Sakahito

was a Japanese princess, born a daughter of Emperor Kōnin.

Her mother was reported to be Princess Inoue—a daughter of Emperor Shōmu, but there is another theory that her mother was Takano no Niigasa.

Life Born to Emperor Kōnin and Princess Inoe in 754, her early life is not well recorded.

Emperor Kōnin came to the throne in 770, and two years later, in 772, Sakahito became the Saiō of Ise Shrine.

Her mother, Princess Inoe, was accused of witchcraft and deposed. Sakahito's brother, , who was the crown prince, was also deposed. Sakahito, through her father, was of the Tenji line, the descendents of Emperor Tenji. Through her mother, she was of the Tenmu line. This would have unified the two lines. However this failed likely due to the controversy surrounding the reign of Empress Shōtoku, rendering the court nobles wary of enthroning another female emperor. Emperor Kanmu however was supposedly indulgent of her behaviour, and never reproached her.

The Nihon Kōki writes of her that:

Sakahito gave the emperor one child, a daughter named .

Sakahito outlived her daughter however, who died in 817 at age 39.

In 829 at age 76, Princess Sakahito passed away.

Genealogy Parents Father: Emperor Kōnin (光仁天皇, November 18, 708 – January 11, 782) Mother: Princess Inoe (井上内親王, 717–775) Husband and children Emperor Kanmu, husband and half brother Daughter: (朝原内親王; 779 - May 14, 817)