Ōchō facts for kids

Ōchō (pronounced Oh-choh) was a special time period in Japanese history. It was like a short era or "nengō" (NEN-goh), which is a way Japan used to count years. This era lasted from April 1311 to February 1312. During the Ōchō era, Emperor Hanazono was the ruler of Japan. It came after the Enkyō era and before the Shōwa era.

What Happened During the Ōchō Era?

During this time, a former emperor named Emperor Fushimi was "retired." This meant he had stepped down as emperor but still helped manage the court. He continued to do this even after the Ōchō era ended, until he became a Buddhist monk.

Here are some key events from the Ōchō era:

• 1311 (Ōchō 1, 1st month): Emperor Hanazono had his coming-of-age ceremony. This was an important event for a young emperor.
• 1311 (Ōchō 1, 9th month): Hōjō Morotoki passed away at 37 years old. He was a very important leader called a Shikken (SHIK-ken). A Shikken was like a top advisor or regent for the shogun of the Kamakura shogunate. The shogun was the military ruler of Japan at that time.

After the Ōchō era, the Fujiwara clan became very powerful. They were a family of nobles who had a lot of influence in the Japanese court. Their power grew so much that they were able to keep other families from rising above them in rank.

Related Pages

• Kamakura period
• National Diet Library, "The Japanese Calendar"

Ōchō Era Years

Timeline of Eras