Hojo Sadaaki (北条貞顕)

Sadaaki HOJO was a family member of the Ho jo clan in the end of Kamakura period. He was the fifteenth regent of the Kamakura bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun) from April 19 until April 29, 1326. He was the legitimate son of Akitoki HOJO of the Hojo clan (Kanesawa line). He was also called Sadaaki KANESAWA.

Biography

As a successor of the Hojo clan Kanesawa line that assumed important posts in Kamakura bakufu, he served in 1296. His father Akitoki was implicated in the Shimotsuki Sodo (political change of Kamakura Bakufu) and it is considered to have had an impact on Sadaaki's serving. He was appointed to Nakatsukasa no taifu (Senior Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Central Affairs) when he was 25 and was appointed to Rokuhara Tandai Minamikata (Rokuhara Tandai ((an administrative and judicial agency in Rokuhara, Kyoto)) South) as the successor of Numenobu HOJO to go to Kyoto and to become responsible for the region from Kyoto and to the west. Kanesawa line, which was held back on a promotion due to the Shimotsuki Sodo, got into the fast lane to the nucleus of the bakufu by this selection by the regent Sadatoki HOJO.

In Kamakura in 1305, the Kagen War occurred, in which rensho (assistant to regents) Tokimura HOJO, Sadaaki's father-in-law, was killed by a Tokuso's vassal and gokenin (immediate vassal of the shogunate) who claimed to have an order from Sadatoki.
The first report to Rokuhara Tandai (an administrative and judicial agency in Rokuhara, Kyoto) said 'Tokimura was executed.'
In Rokuhara Tandai Minamikata (Rokuhara Tandai South) where Sadaaki was, people associated it with Nigatsu-sodo (February rebellion) and were afraid of attack from Kitakata (North) in great fear. Then, 'kanto migyosho' (an official message from Kanto) was delivered by a post horse saying that Tokimura was killed due to conspiracy by Munekata HOJO.

In 1308, he resigned Rokuhara Tandai Minamikata and returned to Kamakura, and became Yoriaishu (a member of the top decision making organ) in the following year. In 1310, he went up to Kyoto again as Rokuhara Tandai Kitakata. During his service, he worked hard to transcribe literature and tried to improve Kanazawa Library. In 1311, Sadatoki TOKUSO deceased. In 1315, he was appointed to rensho.

In 1326, when the fourteenth regent Takatoki HOJO resigned due to illness to become a priest, Sadaaki also wanted to resign from government affairs to become a priest, but was ordered to remain. Because Takatoki did not specify his successor when he became a priest, a dispute occurred within the Tokuso family between Uchi-Kanrei (head of Tokuso Family) Nagasaki clan who pushed Kunitoki HOJO, a child of Takatoki, and the maternal relative Adachi clan who pushed Yasuie HOJO (later Tokioki), a younger brother of Takatoki for the next regent. On April 19, having received the backing of Uchi-Kanrei Takasuke NAGASAKI to act as interim regent until Kunitoki became an adult, Sadaaki became the fifteenth regent. Yasuie HOJO who was against appointment of Sadaaki to the regent became a priest, which caused hearsay of assassination of Sadaaki, so Sadaaki resigned regent on April 29 to become a priest (his homyo (a name given to a person who enters the Buddhist priesthood) was 崇顕. Moritoki HOJO was appointed to the sixteenth regent. The series of uproar was called karyaku no sodo (Karyaku rebellion).

In 1333, after the attack on Rokuhara Tandai by Takauji ASHIKAGA who favored the Emperor Godaigo's forces of overthrowing the Shogunate, a force lead by Yoshisada NITTA attacked Kamakura. Sadaaki committed suicide with the last head of the family Takatoki and the members of the Hojo clan in the family temple of the Hojo clan, Tosho-ji Temple in Kamakura (Kamakura City). His age at death was 56.

Among ancient documents in the Kanazawa Library, 642 of his letters exist.

Chronological list of the main events

* Dates are in old lunar calendar.
1294: Saemon no jo (third-ranked officer of the Left Division of Outer Palace Guards)
1296: He was ennobled to Jugoinoge (Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade), Sakon no shogen (Lieutenant the Left Division of Inner Palace Guards).
1300: Jugoinojo (Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade)
1302: He was assigned to Rokuhara Tandai Minamikata on July 7 and Nakatsukasa no taifu (Senior Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Central Affairs) on August 11. 1304: He was transferred to Echigo no kami (Provincial Governor of Echigo).

1307: He was promoted to Shogoinoge (Senior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade). He remained in the position of Echigo no kami (Provincial Governor of Echigo).

November 1308: He resigned Rokuhara Tandai.

1309: He became Yoriaishu (a member of the top decision making organ) and Hikitsuke tonin (chairman of the court of justice).

June 25, 1310: He was appointed to Rokuhara Tandai Kitakata again. Uma no gon no kami (Provisional Captain of the Right Division of Bureau of Horses).

1313: He was transferred to Musashi no kami (the governor of Musashi Province).

November 1314: He resigned Rokuhara Tandai.

July 11, 1315: He became rensho.

1322: He was transferred to Shuri gon no daibu (Provisional Master in the Office of Palace Repairs).

March 16, 1326: He became a regent. March 26: He resigned regent. He became a priest and his homyo was 崇顕.

May 22, 1333: He committed suicide with Takatoki Hojo, etc. in Tosho-ji temple when the Kamakura bakufu was destroyed. His age at death was 56.

1294: Saemon no jo (third-ranked officer of the Left Division of Outer Palace Guards)

1296: He was ennobled to Jugoinoge (Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade), Sakon no shogen (Lieutenant the Left Division of Inner Palace Guards).

1300: Jugoinojo (Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade)

1302: He was assigned to Rokuhara Tandai Minamikata on July 7 and Nakatsukasa no taifu (Senior Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Central Affairs) on August 11.

1304: He was transferred to Echigo no kami (Provincial Governor of Echigo).