Sesshō and Kampaku


In Japan, the was a regent who was named to act on behalf of either a child emperor before his coming of age, or an empress regnant. The was theoretically a sort of chief advisor for the Emperor, but was in practice the title of both first secretary and regent who assisted an adult emperor. The duties of the Sesshō and Kampaku were to convey to the Emperor the policies formulated by the and other senior officials of the, and to convey the Emperor's decisions to them. As regents of the Emperor, the Sesshō and Kampaku sometimes made decisions on behalf of the Emperor, but their positions were not defined by law and they had no specific political authority. The two titles were collectively known as, and the families that exclusively held the titles were called .
During the Heian period, from the middle of the 9th century, the Fujiwara clan began to marry off their daughters to the Emperor and assume the positions of Sesshō and Kampaku, thereby excluding other clans from the political centre and increasing their political power. From the 10th century, the Fujiwara clan monopolized the Sesshō and Kampaku, and at the end of the 10th century, around the time of Fujiwara no Michinaga and Fujiwara no Yorimichi, the power of the Fujiwara clan reached its zenith. In the mid-11th century, Emperor Go-Sanjo ran his own government, and the next Emperor, Shirakawa, abdicated to become Cloistered Emperor, beginning the cloistered rule. From then on, the cloistered rule of Cloistered Emperor took root, and the de facto Fujiwara regime, which used the positions of Sesshō and Kampaku, was over, and the Sesshō and Kampaku lost their real political power and became mere names.
During the Kamakura period, when the warrior class seized power and the Kamakura shogunate was established, the Fujiwara were divided into Five regent houses: the Konoe, Kujō, Nijō, Ichijo, and Takatsukasa families. From then on, these five families served as Sesshō and Kampaku on a rotating basis.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi was the first person in history to become a Kampaku who was not a noble by birth; his nephew Toyotomi Hidetsugu also became a Kampaku. Hideyoshi obtained this title, the highest position in the aristocracy, by being adopted into the Konoe family and formally becoming an aristocrat. A retired was called, which came to commonly refer to Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
Both and were styled as or in historical pronunciation; translated as " Highness", as were Imperial princes and princesses.

History

In earlier times, only members of the Imperial Family could be appointed. The reports that Emperor Ōjin was assisted by his mother, Empress Jingū, but it is doubtful if it is a historical fact. The first historical was Prince Shōtoku, who assisted Empress Suiko.
The Fujiwara clan was the primary holder of the and titles. More precisely, those titles were held by the Fujiwara Hokke and its descendants, to which Fujiwara no Yoshifusa belonged.
In 858, Fujiwara no Yoshifusa became. He was the first not to be a member of the Imperial house. In 887, Fujiwara no Mototsune, the nephew and adopted son of Yoshifusa, was appointed to the newly created office of.
In the 12th century, there were five families among the descendants of Yorimichi called : the Konoe family, Kujō family, Ichijō family, Takatsukasa family and Nijō family. Both the Konoe and Kujō families were descendants of Fujiwara no Yorimichi, through Fujiwara no Tadamichi. The other three families were derived from either the Konoe or Kujō families. Until the Meiji Restoration of 1868, those five families held those title exclusively with the two exceptions of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and his nephew Toyotomi Hidetsugu.
The offices and titles of and were abolished by the declaration of the Imperial Restoration in 1868 during the Meiji Restoration in order to reorganize the government structure. The office and title of was stipulated under the former Imperial Household Law in 1889 and also under the new Imperial Household Law in 1948. Under these laws, the officeholder of is restricted to a member of the Japanese Imperial family. Crown Prince Hirohito, before becoming Emperor Shōwa, was from 1921 to 1926 for the mentally disabled Emperor Taishō. He was called.
The area of Taikō in Nagoya is named after the title, although it refers to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The main street is Taikō-dōri, which is served by the subway Taiko-dori Station.

List

The following is a list of and in the order of succession. The list is not exhaustive:
PortraitNameRegent titleTenureMonarch
Prince Shōtoku
Sesshō593–622Empress Suiko
Prince Naka no Ōe
Sesshō655–661Empress Saimei
Prince Kusakabe
Sesshō681–686Emperor Tenmu
Fujiwara no Yoshifusa
Sesshō858–872Emperor Seiwa
Fujiwara no Mototsune
Sesshō872–880Emperor Seiwa
Fujiwara no Mototsune
Sesshō872–880Emperor Yōzei
Fujiwara no Mototsune
Kampaku887–890Emperor Yōzei
Fujiwara no Mototsune
Kampaku887–890Emperor Kōkō
Fujiwara no Mototsune
Kampaku887–890Emperor Uda
Fujiwara no Tokihira
Sesshō909Emperor Daigo
Fujiwara no Tadahira
Sesshō930–941Emperor Suzaku
Fujiwara no Tadahira
Kampaku941–949Emperor Suzaku
Fujiwara no Tadahira
Kampaku941–949Emperor Murakami
Fujiwara no Saneyori
Kampaku967–969Emperor Reizei
Fujiwara no Saneyori
Sesshō969–970Emperor En'yū
Fujiwara no Koretada
Sesshō970–972Emperor En'yū
Fujiwara no Kanemichi
Kampaku972–977Emperor En'yū
Fujiwara no Yoritada
Kampaku977–986Emperor En'yū
Fujiwara no Yoritada
Kampaku977–986Emperor Kazan
Fujiwara no Kaneie
Sesshō986–990Emperor Ichijō
Fujiwara no Kaneie
Kampaku990Emperor Ichijō
Fujiwara no Michitaka
Kampaku990Emperor Ichijō
Fujiwara no Michitaka
Sesshō990–993Emperor Ichijō
Fujiwara no Michitaka
Kampaku993–995Emperor Ichijō
Fujiwara no Michikane
Kampaku995Emperor Ichijō
Fujiwara no Michinaga
Sesshō1016–1017Emperor Go-Ichijō
Fujiwara no Yorimichi
Sesshō1017–1019Emperor Go-Ichijō
Fujiwara no Yorimichi
Kampaku1020–1068Emperor Go-Ichijō
Fujiwara no Yorimichi
Kampaku1020–1068Emperor Go-Suzaku
Fujiwara no Yorimichi
Kampaku1020–1068Emperor Go-Reizei
Fujiwara no Norimichi
Kampaku1068–1075Emperor Go-Sanjō
Fujiwara no Norimichi
Kampaku1068–1075Emperor Shirakawa
Fujiwara no Morozane
Kampaku1075–1086Emperor Shirakawa
Fujiwara no Morozane
Sesshō1086–1090Emperor Horikawa
Fujiwara no Morozane
Kampaku1090–1094Emperor Horikawa
Fujiwara no Moromichi
Kampaku1094–1099Emperor Horikawa
Fujiwara no Tadazane
Kampaku1105–1107Emperor Horikawa
Fujiwara no Tadazane
Sesshō1107–1113Emperor Toba
Fujiwara no Tadazane
Kampaku1113–1121Emperor Toba
Fujiwara no Tadamichi
Kampaku1121–1123Emperor Toba
Fujiwara no Tadamichi
Sesshō1123–1129Emperor Sutoku
Fujiwara no Tadamichi
Kampaku1129–1141Emperor Sutoku
Fujiwara no Tadamichi
Sesshō1141–1150Emperor Konoe
Fujiwara no Tadamichi
Kampaku1150–1158Emperor Konoe
Fujiwara no Tadamichi
Kampaku1150–1158Emperor Go-Shirakawa
Konoe Motozane
Kampaku1158–1165Emperor Nijō
Konoe Motozane
Sesshō1165–1166Emperor Rokujō
Fujiwara no Motofusa
Sesshō1166–1172Emperor Rokujō
Fujiwara no Motofusa
Sesshō1166–1172Emperor Takakura
Fujiwara no Motofusa
Kampaku1172–1179Emperor Takakura
Konoe Motomichi
Kampaku1179–1180Emperor Takakura
Konoe Motomichi
Sesshō1180–1183Emperor Antoku
Matsudono Moroie
Sesshō1183–1184Emperor Antoku
Konoe Motomichi
Sesshō1184–1186Emperor Antoku
Konoe Motomichi
Sesshō1184–1186Emperor Go-Toba
Kujō Kanezane
Sesshō1186–1191Emperor Go-Toba
Kujō Kanezane
Kampaku1191–1196Emperor Go-Toba
Konoe Motomichi
Kampaku1196–1198Emperor Tsuchimikado
Konoe Motomichi
Sesshō1198–1202Emperor Tsuchimikado
Kujō Yoshitsune
Sesshō1202–1206Emperor Tsuchimikado
Konoe Iezane
Sesshō1206Emperor Tsuchimikado
Konoe Iezane
Kampaku1206–1221Emperor Tsuchimikado
Konoe Iezane
Kampaku1206–1221Emperor Juntoku
Kujō Michiie
Sesshō1221Emperor Chūkyō
Konoe Iezane
Sesshō1221–1223Emperor Go-Horikawa
Konoe Iezane
Kampaku1223–1228Emperor Go-Horikawa
Kujō Michiie
Kampaku1228–1231Emperor Go-Horikawa
Kujō Norizane
Sesshō1231–1235Emperor Go-Horikawa
Kujō Norizane
Sesshō1231–1235Emperor Shijō
Kujō Michiie
Sesshō1235–1237Emperor Shijō
Konoe Kanetsune
Sesshō1237–1242Emperor Shijō
Konoe Kanetsune
Kampaku1242Emperor Go-Saga
Nijō Yoshizane
Kampaku1242–1246Emperor Go-Saga
Ichijō Sanetsune
Kampaku1246Emperor Go-Saga
Ichijō Sanetsune
Sesshō1246–1247Emperor Go-Fukakusa
Konoe Kanetsune
Sesshō1247–1252Emperor Go-Fukakusa
Takatsukasa Kanehira
Sesshō1252–1254Emperor Go-Fukakusa
Takatsukasa Kanehira
Kampaku1254–1261Emperor Go-Fukakusa
Takatsukasa Kanehira
Kampaku1254–1261Emperor Kameyama
Nijō Yoshizane
Kampaku1261–1265Emperor Kameyama
Ichijō Sanetsune
Kampaku1265–1267Emperor Kameyama
Konoe Motohira
Kampaku1267–1268Emperor Kameyama
Takatsukasa Mototada
Kampaku1268–1273Emperor Kameyama
Kujō Tadaie
Kampaku1273–1274Emperor Kameyama
Kujō Tadaie
Sesshō1274Emperor Go-Uda
Ichijō Ietsune
Sesshō1274–1275Emperor Go-Uda
Takatsukasa Kanehira
Sesshō1275–1278Emperor Go-Uda
Takatsukasa Kanehira
Kampaku1278–1287Emperor Go-Uda
Nijō Morotada
Kampaku1287–1289Emperor Go-Uda
Nijō Morotada
Kampaku1287–1289Emperor Fushimi
Konoe Iemoto
Kampaku1289–1291Emperor Fushimi
Kujō Tadanori
Kampaku1291–1293Emperor Fushimi
Konoe Iemoto
Kampaku1293–1296Emperor Fushimi
Takatsukasa Kanetada
Kampaku1296–1298Emperor Fushimi
Takatsukasa Kanetada
Sesshō1298Emperor Go-Fushimi
Nijō Kanemoto
Sesshō1298–1300Emperor Go-Fushimi
Nijō Kanemoto
Kampaku1300–1305Emperor Go-Fushimi
Nijō Kanemoto
Kampaku1300–1305Emperor Go-Nijō
Kujō Moronori
Kampaku1305–1308Emperor Go-Nijō
Kujō Moronori
Sesshō1308Emperor Hanazono
Takatsukasa Fuyuhira
Sesshō1308–1311Emperor Hanazono
Takatsukasa Fuyuhira
Kampaku1311–1313Emperor Hanazono
Konoe Iehira
Kampaku1313–1315Emperor Hanazono
Takatsukasa Fuyuhira
Kampaku1315–1316Emperor Hanazono
Nijō Michihira
Kampaku1316–1318Emperor Hanazono
Nijō Michihira
Kampaku1316–1318Emperor Go-Daigo
Ichijō Uchitsune
Kampaku1318–1323Emperor Go-Daigo
Kujō Fusazane
Kampaku1323–1324Emperor Go-Daigo
Takatsukasa Fuyuhira
Kampaku1324–1327Emperor Go-Daigo
Nijō Michihira
Kampaku1327–1330Emperor Go-Daigo
Konoe Tsunetada
Kampaku1330Emperor Go-Daigo
Takatsukasa Fuyunori
Kampaku1330–1333Emperor Go-Daigo
Takatsukasa Fuyunori
Kampaku1330–1333Emperor Kōgon
Konoe Tsunetada
Kampaku1336–1337Emperor Kōmyō
Konoe Mototsugu
Kampaku1337–1338Emperor Kōmyō
Ichijō Tsunemichi
Kampaku1338–1342Emperor Kōmyō
Kujō Michinori
Kampaku1342Emperor Kōmyō
Takatsukasa Morohira
Kampaku1342–1346Emperor Kōmyō
Nijō Yoshimoto
Kampaku1346–1358Emperor Kōmyō
Nijō Yoshimoto
Kampaku1346–1358Emperor Sukō
Nijō Yoshimoto
Kampaku1346–1358Emperor Go-Kōgon
Kujō Tsunenori
Kampaku1358–1361Emperor Go-Kōgon
Konoe Michitsugu
Kampaku1361–1363Emperor Go-Kōgon
Nijō Yoshimoto
Kampaku1363–1367Emperor Go-Kōgon
Takatsukasa Fuyumichi
Kampaku1367–1369Emperor Go-Kōgon
Nijō Moroyoshi
Kampaku1369–1375Emperor Go-Kōgon
Nijō Moroyoshi
Kampaku1369–1375Emperor Go-En'yū
Kujō Tadamoto
Kampaku1375–1379Emperor Go-En'yū
Nijō Morotsugu
Kampaku1379–1382Emperor Go-En'yū
Nijō Yoshimoto
Sesshō1382–1388Emperor Go-Komatsu
Konoe Kanetsugu
Sesshō1388Emperor Go-Komatsu
Nijō Yoshimoto
Sesshō1388Emperor Go-Komatsu
Nijō Yoshimoto
Kampaku1388Emperor Go-Komatsu
Nijō Morotsugu
Kampaku1388–1394Emperor Go-Komatsu
Ichijō Tsunetsugu
Kampaku1394–1398Emperor Go-Komatsu
Nijō Morotsugu
Kampaku1398–1399Emperor Go-Komatsu
Ichijō Tsunetsugu
Kampaku1399–1408Emperor Go-Komatsu
Konoe Tadatsugu
Kampaku1408–1409Emperor Go-Komatsu
Nijō Mitsumoto
Kampaku1409–1410Emperor Go-Komatsu
Ichijō Tsunetsugu
Kampaku1410–1418Emperor Go-Komatsu
Ichijō Tsunetsugu
Kampaku1410–1418Emperor Shōkō
Kujō Mitsuie
Kampaku1418–1424Emperor Shōkō
Nijō Mochimoto
Kampaku1424–1428Emperor Shōkō
Nijō Mochimoto
Sesshō1428–1432Emperor Go-Hanazono
Ichijō Kaneyoshi
Sesshō1432Emperor Go-Hanazono
Nijō Mochimoto
Sesshō1432–1433Emperor Go-Hanazono
Nijō Mochimoto
Kampaku1433–1445Emperor Go-Hanazono
Konoe Fusatsugu
Kampaku1445–1447Emperor Go-Hanazono
Ichijō Kaneyoshi
Kampaku1447–1453Emperor Go-Hanazono
Takatsukasa Fusahira
Kampaku1454–1455Emperor Go-Hanazono
Nijō Mochimichi
Kampaku1455–1458Emperor Go-Hanazono
Ichijō Norifusa
Kampaku1458–1463Emperor Go-Hanazono
Nijō Mochimichi
Kampaku1463–1467Emperor Go-Hanazono
Nijō Mochimichi
Kampaku1463–1467Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado
Ichijō Kaneyoshi
Kampaku1467–1470Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado
Nijō Masatsugu
Kampaku1470–1476Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado
Kujō Masamoto
Kampaku1476–1479Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado
Konoe Masaie
Kampaku1479–1483Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado
Takatsukasa Masahira
Kampaku1483–1487Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado
Kujō Masatada
Kampaku1487–1488Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado
Ichijō Fuyuyoshi
Kampaku1488–1493Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado
Konoe Hisamichi
Kampaku1493–1497Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado
Nijō Hisamoto
Kampaku1497Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado
Ichijō Fuyuyoshi
Kampaku1497–1501Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado
Ichijō Fuyuyoshi
Kampaku1497–1501Emperor Go-Kashiwabara
Kujō Hisatsune
Kampaku1501–1513Emperor Go-Kashiwabara
Konoe Hisamichi
Kampaku1513–1514Emperor Go-Kashiwabara
Takatsukasa Kanesuke
Kampaku1514–1518Emperor Go-Kashiwabara
Nijō Korefusa
Kampaku1518–1525Emperor Go-Kashiwabara
Konoe Taneie
Kampaku1525–1533Emperor Go-Kashiwabara
Konoe Taneie
Kampaku1525–1533Emperor Go-Nara
Kujō Tanemichi
Kampaku1533–1534Emperor Go-Nara
Nijō Korefusa
Kampaku1534–1536Emperor Go-Nara
Konoe Taneie
Kampaku1536–1542Emperor Go-Nara
Takatsukasa Tadafuyu
Kampaku1542–1545Emperor Go-Nara
Ichijō Fusamichi
Kampaku1545–1548Emperor Go-Nara
Nijō Haruyoshi
Kampaku1548–1553Emperor Go-Nara
Ichijō Kanefuyu
Kampaku1553–1554Emperor Go-Nara
Konoe Sakihisa
Kampaku1554–1568Emperor Go-Nara
Konoe Sakihisa
Kampaku1554–1568Emperor Ōgimachi
Nijō Haruyoshi
Kampaku1568–1578Emperor Ōgimachi
Kujō Kanetaka
Kampaku1578–1581Emperor Ōgimachi
Ichijō Uchimoto
Kampaku1581–1585Emperor Ōgimachi
Nijō Akizane
Kampaku1585Emperor Ōgimachi
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Kampaku1585–1591Emperor Ōgimachi
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Kampaku1585–1591Emperor Go-Yōzei
Toyotomi Hidetsugu
Kampaku1591–1595Emperor Go-Yōzei
Kujō Kanetaka
Kampaku1600–1604Emperor Go-Yōzei
Konoe Nobutada
Kampaku1605–1606Emperor Go-Yōzei
Takatsukasa Nobufusa
Kampaku1606–1608Emperor Go-Yōzei
Kujō Yukiie
Kampaku1608–1612Emperor Go-Yōzei
Kujō Yukiie
Kampaku1608–1612Emperor Go-Mizunoo
Takatsukasa Nobuhisa
Kampaku1612–1615Emperor Go-Mizunoo
Nijō Akizane
Kampaku1615–1619Emperor Go-Mizunoo
Kujō Yukiie
Kampaku1619–1623Emperor Go-Mizunoo
Konoe Nobuhiro
Kampaku1623–1629Emperor Go-Mizunoo
Ichijō Akiyoshi
Kampaku1629Emperor Go-Mizunoo
Ichijō Akiyoshi
Sesshō1629–1635Empress Meishō
Nijō Yasumichi
Sesshō1635–1647Empress Meishō
Nijō Yasumichi
Sesshō1635–1647Emperor Go-Kōmyō
Kujō Michifusa
Sesshō1647Emperor Go-Kōmyō
Ichijō Akiyoshi
Sesshō1647Emperor Go-Kōmyō
Ichijō Akiyoshi
Kampaku1647–1651Emperor Go-Kōmyō
Konoe Hisatsugu
Kampaku1651–1653Emperor Go-Kōmyō
Nijō Mitsuhira
Kampaku1653–1663Emperor Go-Kōmyō
Nijō Mitsuhira
Kampaku1653–1663Emperor Go-Sai
Nijō Mitsuhira
Sesshō1663–1664Emperor Reigen
Takatsukasa Fusasuke
Sesshō1664–1668Emperor Reigen
Takatsukasa Fusasuke
Kampaku1668–1682Emperor Reigen
Ichijō Kaneteru
Kampaku1682–1687Emperor Reigen
Ichijō Kaneteru
Sesshō1687–1689Emperor Higashiyama
Ichijō Kaneteru
Kampaku1689–1690Emperor Higashiyama
Konoe Motohiro
Kampaku1690–1703Emperor Higashiyama
Takatsukasa Kanehiro
Kampaku1703–1707Emperor Higashiyama
Konoe Iehiro
Kampaku1707–1709Emperor Higashiyama
Konoe Iehiro
Sesshō1709–1712Emperor Nakamikado
Kujō Sukezane
Sesshō1712–1716Emperor Nakamikado
Kujō Sukezane
Kampaku1716–1722Emperor Nakamikado
Nijō Tsunahira
Kampaku1722–1726Emperor Nakamikado
Konoe Iehisa
Kampaku1726–1736Emperor Nakamikado
Konoe Iehisa
Kampaku1726–1736Emperor Sakuramachi
Nijō Yoshitada
Kampaku1736–1737Emperor Sakuramachi
Ichijō Kaneka
Kampaku1737–1746Emperor Sakuramachi
Ichijō Michika
Kampaku1746–1747Emperor Sakuramachi
Ichijō Michika
Sesshō1747–1755Emperor Momozono
Ichijō Michika
Kampaku1755–1757Emperor Momozono
Konoe Uchisaki
Kampaku1757–1762Emperor Momozono
Konoe Uchisaki
Sesshō1762–1772Empress Go-Sakuramachi
Konoe Uchisaki
Sesshō1762–1772Emperor Go-Momozono
Konoe Uchisaki
Kampaku1772–1778Emperor Go-Momozono
Kujō Naozane
Kampaku1778–1779Emperor Go-Momozono
Kujō Naozane
Sesshō1779–1785Emperor Kōkaku
Kujō Naozane
Kampaku1785–1787Emperor Kōkaku
Takatsukasa Sukehira
Kampaku1787–1791Emperor Kōkaku
Ichijō Teruyoshi
Kampaku1791–1795Emperor Kōkaku
Takatsukasa Masahiro
Kampaku1795–1814Emperor Kōkaku
Ichijō Tadayoshi
Kampaku1814–1823Emperor Kōkaku
Ichijō Tadayoshi
Kampaku1814–1823Emperor Ninkō
Takatsukasa Masamichi
Kampaku1823–1856Emperor Ninkō
Takatsukasa Masamichi
Kampaku1823–1856Emperor Kōmei
Kujō Hisatada
Kampaku1856–1862Emperor Kōmei
Konoe Tadahiro
Kampaku1862–1863Emperor Kōmei
Takatsukasa Sukehiro
Kampaku1863Emperor Kōmei
Nijō Nariyuki
Kampaku1863–1866Emperor Kōmei
Nijō Nariyuki
Sesshō1867–1868Emperor Meiji
Crown Prince Hirohito
Sesshō1921–1926Emperor Taishō