Empress Meisho (January 9, 1624 - December 4, 1696) 109th imperial ruler of Japan. Meisho was the second daughter of Emperor Go-Mizunoo. Her mother was Tokugawa Masako, daughter of the second Tokugawa shogun, Tokugawa Hidetada. Meisho became empress following the abdication of her emperor-father. Meisho's reign spanned the years from 1629 to 1643. The years of her reign correspond with the development and growth of the Tokugawa shogunate under the leadership of Tokugawa Iemitsu.