Sesshō and Kampaku


In Japan, was a title given to 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 the title of both first secretary and regent who assists an adult Emperor. During a certain period in the Heian period, they were the effective rulers of Japan. There was little, if any, effective difference between the two titles, and several individuals merely changed titles as child Emperors grew to adulthood, or adult Emperors retired or died and were replaced by child Emperors. The two titles were collectively known as, and the families that exclusively held the titles were called Sekkan-ke or Sekkan family. After the Heian period, shogunates took over the power.
Both sesshō and kanpaku were styled as denka, as were Imperial princes and princesses.
A retired kanpaku is called Taikō, which came to commonly refer to Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

History

In earlier times, only members of the Imperial Family could be appointed sesshō. The Kojiki reported that Emperor Ōjin was assisted by his mother, Empress Jingū, but it is doubtful if it is a historical fact. The first historical sesshō was Prince Shōtoku who assisted Empress Suiko.
The Fujiwara clan was the primary holder of the kampaku and sesshō titles. More precisely, those titles were held by the Fujiwara Hokke and its descendants, to which Fujiwara no Yoshifusa belonged.
In 866, Fujiwara no Yoshifusa became sesshō. He was the first not to belong to the Imperial house. In 876, Fujiwara no Mototsune, the nephew and adopted son of Yoshifusa, was appointed to the newly created office of kampaku.
After Fujiwara no Michinaga and Fujiwara no Yorimichi, their descendants held those two offices exclusively. In the 12th century, there were five families among the descendants of Yorimichi called Sekke: Konoe family, Kujō family, Ichijō family, Takatsukasa family and Nijō family. Both the Konoe and Kujō family were descendants of 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 sesshō and kampaku 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 sesshō 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 sesshō is restricted to a member of the Imperial family. Crown Prince Hirohito, before becoming Emperor Shōwa, was sesshō from 1921 to 1926 for the mentally disabled Emperor Taishō. He was called.

List

The following is a list of sesshō and kampaku in the order of succession. The list is not exhaustive:
SesshōKanpakuReignMonarch
Prince Shōtoku593–622Empress Suiko
Fujiwara no Yoshifusa858–872Emperor Seiwa
Fujiwara no Mototsune872–880Emperor Seiwa, Emperor Yōzei
Fujiwara no Mototsune880–890Emperor Yōzei, Emperor Kōkō, Emperor Uda
Fujiwara no Tokihira909Emperor Daigo
Fujiwara no Tadahira930–941Emperor Suzaku
Fujiwara no Tadahira941–949Emperor Suzaku, Emperor Murakami
Fujiwara no Saneyori967–69Emperor Reizei
Fujiwara no Saneyori969–970Emperor En'yū
Fujiwara no Koretada970–972Emperor En'yū
Fujiwara no Kanemichi972–977Emperor En'yū
Fujiwara no Yoritada977–986Emperor En'yū, Emperor Kazan
Fujiwara no Kaneie986–990Emperor Ichijō
Fujiwara no KaneieMay 5, 990 – May 8, 990Emperor Ichijō
Fujiwara no MichitakaMay 8, 990 – May 26, 990Emperor Ichijō
Fujiwara no Michitaka990–993Emperor Ichijō
Fujiwara no Michitaka993–995Emperor Ichijō
Fujiwara no MichikaneApril 28, 995 – May 8, 995Emperor Ichijō
Fujiwara no Michinaga1016–1017Emperor Go-Ichijō
Fujiwara no Yorimichi1017–1019Emperor Go-Ichijō
Fujiwara no Yorimichi1020–1068Emperor Go-Ichijō, Emperor Go-Suzaku, Emperor Go-Reizei
Fujiwara no Norimichi1068–1075Emperor Go-Sanjō, Emperor Shirakawa
Fujiwara no Morozane1075–1086Emperor Shirakawa
Fujiwara no Morozane1086–1090Emperor Horikawa
Fujiwara no Morozane1090–1094Emperor Horikawa
Fujiwara no Moromichi1094–1099Emperor Horikawa
Fujiwara no Tadazane1105–1107Emperor Horikawa
Fujiwara no Tadazane1107–1113Emperor Toba
Fujiwara no Tadazane1113–1121Emperor Toba
Fujiwara no Tadamichi1121–1123Emperor Toba
Fujiwara no Tadamichi1123–1129Emperor Sutoku
Fujiwara no Tadamichi1129–1141Emperor Sutoku
Fujiwara no Tadamichi1141–1150Emperor Konoe
Fujiwara no Tadamichi1150–1158Emperor Konoe, Emperor Go-Shirakawa
Konoe Motozane1158–1165Emperor Nijō
Konoe Motozane1165–1166Emperor Rokujō
Fujiwara no Motofusa1166–1172Emperor Rokujō, Emperor Takakura
Fujiwara no Motofusa1172–1179Emperor Takakura
Konoe Motomichi1179–1180Emperor Takakura
Konoe Motomichi1180–1183Emperor Antoku
Matsudono Moroie1183–1184Emperor Antoku
Konoe Motomichi1184–1186Emperor Antoku, Emperor Go-Toba
Kujō Kanezane1186–1191Emperor Go-Toba
Kujō Kanezane1191–1196Emperor Go-Toba
Konoe Motomichi1196–1198Emperor Tsuchimikado
Konoe Motomichi1198–1202Emperor Tsuchimikado
Kujō Yoshitsune1202–1206Emperor Tsuchimikado
Konoe Iezane1206Emperor Tsuchimikado
Konoe Iezane1206–1221Emperor Tsuchimikado, Emperor Juntoku
Kujō Michiie1221Emperor Chūkyō
Konoe Iezane.1221–1223Emperor Go-Horikawa
Konoe Iezane1223–1228Emperor Go-Horikawa
Kujō Michiie1228–1231Emperor Go-Horikawa
Kujō Norizane1231–1232Emperor Go-Horikawa
Kujō Norizane1232–1235Emperor Shijō
Kujō Michiie1235–1237Emperor Shijō
Konoe Kanetsune1237–1242Emperor Shijō
Konoe Kanetsune1242Emperor Go-Saga
Nijō Yoshizane1242–1246Emperor Go-Saga
Ichijō Sanetsune1246Emperor Go-Saga
Ichijō Sanetsune1246–1247Emperor Go-Fukakusa
Konoe Kanetsune1247–1252Emperor Go-Fukakusa
Takatsukasa Kanehira1252–1254Emperor Go-Fukakusa
Takatsukasa Kanehira1254–1261Emperor Go-Fukakusa, Emperor Kameyama
Nijō Yoshizane1261–1265Emperor Kameyama
Ichijō Sanetsune1265–1267Emperor Kameyama
Konoe Motohira1267–1268Emperor Kameyama
Takatsukasa Mototada1268–1273Emperor Kameyama
Kujō Tadaie1273–1274Emperor Kameyama
Kujō Tadaie1274Emperor Go-Uda
Ichijō Ietsune1274–1275Emperor Go-Uda
Takatsukasa Kanehira1275–1278Emperor Go-Uda
Takatsukasa Kanehira1278–1287Emperor Go-Uda
Nijō Morotada1287–1289Emperor Go-Uda, Emperor Fushimi
Konoe Iemoto1289–1291Emperor Fushimi
Kujō Tadanori1291–1293Emperor Fushimi
Konoe Iemoto1293–1296Emperor Fushimi
Takatsukasa Kanetada1296–1298Emperor Fushimi
Takatsukasa Kanetada1298Emperor Go-Fushimi
Nijō Kanemoto1298–1300Emperor Go-Fushimi
Nijō Kanemoto1300–1305Emperor Go-Fushimi, Emperor Go-Nijō
Kujō Moronori1305–1308Emperor Go-Nijō
Kujō Moronori1308Emperor Hanazono
Takatsukasa Fuyuhira1308–1311Emperor Hanazono
Takatsukasa Fuyuhira1311–1313Emperor Hanazono
Konoe Iehira1313–1315Emperor Hanazono
Takatsukasa Fuyuhira1315–1316Emperor Hanazono
Nijō Michihira1316–1318Emperor Hanazono, Emperor Go-Daigo
Ichijō Uchitsune1318–1323Emperor Go-Daigo
Kujō Fusazane1323–1324Emperor Go-Daigo
Takatsukasa Fuyuhira1324–1327Emperor Go-Daigo
Nijō Michihira1327–1330Emperor Go-Daigo
Konoe Tsunetada1330Emperor Go-Daigo
Takatsukasa Fuyunori1330–1333Emperor Go-Daigo, Emperor Kōgon
Konoe Tsunetada1336–1337Emperor Kōmyō
Konoe Mototsugu1337–1338Emperor Kōmyō
Ichijō Tsunemichi1338–1342Emperor Kōmyō
Kujō Michinori1342Emperor Kōmyō
Takatsukasa Morohira1342–1346Emperor Kōmyō
Nijō Yoshimoto1346–1358Emperor Kōmyō, Emperor Sukō, Emperor Go-Kōgon
Kujō Tsunenori1358–1361Emperor Go-Kōgon
Konoe Michitsugu1361–1363Emperor Go-Kōgon
Nijō Yoshimoto1363–1367Emperor Go-Kōgon
Takatsukasa Fuyumichi1367–1369Emperor Go-Kōgon
Nijō Moroyoshi1369–1375Emperor Go-Kōgon, Emperor Go-En'yū
Kujō Tadamoto1375–1379Emperor Go-En'yū
Nijō Morotsugu1379–1382Emperor Go-En'yū
Nijō Yoshimoto1382–1388Emperor Go-Komatsu
Konoe Kanetsugu1388Emperor Go-Komatsu
Nijō Yoshimoto1388Emperor Go-Komatsu
Nijō Yoshimoto1388Emperor Go-Komatsu
Nijō Morotsugu1388–1394Emperor Go-Komatsu
Ichijō Tsunetsugu1394–1398Emperor Go-Komatsu
Nijō Morotsugu1398–1399Emperor Go-Komatsu
Ichijō Tsunetsugu1399–1408Emperor Go-Komatsu
Konoe Tadatsugu1408–1409Emperor Go-Komatsu
Nijō Mitsumoto1409–1410Emperor Go-Komatsu
Ichijō Tsunetsugu1410–1418Emperor Go-Komatsu, Emperor Shōkō
Kujō Mitsuie1418–1424Emperor Shōkō
Nijō Mochimoto1424–1428Emperor Shōkō
Nijō Mochimoto1428–1432Emperor Go-Hanazono
Nijō Kaneyoshi1432Emperor Go-Hanazono
Nijō Mochimoto1432–1433Emperor Go-Hanazono
Nijō Mochimoto1433–1445Emperor Go-Hanazono
Konoe Fusatsugu1445–1447Emperor Go-Hanazono
Ichijō Kaneyoshi1447–1453Emperor Go-Hanazono
Takatsukasa Fusahira1454–1455Emperor Go-Hanazono
Nijō Mochimichi1455–1458Emperor Go-Hanazono
Ichijō Norifusa1458–1463Emperor Go-Hanazono
Nijō Mochimichi1463–1467Emperor Go-Hanazono, Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado
Ichijō Kaneyoshi1467–1470Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado
Nijō Masatsugu1470–1476Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado
Kujō Masamoto1476–1479Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado
Konoe Masaie1479–1483Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado
Takatsukasa Masahira1483–1487Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado
Kujō Masatada1487–1488Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado
Ichijō Fuyuyoshi1488–1493Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado
Konoe Hisamichi1493–1497Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado
Nijō Hisamoto1497Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado
Ichijō Fuyuyoshi1497–1501Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado, Emperor Go-Kashiwabara
Kujō Hisatsune1501–1513Emperor Go-Kashiwabara
Konoe Hisamichi1513–1514Emperor Go-Kashiwabara
Takatsukasa Kanesuke1514–1518Emperor Go-Kashiwabara
Nijō Korefusa1518–1525Emperor Go-Kashiwabara
Konoe Taneie1525–1533Emperor Go-Kashiwabara, Emperor Go-Nara
Kujō Tanemichi1533–1534Emperor Go-Nara
Nijō Korefusa1534–1536Emperor Go-Nara
Konoe Taneie1536–1542Emperor Go-Nara
Takatsukasa Tadafuyu1542–1545Emperor Go-Nara
Ichijō Fusamichi1545–1548Emperor Go-Nara
Nijō Haruyoshi1548–1553Emperor Go-Nara
Ichijō Kanefuyu1553–1554Emperor Go-Nara
Konoe Sakihisa1554–1568Emperor Go-Nara, Emperor Ōgimachi
Nijō Haruyoshi1568–1578Emperor Ōgimachi
Kujō Kanetaka1578–1581Emperor Ōgimachi
Ichijō Uchimoto1581–1585Emperor Ōgimachi
Nijō Akizane1585Emperor Ōgimachi
Toyotomi Hideyoshi1585–1591Emperor Ōgimachi, Emperor Go-Yōzei
Toyotomi Hidetsugu1591–1595Emperor Go-Yōzei
Kujō Kanetaka1600–1604Emperor Go-Yōzei
Konoe Nobutada1605–1606Emperor Go-Yōzei
Takatsukasa Nobufusa1606–1608Emperor Go-Yōzei
Kujō Yukiie1608–1612Emperor Go-Yōzei, Emperor Go-Mizunoo
Takatsukasa Nobuhisa1612–1615Emperor Go-Mizunoo
Nijō Akizane1615–1619Emperor Go-Mizunoo
Kujō Yukiie1619–1623Emperor Go-Mizunoo
Konoe Nobuhiro1623–1629Emperor Go-Mizunoo
Ichijō Akiyoshi1629Emperor Go-Mizunoo
Ichijō Akiyoshi1629–1635Empress Meishō
Nijō Yasumichi1635–1647Empress Meishō, Emperor Go-Kōmyō
Kujō Michifusa1647Emperor Go-Kōmyō
Ichijō Akiyoshi1647Emperor Go-Kōmyō
Ichijō Akiyoshi1647–1651Emperor Go-Kōmyō
Konoe Hisatsugu1651–1653Emperor Go-Kōmyō
Nijō Mitsuhira1653–1663Emperor Go-Kōmyō, Emperor Go-Sai
Nijō Mitsuhira1663–1664Emperor Reigen
Takatsukasa Fusasuke1664–1668Emperor Reigen
Takatsukasa Fusasuke1668–1682Emperor Reigen
Ichijō Kaneteru1682–1687Emperor Reigen
Ichijō Kaneteru1687–1689Emperor Higashiyama
Ichijō Kaneteru1689–1690Emperor Higashiyama
Konoe Motohiro1690–1703Emperor Higashiyama
Takatsukasa Kanehiro1703–1707Emperor Higashiyama
Konoe Iehiro1707–1709Emperor Higashiyama
Konoe Iehiro1709–1712Emperor Nakamikado
Kujō Sukezane1712–1716Emperor Nakamikado
Kujō Sukezane1716–1722Emperor Nakamikado
Nijō Tsunahira1722–1726Emperor Nakamikado
Konoe Iehisa1726–1736Emperor Nakamikado, Emperor Sakuramachi
Nijō Yoshitada1736–1737Emperor Sakuramachi
Ichijō Kaneka1737–1746Emperor Sakuramachi
Ichijō Michika1746–1747Emperor Sakuramachi
Ichijō Michika1747–1755Emperor Momozono
Ichijō Michika1755–1757Emperor Momozono
Konoe Uchisaki1757–1762Emperor Momozono
Konoe Uchisaki1762–1772Empress Go-Sakuramachi, Emperor Go-Momozono
Konoe Uchisaki1772–1778Emperor Go-Momozono
Kujō Naozane1778–1779Emperor Go-Momozono
Kujō Naozane1779–1785Emperor Kōkaku
Kujō Naozane1785–1787Emperor Kōkaku
Takatsukasa Sukehira1787–1791Emperor Kōkaku
Ichijō Teruyoshi1791–1795Emperor Kōkaku
Takatsukasa Masahiro1795–1814Emperor Kōkaku
Ichijō Tadayoshi1814–1823Emperor Kōkaku, Emperor Ninkō
Takatsukasa Masamichi1823–1856Emperor Ninkō, Emperor Kōmei
Kujō Hisatada1856–1862Emperor Kōmei
Konoe Tadahiro1862–1863Emperor Kōmei
Takatsukasa Sukehiro1863Emperor Kōmei
Nijō Nariyuki1863–1866Emperor Kōmei
Nijō Nariyuki1867Emperor Meiji
Crown Prince Hirohito1921–1926Emperor Taishō