| Consort: | yes |
| Yoshiko | |
| Succession: | Empress consort of Japan |
| Reign: | 1780–1817 |
| Succession1: | Empress dowager of Japan |
| Reign1: | 1820–1841 |
| Issue: | Prince Masuhito Prince Toshihito |
| Royal House: | Imperial House of Japan |
| Father: | Emperor Go-Momozono |
| Mother: | Konoe Koreko |
| Birth Date: | 11 March 1779 |
| Place Of Burial: | Senyū-ji |
| Religion: | Shinto (before 1816) Buddhism (after 1816) |
was the empress consort of Emperor Kōkaku of Japan. She enjoys the distinction of being the last daughter of an emperor who would herself rise to the position of empress.[1] When she was later given the title of Empress Dowager, she became the first person to be honored with that title while still living since 1168.[2]
was also known as in her infancy. She was the only child of Emperor Go-Momozono; and she became the wife of the Emperor's adopted heir, marrying her adoptive brother who would later be known as Emperor Kōkaku. Although her own children died in infancy, she functioned as official mother to the heir who would become Emperor Ninkō.[1]
Yoshiko's father, Emperor Go-Momozono, died without a son when she was ten months old.[1] To avoid dynastic interregnum, Retired Empress Go-Sakuramachi and her chief adviser encouraged the dying emperor to adopt Prince Morohito, whose biological father was Prince Sukehito, the second Prince Kan'in. Morohito, who would be known as Emperor Kōkaku later, acceded to the throne at age eight.
Retired Empress Go-Sakuramachi engaged Yoshiko to the new Emperor. Yoshiko formally became Empress consort to Emperor Kōkaku at age 15. She bore two sons, both of whom died in infancy.
In 1816, Emperor Ninkō granted Empress Yoshiko the title of Empress Dowager after Emperor Kōkaku abdicated.[2]
Shortly after Emperor Kōkaku's death, Dowager Empress Yoshiko became a Buddhist nun. In 1841, she changed her name to .[2]
Yoshiko died at age 67 and was buried Senyū-ji, which is in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto. Her memory is officially honored at her husband's mausoleum, which is known as Nochi-no-tsukinowa no misasagi.[3]