Jimmu was now sole master of Japan, as then known, and in the following year he mounted the throne.  The eastern and northern parts of the country were, however, still, and long afterwards, peopled by the Aino race, who were at a later period treated as troublesome savages, and conquered by a famous prince, Yamato-Dake, by help of the sacred sword.  The spot selected by the Emperor Jimmu for his capital was Kashiwabara, in the province of Yamato, not far from the present western capital of Kioto.  He there did honor to the gods, married, built himself a palace, and deposited in the throne-room the sacred mirror, sword, and ball, the insignia of the imperial power handed down from the sun-goddess.  He organized two imperial guards, one as a body-guard to protect the interior of the palace, and the other to act as sentinels around the palace.

THE “NEHONGI”

The Emperor Kami Yamato Iharebiko’s personal name was Hikohoho-demi.  He was the fourth child of Hiko-nagisa-take-ugaya-fuki-ahezu no Mikoto.  His mother’s name was Tama-yori-hime, daughter of the sea-god.  From his birth this emperor was of clear intelligence and resolute will.  At the age of fifteen he was made heir to the throne.  When he grew up he married Ahira-tsu-hime, of the district of Ata in the province of Hiuga, and made her his consort.  By her he had Tagishi-mimi no Mikoto and Kisu-mimi no Mikoto.

When he reached the age of forty-five, he addressed his elder brothers and his children, saying:  “Of old, our heavenly deities Taka-mi-Musubi no Mikoto, and Oho-hiru-me no Mikoto, pointing to this land of fair rice-ears of the fertile reed-plain, gave it to our heavenly ancestor, Hiko-ho no Ninigi no Mikoto.  Thereupon Hiko-ho no Ninigi no Mikoto, throwing open the barrier of heaven and clearing a cloud-path, urged on his superhuman course until he came to rest.  At this time the world was given over to widespread desolation.  It was an age of darkness and disorder.  In this gloom, therefore, he fostered justice, and so governed this western border.

“Our imperial ancestors and imperial parent, like gods, like sages, accumulated happiness and amassed glory.  Many years elapsed from the date when our heavenly ancestor descended until now it is over 1,792,470 years.  But the remote regions do not yet enjoy the blessings of imperial rule.  Every town has always been allowed to have its lord, and every village its chief, who, each one for himself, makes division of territory and practises mutual aggression and conflict.

“Now I have heard from the Ancient of the Sea, that in the East there is a fair land encircled on all sides by blue mountains.  Moreover, there is there one who flew down riding in a heavenly rock-boat.  I think that this land will undoubtedly be suitable for the extension of the heavenly task, so that its glory should fill the universe.  It is doubtless the centre of the world.  The person who flew clown was, I believe, Nigihaya-hi.  Why should we not proceed thither, and make it the capital?”