Prince Otsu

• Died: 686/10/3
• Japanese: 大津皇子 (Ootsu no miko)

Ôtsu-no-miko was an Imperial Prince, the son of Emperor Temmu. In 686, a few weeks after his father's death, he was arrested along with thirty of his compatriots on accusations of plotting rebellion, and was executed on the shores of the Iware Pond, a site associated with Emperor Yômei. Just before his death, he is said to have tearfully composed a poem reading "This is my last chance to see the ducks singing in the Iware Pond as I am destined to die today."

References

• Reischauer, Robert Karl. Early Japanese History (c. 40 BC - AD 1167). Gloucester, Mass.: Peter Smith, 1967. pp159-160.
• "Site excavated in Nara may be remains of pond mentioned in ancient history records." Mainichi Shimbun. 16 December 2011.
• "堤跡：古代史の舞台「磐余池」か　６世紀後半－－奈良・橿原." Mainichi Shimbun. 16 December 2011.