Home > List of Emperors of Japan

The Pre-Yamato (Ancient) Period

1 Jimmu 660–585 BC
2 Suizei 581–549 BC
3 Annei 549–511 BC
4 Itoku 510–476 BC
5 Kosho 475–393 BC
6 Koan 392–291 BC
7 Korei 290–215 BC
8 Kogen 214–158 BC
9 Kaika 157–98 BC
10 Sujin 97–30 BC
11 Suinin 29 BC–AD 70
12 Keiko 71–130
13 Seimu 131–191 *
14 ChuaiJapanese emperors Emperor Chuai was the forteenth imperial ruler of Japan to appear on the traditional list of emperors. No firm date can be assigned to this emperor and he is regarded by historians as a "legendary emperor". This does not necessarily impl 192–200
Jingu Kogo 209–269 (Regent)
15 OjinEmperor Ojin was the fifteenth imperial ruler of Japan to appear on the traditional list of emperors. No firm date can be assigned to this emperor. He is the earliest historical emperor. He has been deified as Hachiman Daimyojin, regarded as the guardian(Hachiman) 270–310
16 NintokuEmperor Nintoku was the 16th imperial ruler of Japan. No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor or to his reign, but he is considered to have ruled the country during the early 5th century CE. According to Nihonshoki he was the fourth son of Emperor O 313–399 *

Yamato Period

17 RichuEmperor Richu was the 17th imperial ruler of Japan. No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor or to his reign, but he is believed to have ruled the country during the early 5th century CE. According to Nihonshoki and Kojiki, he was the first son of Ni 400–405 *
18 HanzeiJapanese emperors Emperor Hanzei was the 18th imperial ruler of Japan. No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor or to his reign, but he is believed to have ruled the country during the early 5th century CE. 406–410 *
19 IngyoEmperor Ingyo was the 19th imperial ruler of Japan. No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor or to his reign, but he is believed to have ruled the country during the mid- 5th century CE. According to Kojiki and Nihonshoki he was the 4th son of Nintok 411–453 *
20 AnkoEmperor Anko was the 20th imperial ruler of Japan. No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor or to his reign, but he is believed to have ruled the country during the mid- 5th century CE. According to Kojiki and Nihonshoki Anko was the second son of In 453–456 *
21 YuryakuEmperor Yuryaku was the 21st imperial ruler of Japan. No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor or to his reign, but he is believed to have ruled the country during the late 5th century CE. According to Kojiki and Nihonshoki Yuryaku was named Prince O 456–479 *
22 Seinei 480–484 *
23 Kenzo or Kenso 485–487 *
24 Ninken 488–498 *
25 Buretsu 498–506 *
26 Keitai 507–531
27 Ankan 531–536 *
28 Senkwa 536–539 *

Clearly dated emperors and empresses

29 Kimmei ( 509– 571, r. 539– 571)
30 Bidatsu ( 538– 585, r. 572– 585)
31 Yomei (?– 587, r. 585– 587) *
32 Sushun (?– 592, r. 587– 592) *
33 Suiko ( 554– 628, r. 593– 628) *
34 Jomei ( 593– 641, r. 629– 641)
35 Kogyoku(Saimei) ( 594– 661, r. 642– 645) *
36 Kotoku(Taika) ( 597– 654, r. 645– 654) *
37 Saimei ( 594– 661, r. 655– 661) *
38 Tenji ( 626– 672, r. 661– 672)
39 Kobun ( 648– 672, r. 672) *
40 Temmu (?– 686, r. 672– 686) *
41 Jito ( 645– 703, r. 686– 697) *
42 Mommu ( 683– 707, r. 697– 707) *
43 Gemmei ( 661– 722, r. 707– 715) *

The Nara Period

44 Gensho(Yoro) ( 680– 748, r. 715– 724) *
45 Shomu ( 701– 756, r. 724– 749) *
46 Koken ( 718– 770, r. 749– 758) *
47 Junnin ( 733– 765, r. 758– 764) *
48 Shotoku ( 718– 770, r. 764– 770) *
49 Konin ( 709– 782, r. 770– 781)

The Heian Period

50 Kammu or Kwammu ( 737– 806, r. 781– 806)
51 Heizei ( 774– 824, r. 806– 809) *
52 Saga ( 786– 842, r. 809– 823)
53 Junna ( 786– 840, r. 823– 833) *
54 Nimmyo ( 810– 850, r. 833– 850)
55 Montoku ( 827– 858, r. 850– 858) *
56 Seiwa ( 850– 881, r. 858– 876) *
57 Yozei ( 869– 949, r. 876– 884) *
58 Koko ( 830– 887, r. 884– 887)
59 Uda ( 867– 931, r. 887– 897)
60 Daigo ( 885– 930, r. 897– 930)
61 Suzaku ( 923– 952, r. 930– 946) *
62 Murakami ( 926– 967, r. 946– 967)
63 Reizei ( 950– 1011, r. 967– 969) *
64 En'yu ( 959– 991, r. 969– 984)
65 Kazan ( 968– 1008, r. 984– 986) *
66 Ichijo ( 980– 1011, r. 986– 1011) *
67 Sanjo ( 976– 1017, r. 1011– 1016) *
68 Go-Ichijo ( 1008– 1036, r. 1016– 1036) *
69 Go-Suzaku ( 1009– 1045, r. 1036– 1045)
70 Go-Reizei ( 1025– 1068, r. 1045– 1068) *
71 Go-Sanjo ( 1034– 1073, r. 1068– 1073)
72 Shirakawa ( 1053– 1129, r. 1073– 1087 and cloistered rule 1086– 1129)
73 Horikawa ( 1079– 1107, r. 1087– 1107)
74 Toba ( 1103– 1156, r. 1107– 1123 and cloistered rule 1129– 1156)
75 Sutoku ( 1119– 1164, r. 1123– 1142) *
76 Konoe ( 1139– 1155, r. 1142– 1155) *
77 Go-Shirakawa ( 1127– 1192, r. 1155– 1158 and cloistered rule 1158– 1192)
78 Nijo ( 1143– 1165, r. 1158– 1165) *
79 Rokujo ( 1164– 1176, r. 1165– 1168) *
80 Takakura ( 1161– 1181, r. 1168– 1180)
81 Antoku ( 1178– 1185, r. 1180– 1185) *
82 Go-Toba ( 1180– 1239, r. 1183– 1198)

The Kamakura Period

83 Tsuchimikado ( 1195– 1231, r. 1198– 1210)
84 Juntoku ( 1197– 1242, r. 1210– 1221) *
85 Chukyo ( 1218– 1234, r. 1221) *
86 Go-Horikawa ( 1212– 1234, r. 1221– 1232) *
87 Shijo ( 1231– 1242, r. 1232– 1242) *
88 Go-Saga ( 1220– 1272, r. 1242– 1246)
89 Go-Fukakusa ( 1243– 1304, r. 1246– 1260)
90 Kameyama ( 1249– 1305, r. 1260– 1274) *
91 Go-Uda ( 1267– 1324, r. 1274– 1287) *
92 Fushimi ( 1265– 1317, r. 1287– 1298)
93 Go-Fushimi ( 1288– 1336, r. 1298– 1301)
94 Go-Nijo ( 1285– 1308, r. 1301– 1308) *
95 Hanazono ( 1297– 1348, r. 1308– 1318) *
96 Go-Daigo ( 1288– 1339, r. 1318– 1339) *

The Muromachi Period

97 Go-Murakami ( 1328– 1368, r. 1339– 1368) *
98 Chokei ( 1343– 1394, r. 1368– 1383) *
99 Go-Kameyama (?– 1424, r. 1383– 1392) *

(Northern Court)

Northern Ashikaga Pretender 1: Kogon ( 1313– 1364, r. 1331– 1333)
Northern Ashikaga Pretender 2: Komyo ( 1322– 1380, r. 1336– 1348) *
Northern Ashikaga Pretender 3: Suko ( 1334– 1398, r. 1348– 1351)
Interregnum, November 26, 1351 until September 25, 1352
Northern Ashikaga Pretender 4: Go-Kogon ( 1338– 1374, r. 1352– 1371) *
Northern Ashikaga Pretender 5: Go-En'yu ( 1359– 1393, r. 1371– 1382) *
100 Go-Komatsu ( 1377– 1433, r. 1392– 1412) *
101 Shoko ( 1401– 1428, r. 1412– 1428) *
102 Go-Hanazono ( 1419– 1471, r. 1428– 1464)
103 Go-Tsuchimikado ( 1442– 1500, r. 1464– 1500)
104 Go-Kashiwabara ( 1464– 1526, r. 1500– 1526)
105 Go-Nara ( 1497– 1557, r. 1526– 1557)
106 Ogimachi ( 1517– 1593, r. 1557– 1586)
107 Go-Yozei ( 1572– 1617, r. 1586– 1611)

The Edo Period

108 Go-Mizunoo ( 1596– 1680, r. 1611– 1629)
109 Meisho ( 1624– 1696, r. 1629– 1643) *
110 Go-Komyo ( 1633– 1654, r. 1643– 1654) *
111 Go-Sai ( 1637– 1685, r. 1655– 1663) *
112 Reigen ( 1654– 1732, r. 1663– 1687)
113 Higashiyama ( 1675– 1709, r. 1687– 1709)
114 Nakamikado ( 1702– 1737, r. 1709– 1735) *
115 Sakuramachi ( 1720– 1750, r. 1735– 1747) *
116 Momozono ( 1741– 1762, r. 1747– 1762) *
117 Go-Sakuramachi ( 1740– 1813, r. 1762– 1771) *
118 Go-Momozono ( 1758– 1779, r. 1771– 1779) *
119 Kokaku ( 1771– 1840, r. 1780– 1817)
120 Ninko ( 1800– 1846, r. 1817– 1846)
121 Komei ( 1831– 1867, r. 1846– 1867)
122 Meiji ( 1852– 1912, r. 1867– 1912)
123 Taisho ( 1879– 1926, r. 1912– 1926)
124 Hirohito ( Showa emperor) ( 1901– 1989, r. 1926– 1989)
125 Akihito ( 1933– , r. 1989–present)