Empress Go-Sakuramachi (後桜町天皇) (September 23, 1740 – December 24, 1813) was the 117th imperial ruler of Japan. She was the last empress out of ten in the history of Japan, ruling from September 15, 1762 to January 9, 1771 before abdicating in favor of her nephew, Go-Momozono. Her personal name was Toshiko (智子) and her original title was Isa-no-miya (以茶宮), later Ake-no-miya (緋宮)

If the current Crown Prince Naruhito adopts a male heir, or the government of Japan does not permit his daughter, Princess Aiko, to eventually assume the throne, Go-Sakuramachi will be the last Empress of Japan.

Genealogy

She was the second daughter of Emperor Sakuramachi. Her older sister died young, and her younger brother was Emperor Momozono.

Life

In 1762, she ascended the throne by a special decree by Emperor Momozono, as that Emperor's son, Prince Hidehito (later Emperor Go-Momozono) was only 5 years old.

By her enthronement, she became the first Empress in her own right in 119 years, since Meishō

In the ninth year of her reign, 1770, she abdicated in favor of Emperor Go-Momozono. However, that reign did not last long, ending in 1779 when Go-Momozono died without leaving a son. The now-retired Go-Sakuramachi consulted with the senior courtiers and Imperial Guards, planning accept Prince Fushimi-no-miya as an adopted son, but they eventually decided on Prince Morohito (師仁), sixth son of Prince Kan'in-no-miya Sukehito (閑院宮典仁), who was supported by the Emperor's chief advisor (Kampaku). Prince Morohito became Emperor Kōkaku.

After the throne had switched to this branch of the imperial line, Go-Sakuramachi, in her role as Retired Emperor, came to be referred to as the Guardian of the Young Lord (Emperor Kōkaku). In this role, in 1789, during a scandal involving an honorary title, she admonished the Emperor.

In 1813, at the age of 73, she passed away. She left behind a book called Kinchū-nenjū no koto (禁中年中の事, roughly "Matters of Years in the Imperial Court"), consisting of poems, imperial letters, imperial chronicles, and so forth, excelling in literary merit.

Eras of her reign

• Hōreki
• Meiwa