Emperor Kōkaku (光格天皇) (September 23, 1771 - December 11, 1840) was the 119th imperial ruler of Japan. He reigned from December 16, 1779 until May 7, 1817. His name was originally Morohito (師仁), but later was changed to Tomohito (兼仁). His title was Sachi-no-miya (祐宮).

Genealogy

He was the sixth son of Prince Kan'in-no-miya Sukehito (閑院宮典仁), grandson of Emperor Higashiyama. On the day before his enthronement, the dying Go-Momozono, his second cousin, formally adopted him as his son.

• Empress (chūgū): Imperial Princess Kinko? (欣子内親王), daughter of Emperor Go-Momozono
  • Third son: Imperial Prince Atsuhito (?) (温仁親王)
  • Seventh son: Imperial Prince ?hito (悦仁親王)
• Lady-in-waiting: Hamuro Yoriko (葉室頼子)
  • First son: Imperial Prince Ayahito (?) (礼仁親王)
  • First daughter: Nōnu-no-miya (?) (能布宮)
  • Second son: Shun-no-miya (?) (俊宮)
• Lady-in-waiting: ???? (勧修寺女青子)
  • Fourth son: Imperial Prince Ayahito (恵仁親王) (Emperor Ninkō)
  • Second daughter: Taminoru-no-miya (?) (多祉宮)
  • Fourth daughter: ??-no-miya (成宮)
• Lady-in-waiting: Takano? Shōko? (高野正子)
  • Sixth son: ??-no-miya (猗宮)
• Lady-in-waiting: Anekōji Satoko? (姉小路聡子)
  • Fifth daughter: Rin-no-miya (倫宮)
  • Eighth son: ??-no-miya (嘉糯宮)
• Handmaid?: Higashibōjō Kazuko? (東坊城和子)
  • Fifth son: Imperial Prince Katsura-no-miya Morihito (桂宮盛仁親王)
  • Third daughter: ???-no-miya (霊妙心院宮)
• Handmaid?: Tominokōji? Akiko?? (富小路明子)
  • Sixth daughter: ??-no-miya (治宮)
  • Seventh daughter: Imperial Princess Shinko? (蓁子内親王)
  • Eighth daughter: Hime-no-miya? (媛宮)
  • Ninth daughter: Katsu-no-miya (勝宮)

Life

It was originally expected that he would go into the priesthood at the Shuugoin Temple from the Kan'in house. However, in 1779, Go-Momozono hurriedly adopted him on his deathbed, even though he was not a shinnō.

Proposing a relief program to the Bakufu at the time of the Great Temmei Famine (1782-1788), receiving information about negotiations with Russia over disputes in the north, and so on, the Imperial Court regained authority. The Bakufu gave his father the honorary title of Retired Emperor (Taijōtennō, 太上天皇)

He was very talented, and had a zeal of scholarship, reviving festivals at the Iwashimizu and Kamono shrines, and working hard at reviving ceremonies surrounding the Imperial Court. In 1817, he abdicated in favor of his son, Emperor Ninkō. Because his reign followed an era in which most emperors died young or were forced to abdicate, Kōkaku was the first Japanese monarch to remain on the throne past the age of 40 since the abdication of Emperor Ōgimachi in 1586.

Eras of his Reign

• An'ei
• Temmei
• Kansei
• Kyōwa
• Bunka