Prince Ōtsu

Background

His mother was Princess Ōta whose father was Emperor Tenji. He was therefore the younger full-blood brother of Princess Ōku. His consort was Princess Yamanobe, daughter of Emperor Tenji, thus his cousin. His life is known from the Nihon Shoki, and his personality emerges through such poetry anthologies as Kaifūsō and Man'yōshū.
As a poet, Ōtsu is best known for the letters he exchanged with Lady Ishikawa.
Prince Ōtsu was a popular and able figure who was a likely successor of his father to the imperial throne, but was forced to commit suicide after false charges of rebellion were laid against him by Empress Jitō in order to promote her own son, Prince Kusakabe, to the position of crown prince.

Poems

Two examples of his work are below, including the death poem—
Poem sent by Prince Ōtsu to Lady Ishikawa
Gentle foothills, and

in the dew drops of the mountains

soaked, I waited for you –

grew wet from standing there

in the dew drops of the mountains.
Farewell poem
Momozutau / iware no ike ni / naku kamo wo / kyo nomi mite ya / Kumokakuri nan.
Today, taking my last sight of the mallards

Crying on the pond of Iware,

Must I vanish into the clouds!