was the seventh ''

Shikken The was a senior government post held by members of the Hōjō clan, officially a regent of the shogunate. From 1199 to 1333, during the Kamakura period, the ''shikken'' served as the head of the ''bakufu'' (shogun's government). This era was ref ...

'' (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 Yori ...

, regining from 1264 to 1268. He was the son of Hōjō Yoshitoki, the second ''Shikken,'' and brother of

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 ...

and Hōjō Shigetoki.

Life

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

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

was his half brother. Masamura was born on the day Hatakeyama Shigetada was killed. Masamura held his '' genpuku'', 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 politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

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'' Iga Mitsumune, conspired to replace

shogun , officially , was the title of the military aristocracy, rulers of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor of Japan, Emperor, shoguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country, exc ...

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 Yoritomo and daughter of Minamo ...

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 the 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 medieval Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on th ...

'', and assisted the ''shikken''

Hōjō Tokiyori was the fifth shikken (regent of shogun) of the Kamakura shogunate in Japan. Early life He was born to warrior monk Hōjō Tokiuji and a daughter of Adachi Kagemori, younger brother of Hōjō Tsunetoki, the fourth shikken, and grandson of ...

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 people, Japanese forces against the Mongol invasions ...

subsequently became his ''rensho''.'''' During Masamura's reign, Prince Munetaka was removed from the post of shogun and Prince Koreyasu 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 Vassal state, vassaldom. Ultimately a failure, the invasion attemp ...

in 1274 and 1281, is said to have been frequently aided by Masamura.'''' Masamura fell ill in 1273, and entered the priesthood, taking the Buddhist name Kakusū. He died shortly after on June 13, 1273.''''

Popular culture

*In the 40th

taiga drama is the name NHK gives to the annual year-long historical drama television series it broadcasts in Japan. Beginning in 1963 with the black-and-white ''Hana no Shōgai'', starring kabuki actor Onoe Shoroku II and Awashima Chikage, the network regul ...

''Hōjō Tokimune'' (2001), Masamura was played by veteran actor Shirō Itō. *In the 61st taiga drama '' The 13 Lords of the Shogun'' (2022), Masamura was played by the Newcomer actor Taisuke Niihara.

References

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