Tokugawa Iemochi

(17 July 1846 – 29 August 1866) was a Japanese samurai, daimyo and the 14th shōgun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, who held office from 1858 to 1866. During his reign there was much internal turmoil as a result of the "re-opening" of Japan to western nations. Iemochi's reign also saw a weakening of the shogunate.

His early death at the age of 20 put an end to his short marriage with princess Kazu-no-Miya. Before he died he adopted a son, Tayasu Kamenosuke (later known as Tokugawa Iesato), as his heir. At that time Tayasu Kamenosuke was only 3 years old, but as the Tokugawa shogunate was at war with Chōshū, the adult Yoshinobu was appointed the fifteenth shōgun. Shōgun Yoshinobu then adopted Iemochi's adopted son, Tayasu Kamenosuke. After Iemochi's death, Kazu-no-Miya changed her name to Seikan'in no Miya. The cause of Iemochi's death is widely reported as heart failure due to beriberi, a disease caused by thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency.

His successor, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, was the last Tokugawa shōgun and witnessed the end of the shogunate, which gave way to the Meiji Restoration.

Family Father: Tokugawa Nariyuki (1801–1846) Mother: Jitsujoin (1821–1904) Adoptive fathers: Tokugawa Narikatsu (1820–1849) Tokugawa Iesada Adoptive Mother: Tenshō-in Wife: Kazu-no-Miya Chikako Concubine: Oyuri no Kata (1850–1880) later Shoko-in Ohina no Kata (1846–1862) daughter of Shimazu Tadafuyu also niece of Tenshō-in Adopted son: Tokugawa Mochitsugu Tokugawa Iesato

Eras of Iemochi's bakufu Letter of Abraham Lincoln to shōgun Tokugawa Iemochi announcing the departure of Townsend Harris. 14 November 1861. Letter of Napoleon III to "Taïcoun" Tokugawa Iemochi nominating Léon Roches, in replacement of Duchesne de Bellecourt, 27 October 1863. Diplomatic Record Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan). The years in which Iemochi was shōgun are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō. Ansei (1854–1860) Man'en (1860–1861) Bunkyū (1861–1864) Genji (1864–1865) Keiō (1865–1868)