Emperor Bidatsu

Bidatsu (538–585), the 30th emperor of Japan, was the second son of Emperor Kinmei by Princess Ishi-hime. Named crown prince in 569, he ascended in 572.

His court was dominated by the rivalry between Soga no Umako, who patronised Buddhism, and Mononobe no Moriya, who defended the native kami. Bidatsu leaned toward the traditional cults, and when plague struck in 585 he banned Buddhism; he died of it the same year. His widow, his half-sister Suiko, later reigned as empress.