Emperor Keitai

"Keitai" is also the Japanese term for mobile/cell phones.

Emperor Keitai (継体天皇) was the 26th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. He is believed to have ruled the country during the early 6th century.

Records on his life

His record is confusing as there are differences of his life according to Kojiki and Nihonshoki.

Kojiki puts his birth year at 485 and to have died on April 9, 527. It writes that he was called Ōdo no Mikoto(袁本杼命).

On the other hand, Nihonshoki put his birth year at 450 and to have died on February 7, 531 or 534. It writes that he was called Ōdo no Kimi(男大迹王) and Hikofuto no Mikoto(彦太尊).

Life and genealogy

He is said to have been not the son of the immediate previous emperor, but the great-great-great-grandson of Emperor Ōjin. According to documents he ascended to the throne when Emperor Emperor Buretsu died childless and did not appoint a sucesssor; some historians doubt this geneology and suppose a change of dynasties.

According to Kojiki and Nihonshoki, his father was Hikonushi no Kimi and his mother was Furihime. He was born in Echizen province. When Buretsu died, Ōtomo no Kanamura recommended Keitai at his age of 58 as a possible imperial heir. Keitai declared his ascension in Kusuba, the northern part of Kawachi Province (present day Shijonawate, Osaka) and married a younger sister of Buretsu, Princess Tashiraga. It is supposed that his succession was not welcomed by everyone, and it took about 20 years for Keitai to enter Yamato province, a neighbor of Kawachi and the political center of Japan at the time.

In his old age, 527 or 528, a rebellion led by Iwai occurred in Tsukushi province, Kyushu. He went to Kyushu and put down the rebellion.

Among his sons, Ankan, Senka and Kimmei ascended to the throne.