Emperor Nakamikado

Emperor Nakamikado was the 114th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. He was enthroned as Emperor in 1709, at the age of nine, and reigned until 1735, when he abdicated in favor of his first son. During his reign, he had a warm relationship with the Tokugawa shogunate, which was in charge of the actual governance of Japan. He witnessed several natural disasters, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, as well as political and social reforms, such as the Kyoho Reforms and the Kyoho Famine. He also received a rare visit from a Ryukyuan diplomatic mission, and granted an audience to an elephant from Vietnam. He was interested in the ancient customs and culture of the imperial court, and compiled the Kujiburui, a book that recorded the various ranks and titles of the courtiers. He was also skilled in poetry, calligraphy, and music, and composed many waka poems and played the recorder. He died in 1737, two years after his abdication, and was buried in Tsuki no wa no misasagi, Kyoto. He was posthumously honored with the name Emperor Nakamikado, which came from the name of one of the gates of the imperial palace.