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 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. 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 BCE

2. Suizei 548-511

3. Annei

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 29BCE-70AD

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 540-571

30. Bidatsu 572-585

31. Yomei 585-587

32. Sujun 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. Shomu 724-749

46. Koken(Shotoku) 749-758

47. Junnin 758-763

48. Shotoku(Koken) 764-770

49. Konin 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. Nimmyo 833-850

55. Montoku 850-858

56. Seiwa 858-876

57. Yozei 877-884

58. Koko 884-887

59. Uda 887-897

60. Daigo 897-930

61. Suzaku 930-946

62. Murakami 946-967

63. Reizei 967-969

64. Enyu 969-984

65. Kazan 984-986

66. Ichijô 986-1011

67. Sanjo 1011-1016

68. Go-Ichijô 1016-1036

69. Go-Suzaku 1036-1045

70. Go-Reizei 1045-1068

71. Go-Sanjo 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 1201-1221

85. Chukyo 1221

86. Go-Horikawa 1221-1232

87. Shijo 1232-1242

88. Go-Saga 1232-1242

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. Chokei 1368-1383

99. Go-Kameyama 1383-1392

Northern Court

• Kogen 1331-1335
• Komyo 1336-1347
• Suko 1348-1351
• Go-Kogen 1352-1370
• Go-Enyu 1371-1372

100. Go-Komatsu 1392-1412

101. Shoko 1412-1427

102. Go-Hanazono 1428-1463

103. Go-Tsuchimakado 1464-1499

104. Go-Kashiwabara 1500-1525

105. Go-Nara 1526-1556

106. Ogimachi 1557-1585

107. Go-Yozei 1586-1610

Edo Period　江戸時代

108. Gomizuno-o 1611-1629

109. Myosho 1629-1643

110. Go-Komyo 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. Kokaku 1779-1816

120. Ninko 1817-1845

121. Komei 1846-1867

Meiji Period　明治時代

122. Meiji 1868-1912

Modern Era　現代

123. Taisho

124. Showa

125. Heisei

External Links

• Imperial Genealogy (Japanese)