HIMEMIKO*WEB

Towochi no Himemiko is the only child of Oh'ama no Miko and Nukada no Ohkimi (Lady Nukada), who was one of the famous court poets. Nukada at first married Oh'ama no Miko but his elder brother, Emperor Tenchi, also loved her. Finally Oh'ama no Miko divorced her and she became a wife of Emperor Tenchi.

Towochi no Himemiko was raised in Nukada's residence until her marriage with Ohtomo no Miko, one of Tenchi Tenno's sons.

According to folklore, she was not happy with Ohtomo no Miko and was secretly in love with Takechi no Miko, her half brother.

In the 7th month of 671, the Battle of Jinshin occured. Her husband, Ohtomo no Miko, fought with her father, Oh'ama no Miko, and was dead of this war. She followed Oh'ama no Miko's side and began to live in a residence within the Palace of Asuka Kiyomihara as a war widow after Oh'ama became the Emperor.

It is told that she loved Takechi no Miko and had a date with him several times within her residence. It had to be kept in secret because Temmu Tenno did not allow it.

In 678, the Emperor decided to send her to the Abstinence-palace as the Saio. On the 7th day of the 4th month, which was the very day when she was to leave the Palace and go to the Abstinence-palace, she suddenly died within the Palace. According to the chronicle it is recorded that she died from a sudden illness, but some historians say that she killed herself.