Emperor Yōmei was the 31st Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Yōmei's reign spanned the years from 585 until his death in 587.
He was called Tachibana no Toyohi no Mikoto in the Kojiki. He was also referred to as Prince Ōe and Prince Ikebe after the palace in which he lived. He acceded to the throne after the death of his half brother, Emperor Bidatsu. The influential courtiers from Emperor Bidatsu's reign, Mononobe no Moriya, also known as Mononobe Yuge no Moriya no Muraji or as Ō-muraji Yuge no Moriya, and Soga no Umako no Sukune, both remained in their positions during the reign of Emperor Yōmei. Umako was the son of Soga Iname no Sukune, and therefore, he would have been one of Emperor Yōmei's cousins.
585: In the 14th year of Bidatsu-tennō's reign, he died; and the succession was received by his younger brother. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Yōmei is said to have acceded to the throne.
Yōmei's contemporary title would not have been tennō, as most historians believe this title was not introduced until the reigns of Emperor Tenmu and Empress Jitō. Rather, it was presumably Sumeramikoto or Amenoshita Shiroshimesu Ōkimi, meaning "the great king who rules all under heaven". Alternatively, Yōmei might have been referred to as or the "Great King of Yamato". Emperor Yōmei's reign lasted only two years; and he died at the age of 46 or 47.
587, in the 4th month: Yōmei died and his body was placed in a coffin, but not buried.
587, in the 5th month: Armed conflict over the succession erupted. Shintoist, anti-Buddhist forces of Yuge no Moriya no Muraji battled unsuccessfully against the pro-Buddhist forces of Prince Shōtoku and Soga Umako no Sukune. The opposition to Buddhism was entirely destroyed.
587, in the 7th month: The body of former Emperor Yōmei was buried.
Because of the brevity of his reign, Emperor Yōmei was not responsible for any radical changes in policy, but his support of Buddhism created tension with supporters of Shintoism who opposed its introduction. According to Nihon Shoki, Emperor Yomei believed both in Buddhism and Shintoism. Moriya, the most influential supporter of Shintoism, conspired with Emperor Yōmei's brother, Prince Anahobe, and after Emperor Yomei's death they made an abortive attempt to seize the throne. Although Emperor Yōmei is reported to have died from illness, this incident and the brevity of his reign have led some to speculate that he was actually assassinated by Moriya and Prince Anahobe. The actual site of Yōmei's grave is known. The Emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorialShinto shrine at Osaka. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Yōmei's mausoleum. It is formally named Kōchi no Shinaga no hara no misasagi.
Genealogy
Emperor Yōmei was the fourth son of Emperor Kinmei and his mother was Soga no Kitashihime, a daughter of Soga no Iname. In 586, Emperor Yōmei took his half-sister Princess Anahobe no Hashihito, whose mother was another of Iname's daughters, Soga no Oane Hime, as his consort. Princess Hashihito no Anahobe bore him four sons. Empress: Princess Anahobe no Hashihito, Emperor Kinmei's daughter
