The Shikken (Japanese: 執 権) were the regents of the shōgun during the shogunate of Kamakura in Japan. The charge was monopolized by the Hōjō clan.
Hōjō Tokimasa, father-in-law of the first shōgun, Minamoto no Yoritomo, became the first shikken in 1203. The shikken was the chief of the knightkoro at that time, and after replacing the second shōgun, Minamoto no Yoriie, with Sanetomo , became the de facto governor of the shogunate.
Tokimasa's son, Yoshitoki, strengthened the position by converting him to the position of head of the Samurai-dokoro, once he had annihilated the powerful Wada clan, which had held that position forever. The shikken happened to be the greater charge, that controlled in practice to the shōgun, whom it turned into puppets. In 1224, Yoshitoki's son, Hōjō Yasutoki, created the rensho (co-signatories) post as regent's assistant.
At first, this position was occupied by the tokusō, leader of the Hōjō clan, but Hōjō Tokiyori separated both responsibilities. He installed Hōjō Nagatoki as a shikken and at the same time made Tokimune succeed him as a tokusō. Executive power went from shikken to tokusō. Lista de Shikken
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