Ninji facts for kids

Ninji, also known as Jinji, was a special way to count years in Japan. It's like how we have years like 2023 or 2024, but in old Japan, they also used era names (called nengō). The Ninji period came after an era called En'ō and before Kangen.

This era began in August 1240 and finished in January 1243. During this time, two emperors ruled Japan: Emperor Shijō and Emperor Go-Saga.

Key Events of the Ninji Era

This short period saw some important changes for Japan's leaders.

Emperor Shijō's Passing

• 1242 (Ninji 3, 10th day of the 1st month): Emperor Shijō had ruled for ten years. Sadly, he passed away. After his death, the second son of a previous emperor, Emperor Tsuchimikado, was chosen to become the new emperor. This process of choosing a new emperor is called senso.

Emperor Go-Saga Takes the Throne

• 1242 (Ninji 3, 5th month): The new emperor, Go-Saga, officially became the ruler of Japan. This was confirmed through special ceremonies called sokui.

Important Deaths in 1242

• 14 July 1242 (Ninji 3, 15th day of the 6th month): Hōjō Yasutoki, a very powerful leader in the government (called the shogunate), died at the age of 60. He was an important figure during the Kamakura period.
• 7 October 1242 (Ninji 3, 12th day of the 9th month): Former Emperor Juntoku also passed away. He had been living away from the capital, in exile, on Sado Island.

Ninji Era Timeline

Here's a quick look at the years covered by the Ninji era:

Era Transition

This table shows how the Ninji era fit into the flow of Japanese history:

Related Topics

• Kamakura period
• You can learn more about the Japanese calendar and its history from the National Diet Library here.