Emperors of Japan

The succession of Emperors as described in the Nihon Shoki and the Kojiki cannot be taken at face-value. Neither can the presented dates for those before reign of Emperor Kimmei, who ruled from 539 to 571^[1] be trusted.

The following list has been divided up by eras, and most importantly by those that fall under the "mythological" or "historical" categories. Emperor Sujin is believed to have been the first "historical" Emperor (being the first Emperor to rule in the growing Yamato region) after the tribal confederacies that had held power previously--this does not mean, however, that he and those that followed did not have highly ficionalized lives.

Recent scholarship has raised the possibility that Emperors Seimu and Chûai, and Empress Jingû were completely ficticious characters^[2]. This assertion could very well apply to many other early Emperors, while others are most likely composite figures--an amalgamation of various important figures in early Japan.

Mythological

1. Jimmu 660 - 582 BC

2. Suizei 581 - 549

3. Annei 549 - 511

4. Itoku 510 - 476

5. Kôshô 475 - 393

6. Kôan 392 - 291

7. Kôrei 290 - 215

8. Kôgen 214 - 158

9. Kaika 157 - 98

Historical

10. Sujin 97-30

11. Suinin 29 BC- 70 AD

12. Keiko 71 - 130

13. Seimu 131 - 191

14. Chûai 192 - 200

Jingû 209 - 269 (Regent)

15. Ôjin 270 - 310

16. Nintoku 313 - 399

17. Richû 400 - 405

18. Hanzei 406 - 410

19. Ingyô 411 - 453

20. Ankô 453 - 456

21. Yûryaku 456 - 479

22. Seinei 480 - 484

23. Kenso 485 - 487

24. Ninken 488 - 498

25. Buretsu 498 - 506

26. Keitai 507 - 531

27. Ankan 531 - 536

Asuka Period 飛鳥時代

28. Senka 536 - 539

29. Kimmei 539 - 571

30. Bidatsu 572 - 585

31. Yomei 585 - 587

32. Sushun 588 - 592

33. Suiko 593 - 628

34. Jomei 629 - 641

35. Kogyoku (Saimei) 642 - 644

36. Kotoku (Taika) 645 - 654

37. Saimei 655 - 660

38. Tenji 661 - 670

39. Kobun 671 - 672

40. Temmu 673 - 685

41. Jito 686 - 696

42. Mommu 697 - 706

Nara Period　奈良時代

43. Gemmei 707-714

44. Genshô (Yoro) 715-723

45. Shômu 724-749

46. Kôken (Shôtoku) 749-758

47. Junnin 758-763

48. Shôtoku (Kôken) 764-770

49. Kônin 770-780

Heian Period　平安時代

50. Kammu 781-806

51. Heizei 806-809

52. Saga 809-823

53. Junna 823-833

54. Ninmyô 833-850

55. Montoku 850-858

56. Seiwa 858-876

57. Yôzei 876-884

58. Kôkô 884-887

59. Uda 887-897

60. Daigo 897-930

61. Suzaku 930-946

62. Murakami 946-967

63. Reizei 967-969

64. En'yû 969-984

65. Kazan 984-986

66. Ichijô 986-1011

67. Sanjô 1011-1016

68. Go-Ichijô 1016-1036

69. Go-Suzaku 1036-1045

70. Go-Reizei 1045-1068

71. Go-Sanjô 1068-1072

72. Shirakawa 1072-1086

73. Horikawa 1086-1107

74. Toba 1107-1123

75. Sutoku 1123-1141

76. Konoe 1141-1155

77. Go-Shirakawa 1155-1158

78. Nijô 1158-1165

79. Rokujô 1165-1168

80. Takakura 1168-1180

81. Antoku 1180-1183

Kamakura Period　鎌倉時代

82. Go-Toba 1183-1198

83. Tsuchimikado 1198-1210

84. Juntoku 1210-1221

85. Chukyo 1221

86. Go-Horikawa 1221-1232

87. Shijô 1232-1242

88. Go-Saga 1242-1246

89. Go-Fukakusa 1246-1259

90. Kameyama 1259-1274

91. Go-Uda 1274-1287

92. Fushimi 1288-1298

93. Go-Fushimi 1298-1301

94. Go-Nijô 1301-1308

95. Hanazono 1308-1318

Muromachi Period　室町時代

96. Go-Daigo 1318-1339

97. Go-Murakami 1339-1367

98. Chôkei 1368-1383

99. Go-Kameyama 1383-1392

Northern Court

Kôgon 1331-1333
Kômyô 1336-1347
Sukô 1348-1351
Go-Kôgon 1352-1370
Go-En'yû 1371-1382

100. Go-Komatsu 1382-1412

101. Shôkô 1412-1428

102. Go-Hanazono 1428-1464

103. Go-Tsuchimakado 1464-1499

104. Go-Kashiwabara 1500-1525

105. Go-Nara 1526-1556

106. Ôgimachi 1557-1585

107. Go-Yôzei 1586-1610

Edo Period　江戸時代

108. Go-Mizunoo 1611-1629

109. Meishô 1629-1643

110. Go-Kômyô 1643-1653

111. Go-Sai 1654-1662

112. Reigen 1663-1686

113. Higashiyama 1687-1709

114. Nakamikado 1709-1735

115. Sakuramachi 1735-1746

116. Momozono 1747-1761

117. Go-Sakuramachi 1762-1770

118. Go-Momozono 1770-1778

119. Kôkaku 1779-1816

120. Ninkô 1817-1845

121. Kômei 1846-1867

Meiji Period　明治時代

122. Meiji 1868-1912

Modern Era　現代

123. Taishô 1912 - 1926

124. Shôwa 1926 - 1989

125. Heisei 1989 - Present

Emperors and Eras

Table 1

**Emperors and Eras**
Emperor	Era	Kanji	Start Year
Kotoku			645
	Taika	大化	645
	Hakuchi	白雉	650
Saimei			655
Tenji			661
Kobun			671
Temmu			673
Jito			686
	Shuchô	朱鳥	686
Mommu			697
	Taihô	大宝	701
	Keiun	慶雲	704
Gemmei			707
	Yôrô	養老	708
Genshô			715
	Reiki	霊亀	715
	Yôwa	養和	717
Shomu			724
	Jinki	神亀	724
	Tenpyô	天平	729
	Tenpyô-kanpô	天平感宝	749
Koken			749
	Tenpyô-shôhô	天平勝宝	749
	Tenpyô-hôji	天平宝字	757
Junnin			758
Shotoku			764
	Tenpyô-jingo	天平神護	765
	Jingo-keiun	神護景雲	767
	Hôki	宝亀	770
Kammu			781
	Ten'ô	天応	781
	Enryaku	延暦	782
Heizei			806
	Daidô	大同	806
Saga			809
	Kônin	弘仁	810
Junna			823
	Tenchô	天長	824
Nimmyo			833
	Jôwa	承和	834
	Kajô	嘉祥	848
Montoku			850
	Ninju	仁寿	851
	Saikô	斉衡	854
	Tennan	天安	857
Seiwa			858
	Jôgan	貞観	859
Yozei			876
	Gangyô	元慶	877
Koko			884
	Ninna	仁和	885
Uda			887
	Kanpyô	寛平	889
Daigo			897
	Shôtai	昌泰	898
	Engi	延喜	901
	Enchô	延長	923
Suzaku			930
	Jôhei	承平	931
	Tengyô	天慶	938
Murakami			946
	Tenshô	天正	947
	Ten'yô	天養	957
	Ôwa	応和	961
	Kôhô	康保	964
Reizei			967
	Anna	安和	968
Enyu			969
	Tenryaku	天暦	970
	Ten'en	天延	973
	Jôgen	貞元	976
	Tengen	天元	978
	Eikan	永観	983
Kazan			984
	Kanna	寛和	985
Ichijô			986
	Eien	永延	987
	Eiso	永祚	988
	Shôryaku	正暦	990
	Chôtoku	長徳	995
	Chôhô	長保	999
	Kankô	寛弘	1004
Sanjo			1011
	Chôwa	長和	1012
Go-Ichijô			1016
	Kannin	寛仁	1017
	Jian	治安	1021
	Manju	万寿	1024
	Chôgen	長元	1028
Go-Suzaku			1036
	Chôryaku	長暦	1037
	Chôkyû	長久	1040
	Kantoku	寛徳	1044
Go-Reizei			1045
	Eishô	永承	1046
	Tengi	天喜	1053
	Kôhei	康平	1058
	Jiryaku	治暦	1065
Go-Sanjo			1068
	Enkyû	延久	1069
Shirakawa			1072
	Jôhô	承保	1074
	Jôryaku	承暦	1077
	Eihô	永保	1081
	Ôtoku	応徳	1084
Horikawa			1086
	Kanji	寛治	1087
	Kahô	嘉保	1094
	Eichô	永長	1096
	Jôtoku	承徳	1097
	Kôwa	康和	1099
	Chôji	長治	1104
	Kajô	嘉承	1106
Toba			1107
	Tennin	天仁	1108
	Ten'ei	天永	1110
	Eikyû	永久	1113
	Gen'ei	元永	1118
	Hôan	保安	1120
Sutoku			1123
	Tenji	天治	1124
	Daiji	大治	1126
	Tentoku	天徳	1131
	Chôshô	長承	1132
	Hôen	保延	1135
Konoe			1141
	Eiji	永治	1141
	Kôji	康治	1142
	Tokuji	徳治	1144
	Kyûan	久安	1145
	Ninpei	仁平	1151
	Kyûju	久寿	1154
Go-Shirakawa			1155
	Hôgen	保元	1156
Nijô			1158
	Heiji	平治	1159
	Eiryaku	永暦	1160
	Ôhô	応保	1161
	Chôkan	長寛	1163
Rokujô			1165
	Eiman	永万	1165
	Ninnan	仁安	1166
Takakura			1168
	Kaô	嘉応	1169
	Jôan	承安	1171
	Angen	安元	1175
	Jishô	治承	1177
Antoku			1180
	Yôwa	養和	1181
	Juei	寿永	1182
Go-Toba			1183
	Genryaku	元暦	1184
	Bunji	文治	1185
	Kenkyû	建久	1190
Tsuchimikado			1198
	Shôji	正治	1199
Juntoku			1201
	Kennin	建仁	1201
	Genkyû	元久	1204
	Ken'ei	建永	1206
	Jôgen	承元	1207
	Kenryaku	建暦	1211
	Kenpô]	建保	1213
	Jôkyû	承久	1219
Chukyo			1221
Go-Horikawa			1221
	Jôô	貞応	1222
	Gennin	元仁	1224
	Karoku	嘉禄	1225
	Antei	安貞	1227
	Kanki	寛喜	1229
Shijo			1232
	Jôei	貞永	1232
	Tenpuku	天福	1233
	Bunryaku	文暦	1234
	Katei	嘉禎	1235
	Ryakunin	暦仁	1238
	En'ô	延応	1239
	Ninji	仁治	1240
Go-Saga			1242
	Kangen	寛元	1243
Go-Fukakusa			1246
	Hôji	宝治	1247
	Kenchô	建長	1249
	Kôgen	康元	1256
	Shôka	正嘉	1257
Kameyama			1259
	Shôgen	正元	1259
	Bun'ô	文応	1260
	Kôcho	弘長	1261
	Bun'ei	文永	1264
Go-Uda			1274
	Kenji	建治	1275
	Kôan	弘安	1278
Fushimi			1288
	Shôô	正応	1288
	Einin	永仁	1293
Go-Fushimi			1298
	Shôan	正安	1299
Go-Nijô			1301
	Kengen	乾元	1302
	Kagen	嘉元	1303
	Tokuji	徳治	1306
Hanazono			1308
	Enkei	延慶	1308
	Ôchô	応長	1311
	Shôwa	正和	1312
	Bunpô	文保	1317

Table 2 (Nanboku)

**Nanboku Court Period**
Southern		Northern
96. Go-Daigo 1318-1339		96. Go-Daigo 1318-1331
	1319 元応 Gen'ô		1319 元応 Gen'ô
	1326 嘉暦 Karyaku		1326 嘉暦 Karyaku
	1329 元徳 Gentoku		1329 元徳 Gentoku
	1331.8.9 元弘 Genkô （～1334）		1331.8.9 元弘 Genkô （～1332）
		#97. Kôgon 1331.9.29-1333
			1332 正慶 Shôkei （～1334）
		(Godaigô 1333-1336)
	1334 建武 Kenmu（～1336)		1334 建武 Kenmu（～1338)
	1336 延元 Engen（～1340）	#98 Kômyô 光明1336-1347
			1338 暦応 Ryakuô（～1342）
97. Go-Murakami 1339-1367
	1340 興国 Kôkoku		1342 康永 Kôei
	1346 正平 Shôhei		1345 貞和 Jôwa
		Sukô 崇光1348-1351.11.26
			1350 観応 Kannô
		interregnum after Sukô et al. were kidnapped
		Go-Kôgon 1352.8.17-1370
			1352.9.27 文和 Bunna
			1356 延文 Enbun
			1361 康安 Kôan
			1362 貞治 Jôji
98. Chôkei 長慶1368-1383			1368 応安 Ôan
	1370 建徳 Kentoku	Go-En'yû 1371-1382
	1372 文中 Bunchû
	1375 天授 Tenju		1375 永和 Eiwa
			1379 康暦 Kôryaku
	1381 弘和 Kôwa（～1384）辛酉		1381 永徳 Eitoku辛酉
99. Go-Kameyama 1383-1392		100. Go-Komatsu 1382-1412
	1384 元中 Genchû （～1392）甲子		1384 至徳 Shitoku甲子
	(Genchû 9 became Meitoku 3 upon reunification)		1387 嘉慶 Kakei
			1389 康応 Kôô
			1390 明徳 Meitoku
100. Go-Komatsu 1392-1412
	1392 明徳 Meitoku（～1394）as Meitoku 3
	1394 応永 Ôei		1394 応永 Ôei
XXX	X	XXX	XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Table 3

**Emperors and Eras**
Emperor	Era	Kanji	Start Year
Shôkô称光			1412
	Shôchô	正長	1428
Go-Hanazono			1428
	Eikyô	永享	1429
	Kakitsu	嘉吉	1441
	Bun'an	文安	1444
	Hôtoku	宝徳	1449
	Kyôtoku	享徳	1452
	Kôshô	康正	1455
	Chôroku	長禄	1457
	Kanshô	寛正	1460
Go-Tsuchimakado			1464
	Bunshô	文正	1466
	Ônin	応仁	1467
	Bunmei	文明	1469
	Chôkyô	長享	1487
	Entoku	延徳	1489
	Meiô	明応	1492
Go-Kashiwabara			1500
	Bunki	文亀	1501
	Eishô	永正	1504
	Daiei	大永	1521
Go-Nara			1526
	Kyôroku	享禄	1528
	Tenbun	天文	1532
	Kôji	弘治	1555
Ogimachi			1557
	Eiroku	永禄	1558
	Genki	元亀	1570
	Tenshô]	天承	1573
Go-Yozei			1586
	Bunroku	文禄	1592
	Keichô	慶長	1596
Go-Mizunoo			1611
	Genna	元和	1615
	Kan'ei	寛永	1624
Meishô			1629
Go-Kômyô			1643
	Shôhô	正保	1644
	Keian	慶安	1648
	Jôô	承応	1652
Go-Sai			1654
	Meireki	明暦	1655
	Manji	万治	1658
	Kanbun	寛文	1661
Reigen			1663
	Enpô	延宝	1673
	Tenna	天和	1681
	Jôkyô	貞享	1684
Higashiyama			1687
	Genroku	元禄	1688
	Hôei	宝永	1704
Nakamikado			1709
	Shôtoku	正徳	1711
	Kyôhô	享保	1716
Sakuramachi			1735
	Genbun	元文	1736
	Kanpô	寛保	1741
	Enkyô	延享	1744
Momozono			1747
	Kan'en	寛延	1748
	Hôreki	宝暦	1751
Go-Sakuramachi			1762
	Meiwa	明和	1764
Go-Momozono			1770
	An'ei	安永	1772
Kokaku			1779
	Tenmei	天明	1781
	Kansei	寛政	1789
	Kyôwa	享和	1801
	Bunka	文化	1804
Ninko			1817
	Bunsei	文政	1818
	Tenpô	天保	1830
	Kôka	弘化	1844
Komei			1846
	Kaei	嘉永	1848
	Ansei	安政	1854
	Man'en	万延	1860
	Bunkyû	文久	1861
	Genji	元治	1864
	Keiô	慶応	1865
Meiji			1868
	Meiji	明治	1868
Taisho			1912
	Taishô	大正	1912
Showa			1926
	Shôwa	昭和	1926
Heisei			1989
	Heisei	平成	1989

Notes

↑ Funke, Mark C. Hitachi no Kuni Fudoki. Monumenta Nipponica, Vol. 49, No. 1. (Spring, 1994), page 11.
↑ Edwards, Walter. In Pursuit of Himiko. Postwar Archaeology and the Location of Yamatai. Monumenta Nipponica, Vol. 51, No. 1. (Spring, 1996), page 60n.

External Links

Imperial Genealogy (Japanese)

[1] Funke, Mark C. Hitachi no Kuni Fudoki. Monumenta Nipponica, Vol. 49, No. 1. (Spring, 1994), page 11.

[2] Edwards, Walter. In Pursuit of Himiko. Postwar Archaeology and the Location of Yamatai. Monumenta Nipponica, Vol. 51, No. 1. (Spring, 1996), page 60n.

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