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Senka

467 – 539

Emperor of Japan

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About Senka

Lived 467 – 539 (aged 71–72). Senka was a Japanese ruler.

(466 — 15 March 539) was the 28th legendary emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.

No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 25 January 536 to 15 March 539, the end of the Kofun period, which was followed by the Asuka period.

Legendary narrative Senka is considered to have ruled the country during the early-6th century, but there is a paucity of information about him. There is insufficient material available for further verification and study.

When Emperor Ankan died, he had no offspring; and succession passed to his youngest brother , who will come to be known as Emperor Senka. Emperor Senka was elderly at the time of his enthronement; and his reign is said to have endured for only three years.

Senka's contemporary title would not have been tennō, as most historians believe this title was not introduced until the reigns of Emperor Tenmu and Empress Jitō. Rather, it was presumably , meaning "the great king who rules all under heaven". Alternatively, Senka might have been referred to as or the "Great King of Yamato".

During this reign, Soga no Iname is believed to have been the first verifiable Omi (also Ōomi, "Great Minister").

The Emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) at Nara. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Senka's mausoleum. however, the actual sites of the graves of the early Emperors remain problematic, according to some historians and archaeologists.

Genealogy Empress: , Emperor Ninken's daughter , married to Emperor Kinmei , married to Emperor Kinmei , married to Emperor Kinmei

Child (died early, gender unknown) Consort:

Mother unknown , married to Emperor Kinmei , speculated as Emperor Kinmei's son

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Important facts

Born
467
Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Positions held
Emperor of Japan
Also known as
Senka-tennō, Emperor Senka, Senkwa, Emperor Senkwa

Family & relationships

Parent
Emperor Keitai

People in Senka's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Senka's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Senka?

Emperor of Japan

When was Senka born?

Senka was born in 467.

When did Senka die?

Senka died on 15 March 539 in Sakurai.

What was Senka's occupation?

Senka was a ruler.

What nationality was Senka?

Senka was Japanese.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Senka

· Wikidata: Q329728

· DBpedia: Emperor Senka

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Senka. https://biography.guide/senka/

MLA: "Senka." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/senka/.

Chicago: "Senka." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/senka/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-27 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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