was the seventh ''

Shikken The was a titular post held by a member of the Hōjō clan, officially a regent of the shogunate, from 1199 to 1333, during the Kamakura period, and so he was head of the ''bakufu'' (shogunate). It was part of the era referred to as . During rou ...

'' (regent) of the

Kamakura Shogunate The was the feudal military government of Japan during the Kamakura period from 1185 to 1333. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)"''Kamakura-jidai''"in ''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 459. The Kamakura shogunate was established by Minamoto no ...

, regining from 1264 to 1268. He was the son of

Hōjō Yoshitoki was the second Hōjō ''shikken'' (regent) of the Kamakura shogunate and head of the Hōjō clan. He was the second son of Hōjō Tokimasa. He was ''shikken'' from the abdication of his father Tokimasa in 1205 until his death in 1224. Early ...

, the second ''Shikken''.

Life

Hōjō Masamura was born on July 10, 1205 , the son of ''

. His mother was the daughter of Iga Tomomitsu. ''Shikken''

Hōjō Yasutoki Hōjō Yasutoki (; 1183 – July 14, 1242) was the third ''shikken'' (regent) of the Kamakura shogunate in Japan. He strengthened the political system of the Hōjō regency. Life He was the eldest son of second ''shikken'' Hōjō Yoshitoki. A ...

was his half brother. Masamura was born on the day

Hatakeyama Shigetada was a samurai warlord of the late Heian and early Kamakura period Japan. He fought in the Genpei War, though originally for the Taira clan, he switched sides to the Minamoto clan for the Battle of Dan-no-ura, and ended the war on the winning si ...

was killed. Masamura held his ''

genpuku is a Japanese coming-of-age ceremony which dates back to Japan's classical Nara Period (710–794 AD). /sup> This ceremony marked the transition from child to adult status and the assumption of adult responsibilities. The age of participat ...

'', coming of age ceremony, in 1213. Before his regency, he served as Captain of the Right Division of Bureau of Horses (''uma no gon no kami''),

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

of Mutsu Province, and Mayor of the Left Capital District (''Sakyō no gon no daibu''). After the sudden death of Yoshitoki, Masamura's mother and his elder brother, steward of the ''

Mandokoro was the chief governing body of an important family or monastic complex in ancient Japan. This name was borrowed for the administrative department of the Shogunate in feudal times. History The earliest usage of the term was found in the Heian ...

'' Iga Mitsumune, conspired to replace shogun

Kujō Yoritsune , also known as , was the fourth ''shōgun'' of the Kamakura shogunate of Japan. His father was '' kanpaku'' Kujō Michiie and his grandmother was a niece of Minamoto no Yoritomo. His wife was a granddaughter of Minamoto no Yoritomo and daughter o ...

with his son-in-law, associate counselor Ichijō Sanemasa, as shogun, and to make Masamura the next ''shikken''. The plan failed, but Masamura was pardoned by his half-brother Yasutoki and was not punished. In 1239, Masamura became a member of Council of the Shogunate (''hyōjōshū''). In 1249, he became the head of the newly established High Court of the Shogunate (''hikitsuke).'' In 1256, he was appointed ''

rensho The was the assistant to the ''shikken'' (regent) of the Kamakura shogunate in Japan.Iwanami Kōjien, "Rensho" The rensho placed his signature next to that of the ''shikken'' on official orders. In 1224 the third ''shikken'' Hōjō Yasutoki appoi ...

'', and assisted the ''shikken''

Hōjō Tokiyori Hōjō Tokiyori (, June 29, 1227 – December 24, 1263) was the fifth shikken (regent) of the Kamakura shogunate in Japan. Early life He was born to warrior monk Hōjō Tokiuji and a daughter of Adachi Kagemori. Rule Tokiyori became shikken f ...

and Nagatoki.'''' In 1264, Nagatoki resigned due to illness, and Masamura became the seventh ''shikken''.

Hōjō Tokimune of the Hōjō clan was the eighth ''shikken'' (officially regent of the shōgun, but ''de facto'' ruler of Japan) of the Kamakura shogunate (reigned 1268–84), known for leading the Japanese forces against the invasion of the Mongols and fo ...

subsequently became his ''rensho''.'''' During Masamura's reign,

Prince Munetaka was the sixth ''shōgun'' of the Kamakura shogunate of Japan who reigned from 1252 to 1266.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Munetaka shinnō" in . He was the first son of the Emperor Go-Saga and replaced the deposed Fujiwara no Yoritsugu as ...

was removed from the post of shogun and

Prince Koreyasu , also known as , was the seventh ''shōgun'' of the Kamakura shogunate of Japan.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Koreyasu shinnō" in . He was the nominal ruler controlled by the Hōjō clan regents. Prince Koreyasu was the son of Prince Mune ...

was appointed as the seventh shogun. Masamura and Tokimune are thought to have played a central role in this change of power.'''' In 1268, Masamura stepped down to the post of ''rensho'', and gave the post of ''shikken'' to Tokimune, who had grown up. Tokimune, who reigned during the difficult time preceding the

Mongol invasions of Japan Major military efforts were taken by Kublai Khan of the Yuan dynasty in 1274 and 1281 to conquer the Japanese archipelago after the submission of the Korean kingdom of Goryeo to vassaldom. Ultimately a failure, the invasion attempts are of m ...

in 1274 and 1281, is said to have been frequently aided by Masamura.'''' Masamura fell ill in 1273, and entered priesthood, taking the

Buddhist name A Dharma name or Dhamma name is a new name acquired during both lay and monastic Buddhist initiation rituals in Mahayana Buddhism and monastic ordination in Theravada Buddhism (where it is more proper to call it Dhamma or Sangha name). The nam ...

Kakusū. He died shortly after on June 13, 1273.''''

Popular culture

*In the 40th taiga drama ''Hōjō Tokimune'' (2001), Masamura was played by veteran actor

Shirō Itō is a Japanese actor and comedian. Filmography Film * ''Zatoichi and the One-Armed Swordsman'' (1971) * '' Lupin III: Strange Psychokinetic Strategy'' (1974) * ''Princess from the Moon'' (1987) * ''A Taxing Woman'' (1987) * ''Minbo'' (1992) * ' ...

. *In the 61st taiga drama ''

The 13 Lords of the Shogun is a Japanese historical drama television series starring Shun Oguri as Hōjō Yoshitoki. The series is the 61st NHK taiga drama. Cast Starring role *Shun Oguri as Hōjō Yoshitoki. Kōki Mitani pointed out some similarities between him and ...

'' (2022), Masamura was played by young actor Taisuke Niihara.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hojo, Masamura 1205 births 1273 deaths Hōjō clan People of Kamakura-period Japan