Japan has been ruled by emperors since antiquity. The sequence, order and dates of the early emperors are almost entirely based on the 8th-century Nihon Shoki, which was meant to retroactively legitimise the Imperial House by dating its foundation further back to the year 660 BCE. Emperor Kinmei () is often considered the first historical emperor, but the first Japanese ruler supported by historical evidence is actually Emperor Yūryaku (), who is mentioned in the 5th-century Inariyama and Eta Funayama Swords. According to Chinese sources, the unification of Japan took place between the 2nd and 3rd centuries.
The terms Tennō ('Emperor', ), as well as Nihon ('Japan', ), were not adopted until the late 7th century CE. In the nengō system which has been in use since the late 7th century, years are numbered using the Japanese era name and the number of years which have elapsed since the start of that era.
There have been 126 emperors of Japan since 660 BCE. The current emperor is Naruhito, since 1 May 2019.
Emperors of Japan The Honchō Kōin Shōunroku (本朝皇胤紹運録), compiled primarily during the medieval period, has traditionally been used as the primary source documenting the genealogy of successive emperors. Since the modern era, the Kōtōfu (皇統譜) has been compiled, and today, the genealogy of successive emperors is recorded and presented based on the Kōtōfu (皇統譜) maintained by the Imperial Household Agency. Here, the successive Emperors are listed based on the Kōtōfu (皇統譜). Ancient Japan Portrait Personal name Reign and era names Life details Hikohohodemi Emperor Jimmu 660–585 BCE 721 or 711–585 BCE Son of kami Ugayafukiaezu. Claimed descent from the sun goddess, Amaterasu. Defeated Nagasunehiko in the Eastern Expedition to become emperor. Presumed legendary. Kamununakawamimi Emperor Suizei 581–549 BCE 632–549 BCE Son of Emperor Jimmu. Presumed legendary. Shikitsuhikotamatemi Emperor Annei 549–511 BCE 567–511 BCE Son of Emperor Suizei. Presumed legendary. Ōyamatohikosukitomo Emperor Itoku 510–477 BCE 553–477 BCE Son of Emperor Annei. Presumed legendary. Mimatsuhikokaeshine Emperor Kōshō 475–393 BCE 506–393 BCE Son of Emperor Itoku. Presumed legendary. Yamatotarashihikokunioshihito Emperor Kōan 392–291 BCE 427–291 BCE Son of Emperor Kōshō. Presumed legendary. Ōyamatonekohikofutoni Emperor Kōrei 290–215 BCE 342–215 BCE Son of Emperor Kōan. Presumed legendary. Ōyamatonekohikokunikuru Emperor Kōgen 214–158 BCE 273–158 BCE Son of Emperor Kōrei. Presumed legendary. Wakayamato Nekohiko Ōbibi Emperor Kaika 157–98 BCE 208–98 BCE Son of Emperor Kōgen. Presumed legendary. Mimaki Emperor Sujin 97–30 BCE 148–30 BCE Son of Emperor Kaika. First emperor with a direct possibility of existence. Still presumed legendary. Ikume Emperor Suinin 29 BCE–70 CE 69 BCE–70 CE Son of Emperor Sujin. Presumed legendary. Ōtarashihiko Emperor Keikō 71–130 13 BCE–130 CE Son of Emperor Suinin. Presumed legendary. Wakatarashihiko Emperor Seimu 131–190 84–190 Son of Emperor Keikō. Presumed legendary. Tarashinakatsuhiko Emperor Chūai 192–200 149–200 Grandson of Emperor Keikō; nephew of Seimu. First emperor to ascend the throne without being the son of the previous emperor. Died during a campaign against the Kumaso tribe. Presumed legendary. Homutawake Emperor Ōjin 270–310 201–310 Son of Emperor Chūai and Empress Jingū. Deified in Shinto and Buddhism in Japan as Hachiman. Likely a historical ruler that lived much later. Ohosazaki Emperor Nintoku 313–399 290–399 Son of Emperor Ōjin. Presumed legendary. Ōenoizahowake Emperor Richū 400–405 336–405 Son of Emperor Nintoku. Presumed legendary. Mizuhawake Emperor Hanzei 406–411 352–411 Son of Emperor Nintoku; younger brother of Emperor Richū. Presumed legendary. Oasatsuma Wakugo no Sukune Emperor Ingyō 411–453 376–453 Son of Emperor Nintoku; younger brother of Emperor Richū and Emperor Hanzei. Presumed legendary. Anaho Emperor Ankō 453–456 401–456 Son of Emperor Ingyō. Assassinated by Prince Mayowa. Presumed legendary. Ōhatuse no Wakatakeru Emperor Yūryaku 456–479 418–479 Son of Emperor Ingyō; younger brother of Ankō. First historical emperor. Shiraka Emperor Seinei 480–484 444–484 Son of Emperor Yūryaku. Presumed legendary. Woke Emperor Kenzō 485–487 450–487 Grandson of Emperor Richū; cousin and adopted son of Emperor Seinei. Presumed legendary. Oke Emperor Ninken 488–498 448–498 Grandson of Emperor Richū; cousin and adopted son of Emperor Seinei; older brother of Emperor Kenzō. Presumed legendary. Ohatsuse no Wakasazaki Emperor Buretsu 499–506 489–506 Son of Emperor Ninken. Presumed legendary. Ohodo Emperor Keitai 3 March 507–10 March 531 450–10 March 531 5th-generation grandson of Emperor Ōjin. Became emperor at the recommendation of Ōtomo no Kanamura. Possible founder of a new dynasty. Magari Emperor Ankan 10 March 531–25 January 536 466–25 January 536 Son of Emperor Keitai. Presumed legendary. Hinokuma-no-takata Emperor Senka 25 January 536–15 March 539 466–15 March 539 Son of Emperor Keitai; younger brother of Emperor Ankan. Presumed legendary.
Classical Japan (538–1185)
Asuka period (538–710) Portrait Personal name Reign and era names Life details Amekunioshiharakihironiwa Emperor Kinmei 540–571 509–571 Son of Emperor Keitai; younger brother of Ankan and Senka. Often considered the first historically verifiable emperor. Nunakura no Futotamashiki Emperor Bidatsu 572–585 538–585 Son of Emperor Kinmei. Tachibana no Toyohi Emperor Yōmei 586–587 517–587 Son of Emperor Kinmei; half-brother of Emperor Bidatsu. Hatsusebe Emperor Sushun 587–592 522–592 Son of Emperor Kinmei; half-brother of Emperor Bidatsu and Emperor Yōmei. Made emperor by Soga no Umako following the Soga–Mononobe conflict. Assassinated by Yamatonoaya no Koma on the orders of Soga no Umako. Nukatabe Empress Suiko 593–628 554–628 Daughter of Emperor Kinmei; half-sister and wife of Emperor Bidatsu. First non-legendary female monarch. Prince Shōtoku acted as her regent. Tamura Emperor Jomei 629–641 593–641 Grandson of Emperor Bidatsu; great nephew of Empress Suiko. Takara Empress Kōgyoku 642–645 594–661 Great-granddaughter of Emperor Bidatsu; wife of Emperor Jomei. First reign. Abdicated as a result of the Isshi incident. Karu Emperor Kōtoku 645–654 Taika, Hakuchi 597–654 Great-grandson of Emperor Bidatsu; younger brother of Empress Kōgyoku. First era name assigned. Takara Empress Saimei 655–661 594–661 Older sister of Emperor Kōtoku. Previously reigned as Empress Kōgyoku. Second reign. Kazuraki Emperor Tenji 662–672 626–672 Son of Emperor Jomei and Empress Kōgyoku. Ōtomo Emperor Kōbun 672 648–672 Son of Emperor Tenji. Deposed and committed suicide during the Jinshin War. Since 1870, he has been counted among the successive emperors, and was given a Posthumous name that year. Based on the Honchō Kōin Shōunroku (本朝皇胤紹運録), he is not included among the successive emperors and is recorded as "Prince Ōtomo" (Ōtomo no Ōji or Ōtomo no Miko, 大友皇子).本朝皇胤紹運録 Kyoto University Rare Materials Digital Archive Ōama Emperor Tenmu 673–686 Shuchō 630–686 Son of Emperor Jomei and Empress Kōgyoku; younger brother of Emperor Tenji. Deposed his nephew, Emperor Kōbun, during the Jinshin War. Unonosarara Empress Jitō 687–697 646–703 Daughter of Emperor Tenji; niece and wife of Emperor Tenmu. Abdicated. Karu Emperor Monmu 697–707 Taihō, Keiun 683–707 Grandson of Emperor Tenmu and Empress Jitō.
Nara period (710–794) Portrait Personal name Reign and era names Life details Ahe Empress Genmei 707–715 Keiun, Wadō 660–721 Daughter of Emperor Tenji; half-sister of Empress Jitō; mother of Emperor Monmu. Abdicated. Hidaka Empress Genshō 715–724 Reiki, Yōrō 681–748 Daughter of Empress Genmei; elder sister of Emperor Monmu. Only instance of an empress regnant inheriting the throne from another empress regnant. Abdicated. Obito Emperor ShōmuEmperor Shōhō-kanjin-shōmu 724–749 Jinki, Tenpyō, Tenpyō-kanpō 701–756 Son of Emperor Monmu; nephew of Empress Genshō. Abdicated. Abe Empress Kōken 749–758 Tenpyō-kanpō, Tenpyō-shōhō, Tenpyō-hōji 718–770 Daughter of Emperor Shōmu. First reign. Abdicated. Ōi Emperor Junnin 758–764 Tenpyō-hōji 733–765 Grandson of Emperor Tenmu; cousin of Empress Kōken. Deposed. He was given a Posthumous name in 1870. Based on the Honchō Kōin Shōunroku (本朝皇胤紹運録), he is recorded as "Awaji Dethroned Emperor" (Awaji Haitei, 淡路廃帝), yet he is included among the successive emperors.本朝皇胤紹運録 Kyoto University Rare Materials Digital Archive Abe Empress Shōtoku 764–770 Tenpyō-hōji, Tenpyō-jingo, Jingo-keiun 718–770 Deposed her cousin, Emperor Junnin. Previously reigned as Empress Kōken. Second reign. Shirakabe Emperor Kōnin 770–781 Hōki, Ten'ō 708–782 Grandson of Emperor Tenji; brother-in-law of Empress Shōtoku. Abdicated.
Heian period (794–1185) Portrait Personal name Reign and era names Life details Yamabe Emperor Kanmu 781–806 Ten'ō, Enryaku 736–806 Son of Emperor Kōnin. Ate Emperor Heizei 806–809 Daidō 773–824 Son of Emperor Kanmu. Abdicated. Kamino Emperor Saga 809–823 Daidō, Kōnin 785–842 Son of Emperor Kanmu; younger brother of Emperor Heizei. Abdicated. Ōtomo Emperor Junna 823–833 Kōnin, Tenchō 786–840 Son of Emperor Kanmu; younger brother of Emperor Heizei and Emperor Saga. Abdicated. Masara Emperor Ninmyō 833–850 Tenchō, Jōwa, Kashō 808–850 Son of Emperor Saga; nephew and adopted son of Emperor Junna. Michiyasu Emperor Montoku 850–858 Kashō, Ninju, Saikō, Ten'an 827–858 Son of Emperor Ninmyō. Korehito Emperor Seiwa 858–876 Ten'an, Jōgan 850–881 Son of Emperor Montoku. Abdicated. Sadaakira Emperor Yōzei 876–884 Jōgan, Gangyō 869–949 Son of Emperor Seiwa. Deposed by Fujiwara no Mototsune. Tokiyasu Emperor Kōkō 884–887 Gangyō, Ninna 830–887 Son of Emperor Ninmyō; great uncle of Emperor Yōzei. Became emperor at the recommendation of Fujiwara no Mototsune. Sadami Emperor Uda 887–897 Ninna, Kanpyō 866–931 Son of Emperor Kōkō. Abdicated. Atsuhito Emperor Daigo 897–930 Kanpyō, Shōtai, Engi, Enchō 884–930 Son of Emperor Uda. Abdicated. Yutaakira Emperor Suzaku 930–946 Enchō, Jōhei, Tengyō 921–952 Son of Emperor Daigo. Abdicated. Nariakira Emperor Murakami 946–967 Tengyō, Tenryaku, Tentoku, Ōwa, Kōhō 924–967 Son of Emperor Daigo; younger brother of Emperor Suzaku. Norihara Emperor Reizei 967–969 Kōhō, Anna 949–1011 Son of Emperor Murakami. Abdicated. Morihira Emperor En'yū 969–984 Anna, Tenroku, Ten'en, Jōgen, Tengen, Eikan 958–991 Son of Emperor Murakami; younger brother of Emperor Reizei. Abdicated. Morosada Emperor Kazan 984–986 Eikan, Kanna 968–1008 Son of Emperor Reizei; nephew of Emperor En'yū. Abdicated. Kanehito Emperor Ichijō 986–1011 Kanna, Eien, Eiso, Shōryaku, Chōtoku, Chōhō, Kankō 980–1011 Son of Emperor En'yū. Abdicated. Okisada Emperor Sanjō 1011–1016 Kankō, Chōwa 975–1017 Son of Emperor Reizei; half-brother of Emperor Kazan; cousin of Emperor Ichijō. Abdicated. Atsuhira Emperor Go-Ichijō 1016–1036 Chōwa, Kannin, Jian, Manju, Chōgen 1008–1036 Son of Emperor Ichijō; cousin of Emperor Sanjō. Atsunaga Emperor Go-Suzaku 1036–1045 Chōgen, Chōryaku, Chōkyū, Kantoku 1009–1045 Son of Emperor Ichijō; younger brother of Emperor Go-Ichijō. Abdicated. Chikahito Emperor Go-Reizei 1045–1068 Kantoku, Eishō, Tengi, Kōhei, Jiryaku 1025–1068 Son of Emperor Go-Suzaku. Takahito Emperor Go-Sanjō 1068–1073 Jiryaku, Enkyū 1032–1073 Son of Emperor Go-Suzaku; half-brother of Emperor Go-Reizei. Abdicated. Sadahito Emperor Shirakawa 1073–1087 Enkyū, Jōhō, Jōryaku, Eihō, Ōtoku 1053–1129 Son of Emperor Go-Sanjō. Abdicated. Taruhito Emperor Horikawa 1087–1107 Kanji, Kahō, Eichō, Jōtoku, Kōwa, Chōji, Kajō 1079–1107 Son of Emperor Shirakawa. Munehito Emperor Toba 1107–1123 Kajō, Tennin, Ten'ei, Eikyū, Gen'ei, Hōan 1103–1156 Son of Emperor Horikawa. Forced to abdicate by Emperor Shirakawa. Akihito Emperor Sutoku 1123–1142 Hōan, Tenji, Daiji, Tenshō, Chōshō, Hōen, Eiji 1119–1164 Son of Emperor Toba. Abdicated. Attempted to depose Emperor Go-Shirakawa during the Hōgen rebellion. Narihito Emperor Konoe 1142–1155