Ikko

Ikko, often romanized as Ikkō, is a Japanese term with several uses in history and onomastics. It most notably refers to the Ikkō-ikki, a historical movement rooted in the Jōdo Shinshū (Ikkō-shū) Buddhist tradition.

During the Sengoku period, from the 15th to the 16th century, Ikkō-ikki were self-organized communities of peasants, artisans, and clergy who embraced the Ikkō faith and sought greater autonomy from samurai authorities. They established strongholds in various provinces, notably in Kaga, and sometimes controlled towns through popular support and religious authority. The movement is best known for its prolonged resistance to Oda Nobunaga, including the defense of Ishiyama Hongan-ji, which endured until its siege was broken in 1580.

In modern usage, Ikko or Ikkō is also used as a given name in Japan and elsewhere. The lack of diacritics in common English texts means Ikko can appear in various contexts beyond the historical movement.

Related topics include Ikkō-ikki and the Ikkō-shū (the Jōdo Shinshū Buddhist sect).