Japanese Emperors Family Tree | 1,350 Years Ago to Present

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Charts by Matt Baker:
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Script & Narration by Jack Rackam:
/ @jackrackam
Animation by Syawish Rehman:
/ @almuqaddimahyt
Intro music: "Lord of the Land" by Kevin MacLeod
Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0.
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[@samaccardi]

"The Fujiwara Clan famously married their daughters into the Imperial family, allowing them control over the Heian court for 200 years." - Linfamy

[@filipschweiner1989]

Ah yes, here is the comment I was looking for! It immediately popped into my head after hearing the mention of the Fujiwara Clan, which famously married their daughters into the Imperial family, allowing them control over the Heian court for 200 years.

[@rachel_sj]

I’m late to the video premiere but I’m happy to see that Linfamy’s famous Fujiwara Clan quote is spreading around KZbin….much like the Fujiwara influence in the Heian court!

[@iustitiamerchantxiv5872]

The Fujiwara clan reminds me of the Crane Clan from Legend of the Five Rings.

[@romeman10]

I'm totally lost

[@Noname-qk8iy]

Puppet

[@JDsVarietyChannel]

Imagine trying to remember the names of 49 kids.

[@kaelthas9970]

A teacher can do that.

[@timchiu501]

Then I would probably name them as 太郎, 二郎,三郎… (eldest, two, three…etc), as it’s a common way to name sons in such way in Japan

[@idkimjustdarkfudgelol6896]

I remember like years ago my principal remember almost everyone name in the school ( at the time probably were a few hundred kids)

[@justvictor1363]

@@timchiu501 Also in ancient China, they would call them "First" "Last Name", "Trouble" "Last Name", and so on lol

[@sadettinarslan5324]

the thing is emperor didnt even try to memorize their names. he just expelled all of them from his court.

[@just_radical]

Rather than an Asian Royal Family Trees chart it's kind of apparent from the video the Japanese royal family should be on a chart with the Fujiwara and Shogun Families to show the connections like Matt has on the European one.

[@dorderre]

Plus the Minamoto and Taira Clans, since they were actual branches of the Yamato Family.

[@just_radical]

@@dorderre well yes. I did mean them but I was loosely calling them the "Shogun families" But ideally it would be like Imperial line -> Kanmu Heishi dotted line down to kiyomori and his sons, dotted line down to the Hojo, dotted line down to nobunaga. Imperial line -> seiwa genji dotted line down to Yoritomo, dotted line to ashikaga, dotted line to Tokugawa Then Fujiwara-> separation into the konoe and kujo branches. Then like floating in the middle would be Hideyoshi, Hideyori and Hidetsugu from tbe Toyotomi

[@o-o2399]

@@just_radical i should say the connection of the tokugawa to the Minamoto and the connection of the oda to the taira *are debatable*

[@just_radical]

@@o-o2399 yup but at that many generations its more like a foot note like "allegedly 15 generations" or something. His existing chart already ignores the dubious essay of the relation of emperors Keitai and Buretsu by just skipping from Jinmu to Tenji

[@2yoyoyo1Unplugged]

@@je-freenorman7787 take your meds man, god DAMN. Who told you Asians didn’t exist? Lmao

[@imfromearth4222]

Fun fact: The legend of Emperor Jimmu matches the terrain and population ratio of the 1BC Japan

[@jagaimo3839]

Exactly. In the legend of Emperor Jimmu, there is a description of Lake Kawachi, which existed until about 2,000 years ago.

[@snomcultist189]

Dos Jesus?

[@HeindsAG]

@@snomcultist189Jesus is real, it’s not a matter of opinion like God. Jesus was an actual real person and (in MYY opinion, God is real aswell) but Jesus walked the earth like 100000000 times soo

[@Synystr7]

@@jagaimo3839 Lakes generally don't change much in 2000 years. If at all.

[@phrophetsamgames]

​@@Synystr7depends on the lake

[@holden_tld]

"his niece, who was also his wife" ah i've seen this video.

[@bishopthefool]

"so you've been playing Crusader Kings..."

[@RedRocket4000]

Early Emperors of which we don't have extra documentation on are said to normally marry sisters making them like Egyptian Pharaoh who were expected to. By extra documentation the two earliest history books have them and who married who but as these also include creation myths and tales of the gods they are not considered proof. But something missed by those attacking things like this is when writen we are aware of other sources they had to comply with. Probably thanks to oral tradition they probably right on the names in order of the first to 31st but other details uncertain and the Devine parts unprovable.

[@Tmccreight25Gaming]

Real Crusader Kings vibes

[@leo-windrider]

The period of emperors abdicating early giving way to younger emperors, in order to prevent the incumbent emperor to hold power, had a lasting impact visible today. This history was why the abdication of Akihito his majesty in 2019 being controversial - abdication in Japanese history is usually a power-grabbing move by someone. In order to prevent such association, Akihito adopted the short-form title Joko (emperor emeritus), instead of the full title Daijo Tenno (senior emperor), so that the government would let him retire.

[@anneeq008]

So why is it that those historically could do it in a TOTALLY different political context to today but the current leadership have to "stick to tradition" that those that initially implemented went against in his own timeframe? And when the Emperor in 22:00 made his daughter his heir for the first time in 900 years? They break all the tradition, but we're a hostage to "culture" and are continually forced to keeping these regressive practices 🙄

[@user-tc5px3rq9g]

No No No Not power

[@user-ih5qb5gy5h]

違いますよ

[@user-md7es4ic8d]

権力を持たれるのを防ぐためじゃなくて天皇は宗教的な指導者でもあるから宗教行事や災害時の被災地訪問が体力的に厳しいため辞任した感じやったと思います。そんな覚えてないけど

[@thomasdixon4373]

I love learning about the Japanese monarchy, it has such a long and rich history! Would it be possible to do a vid on the different Japanese clans and shoguns?

[@adangbe]

There's a channel that covers that in a series of videos. However, it would be cool that this channel will cover it and how the shoguns, warrior/cadet clans intertwined with the Royal family and his power over time.

[@mkultrabaked6190]

@@adangbe Could you drop the channel?

[@yanstein8464]

@@mkultrabaked6190 i think they talked about linfamy, this guy has an amazing series on the ancient japanese history (from neolith to around 13th century so far)

[@Goodguy507]

@@adangbe Kinda unhelpful to mention to the commenter that there is a channel which covers a topic he's interested in, but not mention its name or link

[@adangbe]

@@Goodguy507 Did you actually read my comments before you posted?

[@TheGratefulDeadhead]

A sad fact about Antoku, his grandmother drowned him at the battle of Dan-no-ura, causing all of the Taira Clan to drown themselves.

[@barrymoore4470]

This tragic episode is dramatized in the classic 1964 horror film 'Kwaidan', directed by Masaki Kobayashi, which sees the child-emperor and his court become ghosts appealing to a blind musician to sing to them their history.

[@HistoryOfRevolutions]

Morihei Ueshiba (植芝 盛平) once wrote: "The Way of the Warrior has been misunderstood. It is not a means to kill and destroy others. Those who seek to compete and better one another are making a terrible mistake. To smash, injure, or destroy is the worst thing a human being can do. The real Way of a Warrior is to prevent such slaughter - it is the Art of Peace, the power of love"

[@joatanpereira4272]

This is exactly the philosophy that destroyed Aikido's efficiency

[@oTuro]

You missed the last part of that quote... "..and to let your wife's boyfriend visit anytime he wants."

[@matthewferrantino9521]

To instigate may be terrible, but there is no effective defense without effective offense. A very wise 2 yr old once philosophized: "He started it!" His sheer grasp of law so astounded everyone they made him emperor.

[@matthewferrantino9521]

Just remember never to start it, and be unafraid to finish it.

[@dkleath8697]

TY for your Profoundly True Statement!

[@VV-xl6sr]

some interesting things i found before Tenji: 1. Early Japan has a ultimogeniture, a system of inheritance by which the youngest child succeeds to the estate, so usually the younger brother enthrone before the Oujin era(Oujin is the first emperor that institutionalized the governance). The Ainu, an indigenous people of Hokkaido (in a historical sense rather than a genetic one), have the same custom, which makes the feeling of common roots from the Jomon period(Joumon people is one of the main ancestor of modern japanese according to the latest genetics, and Ainu people is a descendants of the Jomon people). However, posterity scholars wondered about such ancient customs and adapted when writing in books and the adaption making it difficult to consider. 2. Emperor Chu-ai(The 14th Emperor) There was an oracle to send troops to the Korean Peninsula, but he gave up because it was troublesome and died with punishment against God. His wife was pregnant, but he went to war instead and won a victory. 3.Emperor Nin-toku(The 16th Emperor) He had a strong interest in civil engineering and the economy, such as conducting public works projects and creating employment, and even after he died, he built the largest tomb in Japan's history. 4.Emperor Keitai(The 26th Emperor) After Emperor Buretsu died, since there was no successor, people searched for the descendants of the emperor all over Japan and found that he, who ruled the northwestern part of Japan, was the fifth grandson of Emperor Ohjin and became the emperor. Those who think that ancient history should be bloody imagine this is a revolution.

[@zanews23]

Ultimogeniture is neat. I think it’s the system I would prefer if I were a monarch. That way, you can take a look at who your most recent child is and judge whether you think they’d make a good successor or not. If you don’t think they would, then you get the option to “re-roll the dice” and try again by having another child, thus making them the youngest, and you can just stop having children when you’re satisfied with the current youngest. With primogeniture, you’re just stuck with the first one you had…unless you kill them or something, but that’s a rather bad look for a monarch. Of course, I would really prefer if I could simply hand-pick my successor from all my children. But as long as there’s going to be a basic rule of succession in the absence of any choice, I prefer ultimogeniture.

[@VV-xl6sr]

every legends has an interesting things

[@RedRocket4000]

@@zanews23 The best trick probably on first loss of power by the Emperor was to convince the new people in charge it better to retain the emperor as figure head instead of making themselves Emperor. And thus the longest running dynasty because every time they lose power they are not killed just made figureheads as that is what everyone expects them to do. Mac Arthur certainly knew this along with US government. Thus retaining the Emperor but letting him live in his bunker for awhile. They did not charge the Emperor but he's not alone several figures who should have been charged with war crimes were not as Americans rightly needed some competent people running the new Japan as American did not want to keep the place. Enough people guilty of the major warcrimes mostly committed suicide but if not were charged and executed.

[@jaimelannister1797]

@@zanews23 the problem with ultimogeniture though is you have a higher chance of having a child inherit the throne

[@zanews23]

@@jaimelannister1797 Not a problem if you have a surviving spouse who can act as regent for a few years while the monarch grows up :)

[@kon7311]

As a japanese it was interesting to see the photos of US admiral Perry and emperor Meiji, because these specific photos weren't so frequently appearing on history books in schools.

[@haera1471]

Just out of curiosity what periods of Japanese history did you learn at high school? Or if you learned any other history outside of Japan which periods?

[@kon7311]

@@haera1471 I guess in high school we have learned through Japanese history from ancient era to a bit around the cold war. Everyone learns world history and Japanese history at least once or twice in the elementary and junior high school, I guess.

[@HansWurst1569]

If you are still interested the youtube channel “buyuuden japanese history” is doing a chronological order of japanese history as shown in textbooks

[@user-od8ck5uk7s]

@@haera1471we also learn about some foreign history as well, like parts of Roman history in junior high. But this section is not large. Foreign History that impacted Japanese history (like Opium war) are given more context though. In High school students can choose between World history and Japanese history where students can deepen their knowledge of history.

[@TH-ce1ej]

日本の歴史のことを世界に発信して下さり、嬉しい限りです。

[@jan-pi-ala-suli]

同じ

[@monoris2008]

天武からしか相手にしてないのが何ともねー、それ以前が面白いのに

[@user-ci4nq5si7h]

@@monoris2008それ以前はもう神話の世界になるのでただでさえ長い皇室の話を動画にまとめるのにはかなり苦労がかかるのでしょう

[@monoris2008]

@@user-ci4nq5si7h 継体天皇あたりからは実在視されてるし、聖徳太子も大化の改新も神話扱いしちゃうのはいくら何でもないわ。 面倒だから初めの方なしってのはリスペクトに欠けてる。

[@user-hinaccho2007]

⁠@@monoris2008継体天皇からは実際にいたけど、聖徳太子はいたかどうか不明なんだよなあ

[@DevynPlaysGames]

craziest thing about this is that they can directly trace a line back, without any massive 3rd, 4th, 5th etc cousin breaks between rulers

[@motecho6876]

Thanks for the details.

[@Nathanael_Forlorn]

This explained a lot which I wasn't able to grasp in the extra credits series about the warring states and the end of the samurai. Also it added a lot of framework for what linfamy had to say about the heian court. Thanks! Very helpful as a quick glance over Japanese history!

[@TheWatcher5292]

dispite being the biggest recorded dynasty, it ironically is the chart was probably the easiest for matt to make considering no other lines mix with it

[@Sabersquirl]

other lines do mix with it, the chart just doesn't show them.

[@Andrew-gn9qp]

@@Sabersquirl Everyone that married into the Imperial family of Japan were all part of the Yamato dynasty, the Fujiwara clan, the Minamoto clan, and the Taira clan are all branches of the Yamato dynasty, this only changed in 1959 when Empress Michiko married Emperor Akihito.

[@aesyamazeli8804]

Its easy when you marry your nieces and cousins

[@rayhuakai5415]

Emperor Kammu's mother was a member of the Baekje royal family.

[@wadepsilon01]

More precisely, he is "a descendant of the Baekje royal family who defected to Japan 200 years ago. However, Korean records do not confirm the name of the exiled prince.

[@XYZUNKNOWN]

Thanks for uploading.

[@jayt9608]

It has long been my contention that the Imperial dynasty of Japan has survived as the world's longest continuing dynasty by being so long reduced to the status of figurehead while the shogunate rose and fell as the holders of real power. Further, while there were infighting amongst the family, it seems that they were not as plagued by the intrigues that undermined other courts.

[@secretman796]

Early to a Useful charts hooray.

[@AndrewBoundy]

Should we be using famous pirates to narrate KZbin videos - I say yes.

[@Diamondman164]

*Aye

[@OfficialRepublicans]

Aye

[@krishpatel3156]

Aye

[@realreactionsrealrapping693]

Lol only right if his female boyfriend well u know his badass gf that runs everything

[@revinhatol]

Naw

[@cgt3704]

"There is some doubt about the authenticity of this picture". I see what you did there Matt-san

[@freakrx2349]

Emperor Seiwa is the ancestor of the Minamoto family who would later rule Japan as the Kamakura Shogunate and the first of many shogunates who would govern Japan until 1868.

[@theelevatedone2536]

So in a way, members of the imperial family actually ruled Japan for much of its history, just from de-royalized branches separate from the main one.

[@tertmade9769]

​@@theelevatedone2536 Thing was that many of the daimyos from their clans were descended from the Yamato Imperial family

[@defgt432]

This video is excellent !

[@mfaizsyahmi]

The Fujiwara clan famously married their daughters into the Imperial family, allowing them control into the Heian court for 200 years.

[@VieShaphiel]

It must be really confusing for people who haven't learned Japanese that the TAIRA clan, the GenPEI war and the Tale of the HEIke are all referring to the same name

[@erimochu]

Minamoto-ke(源家)＝Gen-ji(源氏) Taira-ke(平家)＝HEI-shi(平氏) Gen-PEI war(源平合戦)

[@isekai421]

ありがとうございます！

[@burgermeowster]

I've been waiting for this one. It is fascinating how long the Japanese dynasty has ruled.

[@gor2480]

He had a video about them before. Although he seems to have deleted it

[@ciello___8307]

its mainly because for most of history, the emperor had little power.

[@jagaimo3839]

@@ciello___8307 Japanese emperor is to Japan what the pope is to Europe.

[@ciello___8307]

@@jagaimo3839 yes, that is a good comparison.

[@user-hn4qr8ty6f]

Emperor of Japan = First to unify the nation and founder of Shinto religion. However, from the Kamakura Shogunate to the Edo period, the shogun was the real power. After the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate, the emperor became the head of state, imitating the Western constitutional monarchy.

[@user-vw1kb4ce3n]

こんなに昔から続いていた事を知りませんでした。

[@user-fl5mq9kp7g]

No, they are just ridiculous liars. They are like Pharaoh who said, “I am God.” 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@andreeawow3876]

Pleasee do a useful chart on psychology related themes. It would be amazing to buy. Awesome video!

[@hitotsu]

A very good presentation of the history of the Japanese imperial family. However, there should be one correction; The father of the present Emperor Naruhito,as is called Emperor Heisei in the presentation, is still alive and is called not Emperor Heisei but Emperor emeritus with the due respect.

[@GMKGoji01]

I love learning about Japan and its emperors, but Jimmu was actually very interesting.

[@sootchh4055]

I had known about Commander Perry but didn't know his first name was Matthew. So when the actor's photo appeared, I spat out my Pepsi in laughter.

[@capital3908]

日本史についてはくわしい外国人がいっぱいいてびっくり

[@ColleenJousma]

i was like, dang, UsefulCharts has been busy. And then I realized it was Jack. ;) (much love, Jack

[@shafiqulislam-zr4ng]

Very very thanks!.

[@wrexgrafix84]

It’s too bad you didn’t talk about Empress Suiko and her regent Prince Shōtoku (Shōtoku Taishi) as she technically didn’t have the title Tennō. It was during her reign that Buddhism was introduced to Japan and also the constitution (based on China’s Sui court) that her successors would use was established.

[@EinsatzgruppenB]

Incidentally, the next emperor was not the son of Empress Suiko.

[@rex6689]

The theory of the Spring and Autumn double calendar (春秋二倍暦説) is one of the hypotheses in Japanese archaeology. It is often proposed in reconstructing ancient Japanese history. This theory states that in ancient Japanese society, six months from spring to summer and six months from autumn to winter were counted as one year each, and is often used to explain the unnatural longevity of the emperors who supposedly reigned in the early years of the Yamato kingdom. In the Meiji period (1868-1912), several Japanese scholars developed this theory based on a commentary in the "Gishiwajinden" of " Sangokushi" (Records of the Three Kingdoms) that states, "The people of Yamato did not know the four seasons of the year, but only counted the spring plowing and autumn harvest as the year. Although the evidence for this theory is weak and it cannot be said to be widely supported as a theory, it is a well-known theory that is often discussed in discussions of ancient history because it has a certain degree of persuasiveness.

[@Rising_Sun06]

26:54 翻訳では「彼の死後徳仁に引き継がれ」とありますが、上皇陛下は存命です。 生前退位を行われ、現在の徳仁天皇に引き継がれました。

[@Flyingpotatos]

After his death, he will be kown emperor heisei 明仁は死後、平成天皇となるでしょうと言っているので、あくまで未来について説明しているだけです。

[@toyoashihara6242]

Comment from Japan: Why was there actually no usurpation of the throne? Even if someone had attempted usurpation, they would have lacked authority as a false emperor. Japanese people, from the elite to the general public, would not have allowed it. Japan is organically connected to the imperial family. Debates about the presence or absence of political power may misunderstand the essence of the emperor. Emperor Jimmu, the founder, has a connection with the age of the gods. Japan (Yamato), founded based on divine decree, continued to weave its history alongside the imperial lineage without disappearing thereafter. Emperor Meiji entrusted his rule to a system based on constitutional order, swearing to the gods and imperial spirits. Since the current constitution was created as an amendment to the Meiji Constitution, fundamentally, His Majesty the Emperor today also fulfills the role of symbol based on Emperor Meiji's oath of "constitutional monarchy," praying for the nation's well-being.

[@soutou.ch0256]

世界で歴史を共有してて嬉しい！

[@sirwelch9991]

I sincerely hope the House of Yamato lives another century to the minimum.

[@sinoroman]

It should end, but religion keeps them

[@Vampybattie]

@@sinoroman religion doesn't lol Shinto is not really religion they are atheist

[@l4nd3r]

@@Vampybattie It ticks all the boxes of being a religion.

[@desu8990]

@@Vampybattie that’s not at all true

[@auxiliarypowerunit]

@@sinoroman why should it

[@revelation81034]

I'm against the royal system, but I think it's amazing that the Imperial family has remained unbroken for over 2,000 years!

[@SkepticalChris]

Tokyo = Eastern Capital or in Chinese called "Dongjing" Beijing = Northern Capital Nanjing = Southern Capital

[@Amnok]

Seoul = Capital JK Traditional Chinese capital : Cháng'ān (+Kāifēng,Luòyáng) " Japanese capital : Kyōto That's why their current capital named with 'north' or 'east'

[@leezhieng]

Chang'An used to be the western capital (Xi jing) during Han dynasty.

[@CatnamedMittens]

@@jeremias-serus nah

[@COBOListhefuture]

@@jeremias-serus I agree, West-Taiwan should be annexed by Japan.

[@tokatifujiwara3364]

@@COBOListhefuture I agree, just like Germany (or shall we say West-Russia) should be annexed by Russia

[@spencersholden]

14:02 fun fact: Sutoku is said to be one of the 3 most evil yokai of Japan. Upon his death, he became a tengu and cursed the royal family for all time. Note: there are variations to this myth and sometimes Sutoku isn’t even apart of the 3 most evil yokai of Japan.

[@arx3516]

I always pictured Jimmy Tenno arriving from Hawaii to Japan on a surf board and then founding the empire.

[@lp-xl9ld]

So from 884 to 887 someone named Koko was the emperor, also known as Mikado...as a longtime fan of Gilbert and Sullivan, I find this hysterical...

[@kirbykung]

What happened to the old Japanese video? Great job btw, keep up your good work!

[@mathieuleader8601]

I find it very interesting that in the aftermath of WW2 Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni became PM of Japan

[@janwitkowsky8787]

Everytime I watch Japanese history and the period of re-opening (or rather, the end of Sakoku) I await the Matthew Perry joke, with glee.

[@harunobu3790]

I feel that you have a lot of research to make this video. I was honestly surprised by the accuracy. I remember history class in my senior and high school a long long time ago. (I never expected to hear that FUJIWARA's commentary from a foreigner. Wow !!!) I want to learn another country's history on your channel. Of curse, I subscribe to your channel. Thank you from Japan (^o^)丿

[@nguyenball3021]

16:33 "Go - Daigo like his name said". I imagine sth like this: "Go DIE ... GO. You freaking shogun"

[@jackconate9569]

謝謝！

[@kered13]

It turns out, the secret to having a long lasting dynasty is to hold no real power.

[@KinnyRiddle]

Will you consider in the near future making separate family trees for the Kamakura, Ashikaga and Tokugawa shogunates? As sometimes you can't exactly "read" the stories of the power struggle of those 3 shogunates through just the imperial family tree. Especially the succession crisis in the Ashikaga Shogunate (AKA the Onin War) that led to the Sengoku Jidai warlord period. For the Kamakura shogunate, please also include the family tree of the Hojo regents. The Kamakura shogunate is a peculiar case, where you have the imperial family whose power is usurped by the Shoguns of the Minamoto Clan, who in turn had their power quickly usurped by their in-laws, the Hojo clan. So it's a double usurpation. It was the Hojo clan who oversaw and repelled the Mongol invasions. Though the Mongol invasion was successfully repelled, the samurai clans who fought off the Mongols were disgruntled as they felt they were not being compensated and rewarded by the Hojos, which led to the Kamakura Shogunate falling.

[@eppie4102]

nice vid!

[@giuseppemassari9970]

No-one going to comment on the fact that empress Genmei was empress’ Jito’s sister and daughter-in-law?

[@gmoo84]

Prince Kusakabe was both her nephew and her 1st cousin! Yikes.

[@giuseppemassari9970]

Pretty much all the reigning empresses of that time had a similar situation: - Empress Suiko (semi-mythological, not mentioned in the video, strangely enough her personal name was Nukatabe) was married to her half-brother, Emperor Bidatsu - Empress Kogyoku/Saimei (the mother of emperors Tenji and Tenmu) was married to her (possibly-half) uncle, Emperor Jomei, who, BTW, was the son of half-siblings and was married to one of Empress Suiko's daughters, ergo, his half-aunt (Kogyoku, like Empress Koken, also reigned twice, although in her case it was because her successor died) - Empresses Jito and Genmei (who were half-sisters, but their mothers were also sisters) have already been mentioned, but a special note should be made on the fact that their father, Emperor Tenji, had six other married daughters. Of said daughters, three, Princesses Ota, Niitabe and Oe, married Emperor Tenmu himself (Ota was Empress Jito's full-blooded sister), while the other three, Princesses Minabe, Yamabe and Asuka, married Tenmu's sons, of them, two must be commented upon: Prince Takechi, Princess Minabe's husband, who was in love with his elder half-sister (who, BTW, was married to his cousin, Emperor Kobun, ergo the guy his father deposed); and Prince Otsu, Princess Yamanobe's who, you guessed it, was Princess Oka's son, meaning that he was his wife's nephew and cousin (her mother was the first cousin of Empresses Jito and Genmei's mothers). After Genmei, all other empresses, like seen on the line, were childless, but a special note, I think, shoulde be made about Empresses Meisho and Go-Sakuramachi. - Meisho is a bit badass because she had living brothers when she became Empress, but her mother was the Empress and daughter of the second TOkugawa Shogun, while they were sons of concubines, and so she became empress before them. She also was the ruler of japan when the country officially banned christianity, and after becoming empress at age 5 she then ruled until age 19, and then proceeded to live until the age of 72 - Go-Sakuramachi, on the other hand, inherited the throne from her brother at the age of 22, who abdicated in her name, and ruled until the age of 30. While during her reign there was an attempt against the power of the shogun, she truly became a bit awesome after her abdication though, because as the Retired Empress from 1771 to 1813, she was responsible for preventing a succession crisis when her nephew became deathly ill (by choosing who would be the chosen relative he would adopt as his heir, as he was the last male-line descendant of Emperor Nakamikado) and for the remainder of her life she came to be referred as "Guardian of the Young Lord", referring to the fact that she was a constant figure behind the reign of Emperor Kokaku (her nephew's successor), which was also the reign which started the slow undermining of the shogun's powers

[@renjithnair6890]

I would really love a video of who would be the Emperor of Korea today, if the Korean peninsula were was united under a consitutional monarchy. There also so many other asian countries that you could do this with such as Vietnam, China, India, Iran, so many more. I would love to see it one day!

[@sinoroman]

Some of those will be really messy

[@preyalneupane1296]

@@sinoroman Nepal's king agree too straight. 12 kings in row all are father son except one grandfather- grandson. +no connection to other royal family

[@2jaemyungE]

대한민국은 공화국입니다. 절대 그런일이 없을 것이며, 왕정이 생긴다면 전부 단두대로 보낼 것입니다.

[@hlcapa]

@@2jaemyungEㄹㅇ 지금도 이왕가놈들 꺼드럭대는거 꼴보기싫음

[@user-eu8fg4vf5r]

もちろん金正恩でしょう。

[@loganqeq5888]

Jack I Have seen Your videos where You Referencing Pokemon (For Example the Ali one were you put a picture of Blue) that is the Best

[@Cybernaut551]

It is an honor to learn Japanese history. 🇺🇸😻🇯🇵

[@rumuelnathanael8043]

Weeb

[@lindaragsdale1656]

Watched the video and thinking of all the power this country has and how they stay on top. 🙏😁 Its very informative to see the chart as well AND interesting to see how they marry into power..my dad showed me a pic of the emporer Hirohito daughter he says he married her but had it anulled because he wasn't going to live in Japan. Thank you for your time.

[@13aker0]

Fun theory: Jimmu was just one good cutthroat who ranked up and decided his family will rule the land, and started cooking legends of their birth rite. humans will still be humans, present and before..

[@uranusjr]

Just want to point out that the period when the emperor ruled from Heijoukyou is indeed also called the Heijou Period. The Nara Period is named so because the area was already called Nara at the time, also that Kanmu moved to Nagaokakyou (also at Nara) before he moved again to Heiankyou ten years later.

[@ulysseh]

In addition, the period saw half a dozen capitals, all in or around Nara; whereas the Heian period began and ended with the Heiankyo as capital.

[@selvarajan4331]

Very interesting....thanks for the detailed sharing 👍👍🙏

[@BuriedFlame]

10:18 _"He was _*_really_*_ good at Street Fighter."_

[@kaarlimakela3413]

I ♥️ that the later Empress's name was two parts of the two ancient Empresses names.

[@greatdays7050]

Very nice

[@kenyamauchi11]

I really love your videos. But I have some points to point out for this video. 1. In 8:46, it is "Montoku" (文徳) and not "Montuku" because "tu" as a syllable does not exist in Japanese. 2.a. Since you are using "ō" (to distinguish it to short "o") like in 2:56 "Jitō" (持統), in 4:56 “Shōmu” (聖武), the following are corrections: in 2:23 "Kōbun" (弘文), in 4:16 "Heijōkyō" (平城京), in 4:21 "Genshō" (元正), in 6:16 “Kōnin” (光仁), in 6:58 “Heiankyō” (平安京). 2.b. Also, there is also distinction between long "ū" and short “u”, like in 10:51 “En’yū” (円融). (Although in 17:28, there is macron on “u”, like “Goen’yū” (後円融).) 3. Fun fact: When Emperor Akihito (his personal name) passed way, he will be renamed as “Emperor Heisei” (his posthumous name). Today, in Japanese daily conversation, the emperor emeritus is referred to as 上皇様 (jōkōsama) [more properly instead of using 様 (sama), there is 陛下 (heika) like 天皇陛下 (tennōheika)] and the empress as 上皇后様 (jōkōgōsama), thus, avoiding to mention their names especially in news. I hope I do not offend anyone.

[@motecho6876]

No, you have not offended anyone. At least I'm not. Japanese phonetics are obviously unique being very different from the Chinese phonetics, and also standard Japanese phonetics being much different from Indo Aryan / Semitic ones.

[@chenplotkin378]

Thank you for the very interesting video! Can you please make a video about the Ryukyuan royal family (Sho dynasty)? Even though Okinawa is part of Japan since 1879, it has a very interesting and unique history.

[@yo2trader539]

Okinawa has been under Satsuma control since 1609.

[@chenplotkin378]

@@yo2trader539 Satsuma indeed invaded Ryukyu in 1609 but the Sho dynasty was abolished in 1879. Japan during the Tokugawa era traded through the Ryukyu kingdom with China due to the fact China refused to trade with Japan. Because the Ryukyu kingdom was a tribute state of China, Satsuma couldn't annex it and had to keep Ryukyu "independent". Ryukyu, after Satsuma's invasion, became a Vasal state of Satsuma. Therefore the Sho dynasty ruled Ryukyu as a vasal state until 1879 and were abolished only after Japan annexed the Ryukyu islands (present day Okinawa).

[@yo2trader539]

@@chenplotkin378 Actually, Chinese ships were allowed to dock in Nagasaki along with the Dutch during the Edo period. So there was trade throughout.

[@user-mh6fp2bx1g]

外国人でも、藤原氏のこととか室町幕府のこと、さらには京都の名の由来とか色々細かいところを理解していることを知り、とても喜んでいます

[@user-bh7md6ns1d]

アニメとか現代日本文化が好きな外国人は日本メディアで言われるよりも圧倒的に少数だし，更に歴史的，政治的な日本に関心があるのは更に極一部だけどね

[@KinnyRiddle]

BTW, concerning the name for Kyoto. I believe if you had to be strictly technical, the city's name had always been Heian-Kyo (literally Peace Capital). As the city had been the imperial capital for so long, the Japanese gradually started just calling the city "Kyo" (literally just "The Capital"), as heard in many period dramas and movies. Overtime, Kyo became Kyoto, which literally just means "Capital Metropolis", and this name stuck.

[@felixbergbauer6098]

if possible (don't know whether they have descendants or not), could you make a video on who would be the legitimate heir to the Japanese thrown if the Southern court had never been out of power?

[@o-o2399]

that wouldn't be that hard honestly because i believe the last male line descendants of the southern court emperors died in the early 1400s so if it was to stay the way it happened in real life the northern court descendants would become the legitimate heirs either way.

[@UsefulCharts]

Yeah, they all died out.

[@wareforcoin5780]

I don't know how _actually_ useful this chart is in my life, but I like it.

[@Monosekist]

When a random person stops you on the street, demanding to know who was Emperor of Japan in whatever year, this chart becomes useful.

[@wareforcoin5780]

@@Monosekist A reasonable thing most people experience.

[@wildreamer2508]

This is one heck of an anime

[@musAKulture]

just so people can get things in order. tokyo is in relation to kyoto, which literally just means "capital". the chinese eastern capital is luoyang, in relation to the western capital, chang'an

[@stephencomee1254]

Actually, Kyoto means 'Capital CIty' (which it was for a LONG time) and Tokyo means 'Eastern Capital'---it was the new name given to Edo when Emperor Meiji moved the capital from Kyoto to Edo (Tokyo).

[@user-zu8jn1fj4w]

「東京都」 「東」京都」

[@katerinajovanova4579]

had no idea famous comedian matthew perry had such a role in japanese economy

[@MHruskamusic]

I appreciate the effort put into this but I feel that this video would have been better from a separate chart since I kept getting distracted by the other royal families instead. I found myself waiting for the lines to connect. All in all, a great video as usual despite that hiccup in my eyes.

[@littledemon3788]

I need information about the Shogun or daimyo family tree of japan, hope you can show it

[@590730115]

It's stated in Japanese historical records, two of Emperor Kameyama children oldest imperial prince & princess, missing,not known of their names.They most probably sailed abroad with General Hojo Toki Suke to east coast malay peninsula,mix marriage occured with already settlers,the one with keris,the keris with 1st.Singhasari king original inscripts,the keris I own today by hereditary. Occured most likely at late 13th.century or very early 14th.century AD.

[@gunmarcyan]

The emperor is a good tool for governing the nation, It is a consistent historical fact in Japan that the person who can make the emperor into a puppet is actually the most powerful person in Japan. The emperor has dignity but almost no power.

[@user-io4iq2te9g]

そう言われてますが、結局天皇をどの将軍も殺せず、朝敵になる事を恐れた

[@SatoruXAarth]

Thanks

[@Dartkitten]

Hi i know your sick right now but when you feel better can you make a chart about just the fujiwara like you did the habsburgs?

[@thenightcentaur]

One day, you should do a chart on SE Asian monarchies, such as Sriwijaya (whose capital city is disputed between in Indonesia, Thailand, or maybe in another country) or Majapahit, and the link between all kingdoms with each other (including smaller kingdoms in the area).

[@adangbe]

Japanese Royals - Very deep, complex subject. Had to click!

[@xF1GHT3R97]

Sss

[@rumuelnathanael8043]

Not really

[@stijnvroegop1876]

6:44 Just look at the graph, a lot of 'family time' happend 😂😂

[@Artur_M.]

23:32 "There is some doubt about the authenticity of this picture." You don't say? 😉

[@etherospike3936]

You shoud've start with Amaterasu !

[@ryanruan4215]

oh,god,It's just a myth

[@HappyGM-R]

@@ryanruan4215 Just like Jesus

[@Taiyo_Jinja]

Well Omikami is more mythological than historical. But you believe what you wish about her divine majesty ;)

[@lincolnhaldorsen5649]

Yes!

[@MaiElizabeth]

The ninjutsu 'Amaterasu' by Sasuke!!! 😂

[@AnkitGupta-ov8un]

Imagine being able to figure out who was your ancestor from 2 milleniums earlier

[@tt-ew7rx]

If you want your dynasty to last long, it helps to abdicate from actual power.

[@mfaizsyahmi]

or be so entrenched in the fabric of society that nobody dared to usurp the throne. don't kid yourself, the emperors of japan had little power over most of its history, with real power being in regents, cloistered retired emperors, and shoguns. that's how you keep the lineage.

[@PicklePickle7]

I think this is one of the longest family tree videos thus far

[@user-mk8dv7oo1d]

But it's not complete tree ;P

[@drswag0076]

it was during Hirohito's reign that Nintendo began making video games. you might know these names, Mario, Donkey Kong, Link and all the other great games. fun fact about Legend of Zelda is that it was inspired by Shigeru Miyamoto's childhood experiences of exploring the outdoors which led to the event's of Link's quest to obtain the Triforce and defeat the demon king, Ganon/Ganondorf.

[@frzferdinand72]

12:59 🎶 ~Hire a samurai~ 🎶

[@marksgraybeal]

'i Once met one.' said of last leader of norhtern island nation. Artist carved bears from wood in Yellowstone old Faithfull store. ..1986 summer. he liked my guitar music. wished to go visit.

[@MutheiM_Marz]

Boshin war is basically an in house war. Shimazu clan is a descendant of Emperor Seiwa and Minamoto Yoritomo. Tokugawa also came from the same line of Emperor Seiwa. Shimazu clan lead the Tosama to overthrow Tokugawa shogunate and restore Emperor Meiji power. There are 2 things that Ieyasu feared when he dying, the face of Sanada Yukimura and Shimazu clan. Shimazu clan swears to destroy Tokugawa shogun and they did.

[@nicbahtin4774]

this hole tree is pretty much the true puppet master meme

[@doggo7078]

So, in Rome the emperors were people with the military power, while in Japan the emperors were puppets and the de facto power was in hands of the military power

[@greendro6410]

This was very interesting alright

[@user-fx5fj5dj5l]

Great summary! Japanese mythology is interesting and perfect for life work.

[@livtube6145]

I love the fact that the picture you have of Matthew Perry is of the actor and not the one you are talking about.

[@RealLeFishe]

"And the emperor still gets to dress like an emperor" - Bill Wurtz

[@augustulus1277]

"But the shogun is actually in control" -Also Bill Wurtz

[@sudhendugupte7562]

Thanks .