Emperor Ankō安康天皇

Emperor Anaho (穴穗天皇) was the second son of Emperor Oasazuma Wakugo no Sukune. His mother was called Oshisaka no Ōnakatsuhime no Mikoto, the daughter of Prince Wakanuke Futamata.

In the forty-second year, in spring, the first month, the emperor died. In winter, the tenth month, the funeral rites were finished.

At this time the crown prince did cruel and violent things and was wanton with women. The people of the land spoke against him, and the ministers did not follow him but all attached themselves to Prince Anaho.

Then the crown prince made ready soldiers in secret to fall upon Prince Anaho. Prince Anaho too raised soldiers and would have fought. Therefore the notched arrows of Anaho and the notched arrows of Karu had their beginning at this time.

Then the crown prince knew that the ministers did not follow him and that the people had turned away, so he came out and hid in the house of Mononobe no Ōmae no Sukune.

Prince Anaho heard of it and surrounded the house. Ōmae no Sukune came out of the gate and met him. Prince Anaho sang.

"ohomahe omahesukunega kanatokage kakutachiyorane ametachiyamemu (於朋摩弊。烏摩弊輸區泥餓。訶那杜加礙。訶區多智豫羅泥。阿梅多知夜梅牟)"

Ōmae no Sukune answered with a song.

"miyahitono ayuhinogosuzu ochinikito miyahitodoyomu satobitomoyume (瀰椰比等能。阿由臂能古輸孺。於智珥岐等。瀰椰比等等豫牟。佐杜弭等茂由梅)"

— the two songs are written for their sound, and they are not rendered by meaning.

Then he said to the prince. "I pray you, do not harm the crown prince. Your servant will take counsel."

Because of this the crown prince took his own life in the house of Ōmae no Sukune.

In the twelfth month, the first day being a gisa day, on the imo day, Prince Anaho ascended the throne. He raised the empress in honour and called her empress dowager. Then he moved the capital to Isonokami. This is called the palace of Anaho.

At this time Prince Ōhatsuse wished to take the daughters of Emperor Mizuhawake to wife.

Then the princesses all answered. "The younger brother of the lord is always fierce and hard, and his anger rises of a sudden. One whom he sees in the morning is killed in the evening, and one whom he sees in the evening is killed in the morning. Now our faces are not comely, and our natures are clumsy besides. If our bearing and our words should not match the king's will by so much as a hair, how should we live near him? For this reason we cannot take up the command."

In the end they fled and would not listen.

In the first year, in spring, the second month, on the mujin day that was the first of the month, the emperor wished to get Princess Hatabi, the sister of Prince Ōkusaka, in marriage for Prince Ōhatsuse. So he sent Ne no Omi, the ancestor of the Sakamoto no Omi, to ask Prince Ōkusaka. "We pray to have Princess Hatabi and to match her with Prince Ōhatsuse."

Then Prince Ōkusaka answered.

"Of late I have suffered a heavy illness and do not get well. It is as when goods are loaded on a ship and the tide is awaited. Yet to die is the lot of man. What is there to grudge? Only because my sister Princess Hatabi would be left alone can I not die easily.

Now your majesty does not hold her plainness against her and would fill the number of the palace with her. This is a very great kindness. How should I refuse the command and put it to shame? Therefore I would offer up my red heart."

He took up a treasure of his own, called the Oshiki no Tamakazura (押木珠縵), gave it to Ne no Omi, the servant who had been sent, and offered it up. "I pray that, though the thing be light and mean, you will take it and make it the pledge of our faith."

Then Ne no Omi saw the Oshiki no Tamakazura, and he was taken with its beauty and would steal it and make it his own treasure. So he lied and reported to the emperor.

"Prince Ōkusaka did not take up the command. He said to your servant, 'Though he be of one kin with me, how should he make a wife of my sister?'"

Then he kept the circlet for himself and did not offer it up.

At this the emperor believed the slandering words of Ne no Omi, and in great anger he raised soldiers, surrounded the house of Prince Ōkusaka, and killed him.

At this time Hikaka of the Naniwa no Kishi and his sons served Prince Ōkusaka together. Together they grieved that their lord had died without guilt. Then the father held the king's head and the two sons each took hold of the king's feet, and they cried out. "Our lord has died without guilt. How sad it is. We three, father and sons, served him in life. If we do not follow him in death, we are no true servants."

Then they cut their own throats and died beside their lord's body. The soldiers all shed tears.

Then Nakashihime, the wife of Prince Ōkusaka, was brought into the palace and made a consort. And in the end Princess Hatabi was called and matched with Prince Ōhatsuse.

In this year the year sign was gabo.

In the second year, in spring, the first month, the first day being a gyesa day, on the giyu day, Nakashihime no Mikoto was set up as empress, and she was greatly loved.

In the beginning Nakashihime no Mikoto had borne Mayuwa no Ōkimi to Prince Ōkusaka. Through his mother he was spared punishment, and he was always reared within the palace.

In the third year, in autumn, the eighth month, the first day being a gapsin day, on the imjin day, the emperor was killed by Mayuwa no Ōkimi. Three years after, he was buried in the tomb of Fushimi at Sugawara.