Emperor Kōmyō

Kōmyō (1322–1380), personal name Yutahito, was the second Northern Court emperor and the first backed by Ashikaga Takauji, reigning from 1336 to 1348. A younger son of Emperor Go-Fushimi and Kōgon's brother, he was enthroned at Kyoto after Takauji drove Go-Daigo from Kyoto in 1336, without the sacred imperial treasures; Go-Daigo then founded the Southern Court at Yoshino.

In 1348 Kōmyō abdicated to his nephew Sukō. Southern forces took Kyoto in 1352 and carried him off with Kōgon and Sukō; held in Yamato until 1355, he returned to Kyoto and took monastic vows, and died in 1380.