12 Facts About Emperor Go-Toba

Emperor Go-Toba was the 82nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.

Emperor Go-Toba's reign spanned the years from 1183 through 1198.

Emperor Go-Toba was the fourth son of Emperor Takakura, and thus grandson of Emperor Go-Shirakawa.

Emperor Go-Toba's mother was Bomon Shokushi, daughter of Bomon Nobutaka of the Fujiwara clan.

Originally this was prompted by complaints of clergy in Kyoto who were concerned about the rise in popularity of the new sect, but Emperor Go-Toba personally ordered the decree after two of his ladies in waiting converted to the sect without his knowledge.

Emperor Go-Toba persuaded samurai gathering in Kamakura that if they would not support the Shogunate, then the contemporary status and privileges that samurai had attained would be lost, and the court and kuge would regain their power and influence.

Besides his enthusiasm for archery, equestrianism, and swordsmanship, Go-Toba was a great lover of swords themselves, and over the course of several years summoned the most talented swordsmiths in the land to his court where they were given honorary titles and invited to teach the emperor their craft.

Emperor Go-Toba became a respectable swordsmith himself, and it was his patronage and encouragement of this art that gave birth to Japan's 'Golden Age' of bladesmithing.

Emperor Go-Toba ordered its creation and took part in the working group as an editor.

Emperor Go-Toba revived the Office of Waka and made it the headquarters of this edition.

Emperor Go-Toba's edition is today called Oki-bon Shin Kokinshu.

The years of Emperor Go-Toba's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengo.