# Emperor Itoku

Emperor Itoku (懿徳天皇, Itoku-tennō), also known as Ōyamatohikosukitomo no Mikoto (大倭日子鉏友命) was the fourth legendary Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Very little is known about this emperor due to a lack of material available for further verification and study. Itoku is known as a "legendary emperor" among historians as his actual existence is disputed. Nothing exists in the Kojiki other than his name and genealogy. Itoku's reign allegedly began in 510 BC, he had one wife and two sons. After his death in 477 BC, his first son supposedly became the next emperor.

## Legendary narrative

In the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, only Itoku's name and genealogy were recorded. While the Japanese have traditionally accepted this sovereign's historical existence, no extant contemporary records have been discovered that confirm a view that this historical figure actually reigned. Itoku is believed to be the son of Emperor Annei, and his mother is believed to have been Nunasokonakatsu-hime. The latter of the two is allegedly the granddaughter of Kotoshironushi. The Kojiki records that Itoku was the second or third son of Emperor Annei, but the surviving documents provide no basis for speculating why the elder brother or brothers were passed over for the throne. He is traditionally believed to have ruled from the palace of Migario-no-miya (軽之境岡宮, and in the Nihon Shoki as 軽曲峡宮) at Karu in what would come to be known as Yamato Province. At some point he married a woman named Amonotoyototsu-hime [ja], and fathered two sons with her. Itoku's reign lasted from 510 BC until his death in 477 BC, his son then took the throne and would later be referred to as Emperor Kōshō.

## Known information

The existence of at least the first nine Emperors is disputed due to insufficient material available for further verification and study. Itoku is thus regarded by historians as a "legendary Emperor", and is considered to have been the third of eight Emperors without specific legends associated with them. The name Itoku-tennō was assigned to him posthumously by later generations, and literally means "benign virtue". His name might have been regularized centuries after the lifetime ascribed to Itoku, possibly during the time in which legends about the origins of the imperial dynasty were compiled as the chronicles known today as the Kojiki. While the actual site of Itoku's grave is not known, the Emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) in Kashihara. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Itoku's mausoleum. It is formally named Unebi-yama no hitsujisaru Mihodo no i no e no misasagi. The first emperor that historians state might have actually existed is Emperor Sujin, the 10th emperor of Japan. Outside of the Kojiki, the reign of Emperor Kinmei (c. 509 – 571 AD) is the first for which contemporary historiography is able to assign verifiable dates. The conventionally accepted names and dates of the early Emperors were not confirmed as "traditional" though, until the reign of Emperor Kanmu between 737 and 806 AD.

## Family tree

vteGenealogy of early Japanese emperors and empresses :
| | | | | | | Nunakawahime | Nunakawahime | Nunakawahime | Nunakawahime | Nunakawahime | Nunakawahime | | | | | Ōkuninushi$^{:278}$ (Ōnamuchi) | Ōkuninushi$^{:278}$ (Ōnamuchi) | Ōkuninushi$^{:278}$ (Ōnamuchi) | Ōkuninushi$^{:278}$ (Ōnamuchi) | Ōkuninushi$^{:278}$ (Ōnamuchi) | Ōkuninushi$^{:278}$ (Ōnamuchi) | | | | | Kamotaketsunumi no Mikoto | Kamotaketsunumi no Mikoto | Kamotaketsunumi no Mikoto | Kamotaketsunumi no Mikoto | Kamotaketsunumi no Mikoto | Kamotaketsunumi no Mikoto | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Kotoshironushi | Kotoshironushi | Kotoshironushi | Kotoshironushi | Kotoshironushi | Kotoshironushi | | | | | | | | | Tamakushi-hime | Tamakushi-hime | Tamakushi-hime | Tamakushi-hime | Tamakushi-hime | Tamakushi-hime | Takeminakata | Takeminakata | Takeminakata | Takeminakata | Takeminakata | Takeminakata | | | Susa Clan | Susa Clan | Susa Clan | Susa Clan | Susa Clan | Susa Clan |
| | | | | $^1$ Jimmu | $^1$ Jimmu | $^1$ Jimmu | $^1$ Jimmu | $^1$ Jimmu | $^1$ Jimmu | | | $^1$Himetataraisuzu-hime | $^1$Himetataraisuzu-hime | $^1$Himetataraisuzu-hime | $^1$Himetataraisuzu-hime | $^1$Himetataraisuzu-hime | $^1$Himetataraisuzu-hime | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Kamo no Okimi | Kamo no Okimi | Kamo no Okimi | Kamo no Okimi | Kamo no Okimi | Kamo no Okimi | | | Mirahime [ja] | Mirahime [ja] | Mirahime [ja] | Mirahime [ja] | Mirahime [ja] | Mirahime [ja] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $^2$ Suizei | $^2$ Suizei | $^2$ Suizei | $^2$ Suizei | $^2$ Suizei | $^2$ Suizei | | | $^2$Isuzuyori-hime | $^2$Isuzuyori-hime | $^2$Isuzuyori-hime | $^2$Isuzuyori-hime | $^2$Isuzuyori-hime | $^2$Isuzuyori-hime | | | Kamuyaimimi | Kamuyaimimi | Kamuyaimimi | Kamuyaimimi | Kamuyaimimi | Kamuyaimimi | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | $^3$ Annei | $^3$ Annei | $^3$ Annei | $^3$ Annei | $^3$ Annei | $^3$ Annei | | | | | | | | | 〔Ō clan〕 | 〔Ō clan〕 | 〔Ō clan〕 | 〔Ō clan〕 | 〔Ō clan〕 | 〔Ō clan〕 | | | 〔Aso clan〕 | 〔Aso clan〕 | 〔Aso clan〕 | 〔Aso clan〕 | 〔Aso clan〕 | 〔Aso clan〕 | | | | | $^3$ Nunasokonakatsu-hime | $^3$ Nunasokonakatsu-hime | $^3$ Nunasokonakatsu-hime | $^3$ Nunasokonakatsu-hime | $^3$ Nunasokonakatsu-hime | $^3$ Nunasokonakatsu-hime | | | Kamo clan | Kamo clan | Kamo clan | Kamo clan | Kamo clan | Kamo clan | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Takakuraji | Takakuraji | Takakuraji | Takakuraji | Takakuraji | Takakuraji | | | | | | | | | | | | | Miwa clan | Miwa clan | Miwa clan | Miwa clan | Miwa clan | Miwa clan | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | $^4$ Itoku | $^4$ Itoku | $^4$ Itoku | $^4$ Itoku | $^4$ Itoku | $^4$ Itoku | | | | | | | | | Ikisomimi no mikoto [ja] | Ikisomimi no mikoto [ja] | Ikisomimi no mikoto [ja] | Ikisomimi no mikoto [ja] | Ikisomimi no mikoto [ja] | Ikisomimi no mikoto [ja] | | | Ame no Murakumo [ja] | Ame no Murakumo [ja] | Ame no Murakumo [ja] | Ame no Murakumo [ja] | Ame no Murakumo [ja] | Ame no Murakumo [ja] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $^4$Amatoyotsuhime no Mikoto [ja] | $^4$Amatoyotsuhime no Mikoto [ja] | $^4$Amatoyotsuhime no Mikoto [ja] | $^4$Amatoyotsuhime no Mikoto [ja] | $^4$Amatoyotsuhime no Mikoto [ja] | $^4$Amatoyotsuhime no Mikoto [ja] | | | Amaoshio no mikoto [ja] | Amaoshio no mikoto [ja] | Amaoshio no mikoto [ja] | Amaoshio no mikoto [ja] | Amaoshio no mikoto [ja] | Amaoshio no mikoto [ja] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | $^5$ Emperor Kōshō | $^5$ Emperor Kōshō | $^5$ Emperor Kōshō | $^5$ Emperor Kōshō | $^5$ Emperor Kōshō | $^5$ Emperor Kōshō | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $^5$Yosotarashi-hime | $^5$Yosotarashi-hime | $^5$Yosotarashi-hime | $^5$Yosotarashi-hime | $^5$Yosotarashi-hime | $^5$Yosotarashi-hime | | | | | | | | | Okitsu Yoso [ja] | Okitsu Yoso [ja] | Okitsu Yoso [ja] | Okitsu Yoso [ja] | Okitsu Yoso [ja] | Okitsu Yoso [ja] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | $^6$ Emperor Kōan | $^6$ Emperor Kōan | $^6$ Emperor Kōan | $^6$ Emperor Kōan | $^6$ Emperor Kōan | $^6$ Emperor Kōan | | | | | | | | | Prince Ameoshitarashi [ja] | Prince Ameoshitarashi [ja] | Prince Ameoshitarashi [ja] | Prince Ameoshitarashi [ja] | Prince Ameoshitarashi [ja] | Prince Ameoshitarashi [ja] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Owari clan | Owari clan | Owari clan | Owari clan | Owari clan | Owari clan | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $^6$Oshihime [ja] | $^6$Oshihime [ja] | $^6$Oshihime [ja] | $^6$Oshihime [ja] | $^6$Oshihime [ja] | $^6$Oshihime [ja] | | | 〔Wani clan〕 | 〔Wani clan〕 | 〔Wani clan〕 | 〔Wani clan〕 | 〔Wani clan〕 | 〔Wani clan〕 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | $^7$ Emperor Kōrei | $^7$ Emperor Kōrei | $^7$ Emperor Kōrei | $^7$ Emperor Kōrei | $^7$ Emperor Kōrei | $^7$ Emperor Kōrei | | | | | | | | | $^7$Kuwashi-hime | $^7$Kuwashi-hime | $^7$Kuwashi-hime | $^7$Kuwashi-hime | $^7$Kuwashi-hime | $^7$Kuwashi-hime | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | $^8$ Emperor Kōgen | $^8$ Emperor Kōgen | $^8$ Emperor Kōgen | $^8$ Emperor Kōgen | $^8$ Emperor Kōgen | $^8$ Emperor Kōgen | | | $^8$Utsushikome [ja] | $^8$Utsushikome [ja] | $^8$Utsushikome [ja] | $^8$Utsushikome [ja] | $^8$Utsushikome [ja] | $^8$Utsushikome [ja] | Princess Yamato Totohi Momoso | Princess Yamato Totohi Momoso | Princess Yamato Totohi Momoso | Princess Yamato Totohi Momoso | Princess Yamato Totohi Momoso | Princess Yamato Totohi Momoso | | | Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto | Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto | Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto | Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto | Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto | Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto | | | Wakatakehiko [ja] | Wakatakehiko [ja] | Wakatakehiko [ja] | Wakatakehiko [ja] | Wakatakehiko [ja] | Wakatakehiko [ja] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | $^9$Ikagashikome | $^9$Ikagashikome | $^9$Ikagashikome | $^9$Ikagashikome | $^9$Ikagashikome | $^9$Ikagashikome | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Hikofutsuoshi no Makoto no Mikoto [ja] | Hikofutsuoshi no Makoto no Mikoto [ja] | Hikofutsuoshi no Makoto no Mikoto [ja] | Hikofutsuoshi no Makoto no Mikoto [ja] | Hikofutsuoshi no Makoto no Mikoto [ja] | Hikofutsuoshi no Makoto no Mikoto [ja] | | | $^9$ Emperor Kaika | $^9$ Emperor Kaika | $^9$ Emperor Kaika | $^9$ Emperor Kaika | $^9$ Emperor Kaika | $^9$ Emperor Kaika | | | | | | | | | Prince Ohiko [ja] | Prince Ohiko [ja] | Prince Ohiko [ja] | Prince Ohiko [ja] | Prince Ohiko [ja] | Prince Ohiko [ja] | | | | | | | | | | | 〔Kibi clan〕 | 〔Kibi clan〕 | 〔Kibi clan〕 | 〔Kibi clan〕 | 〔Kibi clan〕 | 〔Kibi clan〕 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Yanushi Otake Ogokoro no Mikoto [ja] | Yanushi Otake Ogokoro no Mikoto [ja] | Yanushi Otake Ogokoro no Mikoto [ja] | Yanushi Otake Ogokoro no Mikoto [ja] | Yanushi Otake Ogokoro no Mikoto [ja] | Yanushi Otake Ogokoro no Mikoto [ja] | | | $^{10}$ Emperor Sujin | $^{10}$ Emperor Sujin | $^{10}$ Emperor Sujin | $^{10}$ Emperor Sujin | $^{10}$ Emperor Sujin | $^{10}$ Emperor Sujin | | | | | | | | | $^{10}$Mimaki-hime | $^{10}$Mimaki-hime | $^{10}$Mimaki-hime | $^{10}$Mimaki-hime | $^{10}$Mimaki-hime | $^{10}$Mimaki-hime | | | 〔Abe clan〕 | 〔Abe clan〕 | 〔Abe clan〕 | 〔Abe clan〕 | 〔Abe clan〕 | 〔Abe clan〕 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Takenouchi no Sukune | Takenouchi no Sukune | Takenouchi no Sukune | Takenouchi no Sukune | Takenouchi no Sukune | Takenouchi no Sukune | | | $^{11}$ Emperor Suinin | $^{11}$ Emperor Suinin | $^{11}$ Emperor Suinin | $^{11}$ Emperor Suinin | $^{11}$ Emperor Suinin | $^{11}$ Emperor Suinin | | | $^{11}$Saho-hime | $^{11}$Saho-hime | $^{11}$Saho-hime | $^{11}$Saho-hime | $^{11}$Saho-hime | $^{11}$Saho-hime | | | | | $^{12}$Hibasu-hime [ja] | $^{12}$Hibasu-hime [ja] | $^{12}$Hibasu-hime [ja] | $^{12}$Hibasu-hime [ja] | $^{12}$Hibasu-hime [ja] | $^{12}$Hibasu-hime [ja] | | | | | | | Yasaka Iribiko | Yasaka Iribiko | Yasaka Iribiko | Yasaka Iribiko | Yasaka Iribiko | Yasaka Iribiko | | | | | | | | | Toyosukiiri-hime [ja] | Toyosukiiri-hime [ja] | Toyosukiiri-hime [ja] | Toyosukiiri-hime [ja] | Toyosukiiri-hime [ja] | Toyosukiiri-hime [ja] | Nunaki-iri-hime [ja] | Nunaki-iri-hime [ja] | Nunaki-iri-hime [ja] | Nunaki-iri-hime [ja] | Nunaki-iri-hime [ja] | Nunaki-iri-hime [ja] |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Yamatohime-no-mikoto | Yamatohime-no-mikoto | Yamatohime-no-mikoto | Yamatohime-no-mikoto | Yamatohime-no-mikoto | Yamatohime-no-mikoto | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Yamatohime-no-mikoto | Yamatohime-no-mikoto | Yamatohime-no-mikoto | Yamatohime-no-mikoto | Yamatohime-no-mikoto | Yamatohime-no-mikoto | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 〔Katsuragi clan〕 | 〔Katsuragi clan〕 | 〔Katsuragi clan〕 | 〔Katsuragi clan〕 | 〔Katsuragi clan〕 | 〔Katsuragi clan〕 | $^{13}$Harima no Inabi no Ōiratsume [ja] | $^{13}$Harima no Inabi no Ōiratsume [ja] | $^{13}$Harima no Inabi no Ōiratsume [ja] | $^{13}$Harima no Inabi no Ōiratsume [ja] | $^{13}$Harima no Inabi no Ōiratsume [ja] | $^{13}$Harima no Inabi no Ōiratsume [ja] | | | | | $^{12}$ Emperor Keiko | $^{12}$ Emperor Keiko | $^{12}$ Emperor Keiko | $^{12}$ Emperor Keiko | $^{12}$ Emperor Keiko | $^{12}$ Emperor Keiko | | | | | | | | | | | | | $^{14}$Yasakairi-hime [ja] | $^{14}$Yasakairi-hime [ja] | $^{14}$Yasakairi-hime [ja] | $^{14}$Yasakairi-hime [ja] | $^{14}$Yasakairi-hime [ja] | $^{14}$Yasakairi-hime [ja] | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Otoyo no mikoto [ja] | Otoyo no mikoto [ja] | Otoyo no mikoto [ja] | Otoyo no mikoto [ja] | Otoyo no mikoto [ja] | Otoyo no mikoto [ja] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Futaji Irihime [ja] | Futaji Irihime [ja] | Futaji Irihime [ja] | Futaji Irihime [ja] | Futaji Irihime [ja] | Futaji Irihime [ja] | | | Yamato Takeru | Yamato Takeru | Yamato Takeru | Yamato Takeru | Yamato Takeru | Yamato Takeru | | | Miyazu-hime | Miyazu-hime | Miyazu-hime | Miyazu-hime | Miyazu-hime | Miyazu-hime | | | Takeinadane [ja] | Takeinadane [ja] | Takeinadane [ja] | Takeinadane [ja] | Takeinadane [ja] | Takeinadane [ja] | Ioki Iribiko | Ioki Iribiko | Ioki Iribiko | Ioki Iribiko | Ioki Iribiko | Ioki Iribiko | $^{13}$Emperor Seimu | $^{13}$Emperor Seimu | $^{13}$Emperor Seimu | $^{13}$Emperor Seimu | $^{13}$Emperor Seimu | $^{13}$Emperor Seimu | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $^{14}$Emperor Chūai | $^{14}$Emperor Chūai | $^{14}$Emperor Chūai | $^{14}$Emperor Chūai | $^{14}$Emperor Chūai | $^{14}$Emperor Chūai | | | $^{15}$Empress Jingū | $^{15}$Empress Jingū | $^{15}$Empress Jingū | $^{15}$Empress Jingū | $^{15}$Empress Jingū | $^{15}$Empress Jingū | | | | | | | | | | | Homuda Mawaka | Homuda Mawaka | Homuda Mawaka | Homuda Mawaka | Homuda Mawaka | Homuda Mawaka | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $^{15}$Emperor Ōjin | $^{15}$Emperor Ōjin | $^{15}$Emperor Ōjin | $^{15}$Emperor Ōjin | $^{15}$Emperor Ōjin | $^{15}$Emperor Ōjin | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $^{16}$Nakatsuhime | $^{16}$Nakatsuhime | $^{16}$Nakatsuhime | $^{16}$Nakatsuhime | $^{16}$Nakatsuhime | $^{16}$Nakatsuhime | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | $^{16}$Emperor Nintoku | $^{16}$Emperor Nintoku | $^{16}$Emperor Nintoku | $^{16}$Emperor Nintoku | $^{16}$Emperor Nintoku | $^{16}$Emperor Nintoku | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Consort and children

* Empress: Amonotoyototsu-hime [ja] (天豊津媛命), Prince Okimi's daughter (Emperor Annei's son)
** Prince Mimatsuhikokaeshine (観松彦香殖稲尊), later Emperor Kōshō
** Prince Takeshihikokushitomose (武石彦奇友背命)