Emperor Ninken

Disambiguation: Ninken redirects here. For the fictional summoned dogs in Naruto see Ninken (Naruto).

Emperor Ninken (仁賢天皇 Ninken Tennō), or rather Ninken okimi (-c.489) was the 24th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor or to his reign, but he is believed to have ruled the country during the late 5th century CE.

He, originally Prince Oyoke, was together with his younger brother Prince Woke, found when Seinei died without heirs. The two boys were said to be grandsons of Emperor Richū. They ascended as sort of adopted heirs of Seinei, though it is unclear whether they had been "found" in Seinei's lifetime or only after that. The younger, Woke, posthumously Kenzo, ascended before his elder brother, in accordance with an agreement made by the two brothers. He however died soon without own heirs, so Oyoke succeeded him as Ninken.

Ninken's daughter Tashiraka was later married to Keitai, successor or possibly usurper after her brother, and became mother of Kimmei, a future monarch and lineal ancestor of all future monarchs of Japan. There apparently was also another daughter, princess Tachibana, who in turn is recorded to have become a wife of Senka and mother of princess Iwahime, who herself became a consort of Kimmei and bore Bidatsu, a future monarch and lineal ancestor of current monarchs of Japan.

Ninken was succeeded by his son Buretsu, who however died soon without own issue.