Emperor Kaika Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Kaika
Emperor of Japan

Reign	legendary
Predecessor	Kōgen
Successor	Sujin
Born	legendary
Died	legendary
Burial	Kasuga no Izakawa no sak no e no misasagi (Nara)

Emperor Kaika (開化天皇, Kaika-tennō) was the 9th emperor of Japan. This is based on the traditional list of emperors.

Many historians believe Emperor Kaika was a legendary figure. His name, Kaika-tennō, was given to him after his death by people who lived much later. We don't have exact dates for his life or when he ruled. The official names and order of the early emperors were decided much later, during the time of Emperor Kammu. He was the 50th ruler of the Yamato dynasty.

The Gukanshō, an old Japanese history book, says that Kaika ruled from a palace called Isakawa-no-miya. This palace was in Kasuga, an area that later became known as Yamato Province.

Who Was Emperor Kaika?
What Do We Know About Kaika's Life?
- After Emperor Kaika's Death
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Who Was Emperor Kaika?

Emperor Kaika is almost certainly a legend. The Kojiki, one of Japan's oldest books, only mentions his name and his family tree. The Nihonshoki also lists Kaika. It includes him as one of the "eight undocumented monarchs" (Kesshi-hachidai). This means there is not much historical information about them.

Kaika was the second son of Emperor Kōgen. Some experts even question if the first nine emperors truly existed. These scholars think that Kōgen's son, Emperor Sujin, might be the first emperor who actually lived.

What Do We Know About Kaika's Life?

We have very little information about Emperor Kaika. This doesn't mean he didn't exist, but there are no detailed records. In fact, we don't have much information about any emperors before the 29th ruler, Emperor Kimmei.

After Emperor Kaika's Death

Emperor Kaika's official name, given after his death, was decided many centuries after he was believed to have lived. The exact place where he was buried is not known today.

However, the Imperial Household Agency (the official group that manages the Japanese imperial family) honors him. They do this at a special Shinto shrine called a misasagi in Nara. This shrine serves as a memorial to him.