was the 120th emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession. Ninkà Â's reign spanned the years from 1817 until his death in 1846, and saw further deterioration of the power of the ruling . Disasters, which included famine, combined with corruption and increasing Western interference, helped to erode public trust in the government. Emperor Ninkà  revived certain court rituals and practices upon the wishes of his father. However, it is unknown what role, if any, the Emperor had in the turmoil which occurred during his reign.
His family included fifteen children from various concubines, but only three of them lived to adulthood. His fourth son, Imperial Prince Osahito, became Emperor Kà Âmei upon Ninkà Â's death in 1846. While political power at the time still resided with the , the beginnings of the (end of military government) were at hand.
Before Ninkà Â's ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (imina) was . He was born on 16 March 1800 and was the fourth son of Emperor Kà Âkaku. He was the only child of sixteen others to survive into adulthood. Ayahito was named as crown prince in 1809, having been adopted by his father's chief wife , also known as . His birth mother was one of his father's concubines named .
Prince Ayahito was enthroned as Emperor on 31 October 1817, after his father retired from the throne. Following his father the Retired Emperor's wishes, he attempted to revive certain court rituals and practices. These included, among other things, restoring the title tennà Â, which identified the Emperor. Among Ninkà Â's innovations was the establishment of the Gakushà «sho (the predecessor of the Gakushà «in) for the Court Nobility just outside the Imperial Palace. One major event during his reign was the Tenpà  famine which lasted from 1833 to 1837. The famine was most severe in northern Honshà « and was caused by flooding and cold weather.
Ninkà Â's reign also saw some deterioration of the Shà Âgun's power. Damage from the Tenpà  famine and other concurring natural disasters shook the faith of the people in the ruling Shà Âgun. In 1837, à Âshio Heihachirà  led a revolt in Osaka against corrupt officials who refused to help feed the impoverished residents of the city. That same year also had an incident take place where an American merchant vessel was driven away by coastal artillery. While order was eventually restored, long term resentment resonated with the commoners against the ruling government. It is unclear though what role, if any, the Emperor played during this period of unrest.
Emperor Ninkà  died on 21 February 1846 and was enshrined in the Imperial mausoleum, , which is at Sennyà «-ji in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto. Also enshrined in Tsuki no wa no misasagi, at Sennyà «-ji are this Emperor's immediate Imperial predecessors since Emperor Go-Mizunoo â Meishà Â, Go-Kà Âmyà Â, Go-Sai, Reigen, Higashiyama, Nakamikado, Sakuramachi, Momozono, Go-Sakuramachi, Go-Momozono and Kà Âkaku. The shrine complex also encompasses the misasagi of Ninkà Â's immediate successor â Kà Âmei. Empress Dowager Yoshikà  is also entombed at this Imperial mausoleum complex.
The years of Ninkà Â's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengà Â. While is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre-Meiji eras. Even during those years in which the court's actual influence outside the palace walls was minimal, the hierarchic organization persisted.
The following eras occurred during Ninkà Â's reign:
During Ninkà Â's reign, this apex of the Daijà Â-kan included:
Emperor Ninkà Â's family included 7 sons and 8 daughters from various concubines, but only the future Emperor Komei (Komei-tennà Â), Princess Sumiko (Sumiko-naishinnà Â) and Princess Chikako (Chikako-naishinnà Â) survived beyond childhood.