Princess Izumi

was a person in

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

during the Asuka period and the Nara period. She was a daughter of Emperor Tenji and Lady Shikobuko, whose father was Oshimi no Miyakko Otatsu. She had an elder brother,

Prince Kawashima A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. The ...

, and an elder sister,

Princess Ōe (died 699) was a Japanese princess who lived during the Asuka period. She was a daughter of Emperor Tenji. Her mother was Lady Shikobuko (色夫古娘), daughter of Oshiumi no Miyakko Otatsu (忍海造小竜). Ōe's siblings included Prince Kaw ...

. Although her sister, Princess Ōe, and other half-sisters were married to

Emperor Tenmu was the 40th emperor of Japan, Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 天武天皇 (40) retrieved 2013-8-22. according to the traditional order of succession. Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). ''The Imperial House of Japan'', p. 53. Tenmu's re ...

or his sons, Izumi did not marry because she was too young. When she reached the age suitable for marriage, she could not marry because there were no appropriate men among Emperor Tenmu's sons. Additionally, her brother

betrayed Prince Ōtsu and his followers, and they were all punished; Prince Kawashima and his relatives became the targets of criticism. After Prince Kawashima and Princess Ōe died several years later, she was completely isolated. She was selected by divination as the

Saiō A , was an unmarried female member of the Imperial House of Japan, Japanese Imperial Family, sent to Ise, Mie, Ise to serve at Ise Grand Shrine from the late 7th century until the 14th century. The Saiō's residence, , was about 10 km north ...

in 701 when she was in her thirties, because the Saio of that year, Princess Taki, was suddenly dismissed. In principle, a newly selected Saio was supposed to make preparation by staying in the Abstinence-house near the capital for two years prior to going to Ise. However, she was in the Abstinence-house for over five years from 701 to 706. Also, she stayed in the Saikū in Ise for only half a year and was made to retire from the post. These unprecedented cases might be because of some political intentions. She was almost 40 years old when she returned to the capital. She could not marry anyone as she became too old, so she lived an unmarried life until she died in 734 in her sixties. Japanese princesses 734 deaths Year of birth unknown Saigū Daughters of emperors {{Japan-royal-stub