List of Emperors of Japan
Emperors of Japan

List of Emperors of Japan

Section Title: Emperors of Japan
Table Section Text: None

No.	Portrait	Personal name	Reign	Posthumous name	Notes

Legendary Emperors (660 BC – 269 AD)

1	-	Kamu-yamato Iware-biko no Mikoto	660–585 BC	Emperor Jimmu	Traditional dates; claimed descent from the sun goddess, Amaterasu

2	-	Kamu Nunagawamimi no Mikoto	581–549 BC	Emperor Suizei	Traditional dates; 3rd son of Jimmu; presumed legendary

3	-	Shikitsuhiko Tamademi no Mikoto	549–511 BC	Emperor Annei	Traditional dates; son and heir of Suizei; presumed legendary

4	-	Oho Yamatohiko Sukitomo no Mikoto	510–476 BC	Emperor Itoku	Traditional dates; 2nd son of Annei; presumed legendary

5	-	Mimatsuhiko Kaeshine no Mikoto	475–393 BC	Emperor Kōshō	Traditional dates; son and heir of Itoku; presumed legendary

6	-	Oho Yamato Tarashihiko Kunioshi Hito no Mikoto	392–291 BC	Emperor Kōan	Traditional dates; 2nd son of Kōshō; presumed legendary

7	-	Oho Yamato Nekohiko Futoni no Mikoto	290–215 BC	Emperor Kōrei	Traditional dates; son and heir of Kōan; presumed legendary

8	-	Oho Yamato Nekohiko Kuni Kuru no Mikoto	214–158 BC	Emperor Kōgen	Traditional dates; son and heir of Kōrei; presumed legendary

9	-	Waka Yamato Nekohiko Oho Bibino no Mikoto	157–98 BC	Emperor Kaika	Traditional dates; 2nd son of Kōgen; presumed legendary

10	-	Mimaki Irihiko Inie no Mikoto	97–30 BC	Emperor Sujin	Traditional dates; first emperor of plausible historicity

11	-	Ikume Irihiko Isachi no Mikoto	29 BC–70 AD	Emperor Suinin	Traditional dates

12	-	Oho Tarashihiko Oshirowake no Mikoto	71–130	Emperor Keikō	Traditional dates

13	-	Waka Tarashihiko	131–191	Emperor Seimu	Traditional dates

14	-	Tarashi Nakatsuhiko no Mikoto	192–200	Emperor Chūai	Traditional dates

Empress OKINAGA TARASI.JPG	Okinaga Tarashihime no Mikoto	201–269	Empress Jingū	Traditional dates; served as regent for Emperor Ōjin; not counted among the officially numbered Emperors

Kofun period (269–539)

15	-	Honda no Sumeramikoto / Ōtomowake no Mikoto / Homutawake no Mikoto	270–310	Emperor Ōjin	Traditional dates; deified as Hachiman

16	-	Ō Sazaki no Mikoto	313–399	Emperor Nintoku	Traditional dates

17	-	Isaho Wake no Mikoto	400–405	Emperor Richū	Traditional dates

18	-	Tajihi Mizuha Wake no Mikoto	406–410	Emperor Hanzei	Traditional dates

19	-	Wo Asazuma Wakugo no Sukune	411–453	Emperor Ingyō	Traditional dates

20	-	Anaho no Mikoto	453–456	Emperor Ankō	Traditional dates

21	-	Oho Hatsuse Wakatakeru no Mikoto	456–479	Emperor Yūryaku	Traditional dates

22	-	Shiraka Takehiro Kuni Oshi Waka Yamato Neko no Mikoto	480–484	Emperor Seinei	Traditional dates

23	-	Ohoke no Mikoto	485–487	Emperor Kenzō	Traditional dates

24	-	Ohoshi (Ohosu) no Mikoto/ Shimano Iratsuko	488–498	Emperor Ninken	Traditional dates

25	-	Wohatsuse Wakasazaki	498–506	Emperor Buretsu	Traditional dates

26	-	Ōto/Hikofuto (Hikofuto no Mikoto/Ōdo no Sumera Mikoto)	507–531	Emperor Keitai	Traditional dates

27	-	Hirokuni Oshitake Kanahi no Mikoto	531–535	Emperor Ankan	Traditional dates

28	-	Takeo Hirokuni Oshitate no Mikoto	535–539	Emperor Senka	Traditional dates

Asuka period (539–710)

29	-	Amekuni Oshiharuki Hironiwa no Sumera Mikoto	539–571	Emperor Kinmei	Traditional dates; all Emperors from Kinmei onwards are historically verifiable

30	-	Osada no Nunakura no Futotamashiki no Mikoto	572–585	Emperor Bidatsu	Traditional dates

31	-	Ooe/Tachibana no Toyohi no Sumera Mikoto	585–587	Emperor Yōmei	Traditional dates

32	-	Hatsusebe no (Wakasasagi) Mikoto	587–592	Emperor Sushun	Traditional dates

33	-	Nukatabe/Toyomike Kashikiyahime	592–628	Empress Suiko	Traditional dates; first non-legendary female Emperor; Prince Shotoku acted as her regent

34	-	Tamura (Oki Nagatarashihi Hironuka no Sumera Mikoto)	629–641	Emperor Jomei	Traditional dates

35	-	Takara (Ame Toyotakaraikashi Hitarashi Hime no Sumera Mikoto)	642–645	Empress Kōgyoku	Traditional dates; reigned twice

36	-	Karu (Ame Yorozu Toyohi no Sumera Mikoto)	645–654	Emperor Kōtoku	Traditional dates

37	-	Takara (Ame Toyotakaraikashi Hitarashi Hime no Sumera Mikoto)	655–661	Empress Saimei	Traditional dates; second reign of Empress Kōgyoku

38	-	Katsuragi/Nakano-ooe (Ame Mikoto Hirakasuwake no Mikoto/Amatsu Mikoto Sakiwake no Mikoto)	661–672	Emperor Tenji	Traditional dates

39	-	Ōtomo	672	Emperor Kōbun	Traditional dates; usurped by Temmu; posthumously named (1870)

40	-	Ōama/Ohoshiama/Ōsama (Ame no Nunahara Oki no Mahito no Sumera Mikoto)	672–686	Emperor Tenmu	Traditional dates

41	-	Unonosarara (Takama no Harahiro no Hime no Sumera Mikoto)	686–697	Empress Jitō	Traditional dates

42	-	Karu (Ame no Mamune Toyoohoji no Sumera Mikoto)	697–707	Emperor Monmu	Traditional dates

Nara period (710–794)

43	-	Ahe (Yamatoneko Amatsu Mishiro Toyokuni Narihime no Sumera Mikoto)	707–715	Empress Genmei	Traditional dates

44	-	Hidaka/Niinomi (Yamatoneko Takamizu Kiyotarashi Hime no Sumera Mikoto)	715–724	Empress Genshō	Traditional dates

45	-	Obito (Ameshirushi Kunioshiharuki Toyosakurahiko no Sumera Mikoto)	724–749	Emperor Shōmu	Traditional dates

46	-	Abe (Yamatoneko no Sumera Mikoto)	749–758	Empress Kōken	Traditional dates; reigned twice

47	-	Ōi	758–764	Emperor Junnin	Traditional dates dethroned by Shōtoku; posthumously named (1870)

48	-	Abe (Yamatoneko no Sumera Mikoto)	764–770	Empress Shōtoku	Traditional dates; second reign of Empress Kōken

49	-	Shirakabe (Amemune Takatsugi no Mikoto)	770–781	Emperor Kōnin	Traditional dates

50	-	Yamabe (Yamatoneko Amatsu Hitsugi Iyaderi no Mikoto)	781–806	Emperor Kanmu	Traditional dates

Heian period (794–1185)

51	-	Ate (Yamatoneko Ameoshikuni Takahiko no Mikoto)	806–809	Emperor Heizei	Traditional dates

52	-	Kamino	809–823	Emperor Saga	Traditional dates

53	-	Ōtomo	823–833	Emperor Junna	Traditional dates

54	-	Masara	833–850	Emperor Ninmyō	Traditional dates

55	-	Michiyasu	850–858	Emperor Montoku	Traditional dates

56	-	Korehito	858–876	Emperor Seiwa	Traditional dates

57	-	Sadaakira	876–884	Emperor Yōzei	Traditional dates

58	-	Tokiyasu	884–887	Emperor Kōkō	Traditional dates

59	-	Sadami	887–897	Emperor Uda	Traditional dates

60	-	Atsuhito	897–930	Emperor Daigo	Traditional dates

61	-	Yutaakira	930–946	Emperor Suzaku	Traditional dates

62	-	Nariakira	946–967	Emperor Murakami	Traditional dates

63	-	Norihira	967–969	Emperor Reizei	Traditional dates

64	-	Morihira	969–984	Emperor En'yū	Traditional dates

65	-	Morosada	984–986	Emperor Kazan	Traditional dates

66	-	Kanehito	986–1011	Emperor Ichijō	Traditional dates

67	-	Okisada/Iyasada	1011–1016	Emperor Sanjō	Traditional dates

68	-	Atsuhira	1016–1036	Emperor Go-Ichijō	Traditional dates

69	-	Atsunaga/Atsuyoshi	1036–1045	Emperor Go-Suzaku	Traditional dates

70	-	Chikahito	1045–1068	Emperor Go-Reizei	Traditional dates

71	-	Takahito	1068–1073	Emperor Go-Sanjō	Traditional dates

72	-	Sadahito	1073–1087	Emperor Shirakawa	Traditional dates

73	-	Taruhito	1087–1107	Emperor Horikawa	Traditional dates

74	-	Munehito	1107–1123	Emperor Toba	Traditional dates

75	-	Akihito	1123–1142	Emperor Sutoku	Traditional dates

76	-	Narihito	1142–1155	Emperor Konoe	Traditional dates

77	-	Masahito	1155–1158	Emperor Go-Shirakawa	Traditional dates

78	-	Morihito	1158–1165	Emperor Nijō	Traditional dates

79	-	Yorihito	1165–1168	Emperor Rokujō	Traditional dates

80	-	Norihito	1168–1180	Emperor Takakura	Traditional dates

81	-	Tokihito	1180–1185	Emperor Antoku	Traditional dates

Kamakura period (1185–1333)

82	-	Takahira	1183–1198	Emperor Go-Toba	Traditional dates

83	-	Tamehito	1198–1210	Emperor Tsuchimikado	Traditional dates

84	-	Morihira/Morinari	1210–1221	Emperor Juntoku	Traditional dates

85	-	Kanehira/Kanenari	1221	Emperor Chūkyō	Traditional dates; posthumously named (1870)

86	-	Yutahito	1221–1232	Emperor Go-Horikawa	Traditional dates

87	-	Mitsuhito/Toshihito	1232–1242	Emperor Shijō	Traditional dates

88	-	Kunihito	1242–1246	Emperor Go-Saga	Traditional dates

89	-	Hisahito	1246–1260	Emperor Go-Fukakusa	Traditional dates

90	-	Tsunehito	1260–1274	Emperor Kameyama	Traditional dates

91	-	Yohito	1274–1287	Emperor Go-Uda	Traditional dates

92	-	Hirohito	1287–1298	Emperor Fushimi	Traditional dates

93	-	Tanehito	1298–1301	Emperor Go-Fushimi	Traditional dates

94	-	Kuniharu	1301–1308	Emperor Go-Nijō	Traditional dates

95	-	Tomihito	1308–1318	Emperor Hanazono	Traditional dates

96	-	Takaharu	1318–1339	Emperor Go-Daigo	Traditional dates; Southern Court

Northern Court (1331–1392)

-	Kazuhito	1331–1333	Emperor Kōgon	Traditional dates

-	Yutahito	1336–1348	Emperor Kōmyō	Traditional dates

-	Okihito	1348–1351	Emperor Sukō	Traditional dates

-	Iyahito	1352–1371	Emperor Go-Kōgon	Traditional dates

-	Ohito	1371–1382	Emperor Go-En'yū	Traditional dates

-	Motohito	1382–1392	Emperor Go-Komatsu	Traditional dates; reunified courts in 1392; see 100 below

Muromachi period and Azuchi–Momoyama period (1333–1603)

97	-	Norinaga/Noriyoshi	1339–1368	Emperor Go-Murakami	Traditional dates; Southern Court

98	-	Yutanari	1368–1383	Emperor Chōkei	Traditional dates; Southern Court

99	-	Hironari	1383–1392	Emperor Go-Kameyama	Traditional dates; Southern Court

100	-	Motohito	1392–1412	Emperor Go-Komatsu	Traditional dates; reunified courts; see also entry in Northern Court section above

101	-	Mihito	1412–1428	Emperor Shōkō	Traditional dates

102	-	Hikohito	1428–1464	Emperor Go-Hanazono	Traditional dates

103	-	Fusahito	1464–1500	Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado	Traditional dates

104	-	Katsuhito	1500–1526	Emperor Go-Kashiwabara	Traditional dates

105	-	Tomohito	1526–1557	Emperor Go-Nara	Traditional dates

106	-	Michihito	1557–1586	Emperor Ōgimachi	Traditional dates

107	-	Kazuhito/Katahito	1586–1611	Emperor Go-Yōzei	Traditional dates

Edo period (1603–1867)

108	-	Kotohito	1611–1629	Emperor Go-Mizunoo (Go-Minoo)	Traditional dates

109	-	Okiko	1629–1643	Empress Meishō	Traditional dates

110	-	Tsuguhito	1643–1654	Emperor Go-Kōmyō	Traditional dates

111	-	Nagahito	1655–1663	Emperor Go-Sai	Traditional dates

112	-	Satohito	1663–1687	Emperor Reigen	Traditional dates

113	-	Asahito/Tomohito	1687–1709	Emperor Higashiyama	Traditional dates

114	-	Yasuhito/Yoshihito	1709–1735	Emperor Nakamikado	Traditional dates

115	-	Teruhito	1735–1747	Emperor Sakuramachi	Traditional dates

116	-	Toohito	1747–1762	Emperor Momozono	Traditional dates

117	-	Toshiko	1762–1771	Empress Go-Sakuramachi	Traditional dates Last female Emperor. Abdicated; died in 1813

118	-	Hidehito	1771–1779	Emperor Go-Momozono	Traditional dates

119	-	Morohito	1780–1817	Emperor Kōkaku	Traditional dates Last Emperor to abdicate for over two centuries. Died in 1840

120	-	Ayahito	1817–1846	Emperor Ninkō

121	-	Osahito	1846–1867	Emperor Kōmei	Last instance of an Emperor with multiple era names

Imperial, occupation and post-occupation Japan (from 1867)

122	-	Mutsuhito	1867–1912	Emperor Meiji	First Emperor of the Empire of Japan

123	-	Yoshihito	1912–1926	Emperor Taishō	Crown Prince Hirohito served as Sesshō (Prince Regent) 1921–1926

124	-	Hirohito	1926–1989	Emperor Shōwa	Served as Sesshō (Prince Regent) 1921–1926. The last Emperor of the Empire of Japan

125	-	Akihito	1989–2019	N/A	Abdicated on 1 May 2019, first to abdicate in over 200 years. Referred to as Jōkō ("the Grand Emperor") in Japanese, and as "Emperor Emeritus Akihito" in English.

126	Naruhito	2019–present	N/A	Ascended on 1 May 2019. Referred to as Kinjō Tennō ("the Reigning Emperor") or Tennō Heika ("His Majesty the Emperor") in Japanese, and as "Emperor Naruhito" in English.

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