko (son of Oteko).

  • 1) Nishikide no Miko (son of Oteko). 

592 - 628 Suiko Toyomike Kashikiyahime no Mikoto, Thirty-Third Emperor of Japan. Born Nukadabe no Miko in 551, she was Empress-consort from 576 - 585. After the death of her brother she became the first woman to reign as Emperor of Japan (It being a gender-neutral title in Japanese). She ruled from the Palace of Ōrida or Toyora with her nephew, Prince Shotoku acting as Regent. During her reign Hōkōji Temple was built at Asuka, Kōryū-ji at Kyoto and Gangōji at Nara, Japan invaded Silla in 600, 603, 622 and a Chinese-style system of cap-ranks was introduced. She married Bidatsu, Thirtieth Emperor of Japan and had issue (see above). She died in 628 and was buried in Ōnu Kofun, but later reintered at Shinaga in Kafuchi.