Bidatsu rules during a tense period between the Soga and Mononobe clans regarding acceptance of Buddhism in Japan.

During his reign, he will have two empresses.

The first empress, Hirohime, had died in 577, the fifth year of his reign.

To replace her, he had elevated one of his consorts, Princess Nukatabe, to the rank of empress.

Nukatabe, his half-sister by their father Kimmei, will later ascend to the throne in her own right and is today known as Empress Suiko.

In external affairs, Bidatsu seeks to reestablish Japanese influence in Korea but is largely unsuccessful; according to Nihonshoki, his court establishes relations with Baekje and Silla.