Non-political activities
"Letting the radiance of his power and majesty shine forth unobscured, at the same time he amused himself with every variety of art and accomplishment. In all of these he was second to none, so that people wondered when and how he had gained such proficiency. And many who were experts at one or another of these arts were enabled by the ex-emperor's interest to attain fame and fortune. It is said that the Buddha leads all men to salvation, even those guilty of the ten evils and five deadly sins. For his part, the ex-sovereign showed an interest in every accomplishment, even those which seemed of the most trivial and insignificant kind. So that all sorts of people who had any claim to knowledge of these matters were summoned to his presence, where, it appears, they could petition freely for his favor.
Among all these arts, his skill in Japanese poetry might be said to leave one at a loss for superlatives. People might think that to speak in this way is to make much out of nothing. But since a great many of the ex-sovereign's compositions may be easily found in various collections, anyone can judge for himself. It may be imagined what must have been his skill in other arts and accomplishments. But as long as endure the texts of his poetic compositions as people have written them down and preserved them, even remote generations may see for themselves the extent of his poetic mastery."
Despite the limits on his political powers, he developed skills as a calligrapher, painter, musician, poet, critic, and editor, although the majority of his activities took place after his abdication aged 18 (as the abdication freed him from 'the ceremonial prison of the imperial palace').
Besides his enthusiasm for archery, equestrianism, and swordsmanship, Go-Toba was a great lover of swords. He summoned swordsmiths to his court where they were given honorary titles. They taught the emperor their craft. As a result he became a respectable swordsmith himself. It was his patronage and encouragement of this art that gave birth to Japan's 'Golden Age' of bladesmithing. His contribution to the art is still held in high esteem. Even today a tradition maintains how in sword literature he is the first and foremost swordsmith discussed.
His greatest contribution to literature is the Shin Kokinshū (The New Anthology of Ancient and Modern Waka), which Japanese has considered one of three major influential waka anthologies along Man'yōshū and Kokin Wakashū. He ordered its creation and took part in the working group as an editor. He revived the Office of Waka (和歌所) and made it the headquarters of this edition. He held many utakai (waka parties) and utaawase (waka competitions). Not only the creator and organizer, he acted as a critic, and wrote the style of waka in general and criticism of his contemporary poets.
During his exile, he continued to compose hundreds of waka and to edit both anthologies from his creation in Oki Islands and a private edition of Shin Kokinshū for 18 years, getting rid of around 400 wakas from the former edition, while its edition had been officially declared to be completed in 1204, and further elaborations finished even in 1216. While he declared his private edition should be authentic, today the 1216 version is considered as the authentic and others as variants. His edition is today called Oki-bon Shin Kokinshū (Oki edition). It is probable that during his exile, he also wrote his Go-Toba no in gokuden ("Secret Teachings"), a short work on aesthetic criticism; the "Secret Teachings" are particularly valuable as a major source on Go-Toba's complicated relationships with his former client, the greatest poet of the age – Fujiwara no Teika.
One of his 31-syllable poems was chosen by Fujiwara no Teika as Number 99 in the popular anthology Hyakunin Isshu.
Kugyō (公卿) is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre-Meiji eras.
In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background would have brought them to the pinnacle of a life's career. During Go-Toba's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included:
Sesshō, Konoe Motomichi, 1160–1233.
Sesshō, Matsu Morie, 1172–1238.
Sesshō, Kujō Kanezane.
Daijō-daijin, Kujō Kanezane.
Daijō-daijin, Kujō Kanefusa, d. 1217.
Sadaijin, Ōimikado Tsunemune, 1119–1189.
Sadaijin, Todaiji Sanesada, 1139–1191.
Sadaijin, Sanjō Sanefusa, 1147–1225.
Sadaijin, Ōimikado Yorizane, 1155–1225.
Udaijin, Tokudaiji Sanesada.
Udaijin, Sanjō Sanefusa.
Udaijin, Ōimikado Yorizane.
Nadaijin, Matsu Morie.
Nadaijin, Tokudaiji Sanesada.
Nadaijin, Konoe Motomichi.
Nadaijin, Kujō Kanefusa.
Nadaijin, Kujō Yoshimichi, 1167–1188.
Nadaijin, Fujiwara Tudachida, d. 1195.
Nadaijin, Kujō Yoshitsine, 1169–1206.
Dainagon
