Emperors and empresses regnant of Japan

reign*

Jimmu (660)–585 BC

Suizei (581)–549 BC

Annei 549–511 BC

Itoku (510)–477 BC

K d;sh d; (475)–393 BC

K d;an (392)–291 BC

K d;rei (290)–215 BC

K d;gen (214)–158 BC

Kaika 158–98 BC

Sujin (97)–30 BC

Suinin (29 BC)–AD 70

Keik d; (71)–130

Seimu (131)–190

Ch b;ai (192)–200

Jing b; (Jingū) (regent) 201–269

c;jin (Ōjin) (270)–310

Nintoku (313)–399

Rich b; (400)–405

Hanzei (406)–410

Ingy d; (412)–453

Ank d; 453–456

Y b;ryaku 456–479

Seinei (480)–484

Kenz d; (485)–487

Ninken (488)–498

Buretsu 498–506

Keitai (507)–531

Ankan 531(534)–535

Senka 535–539

Kimmei 539–571

Bidatsu (572)–585

Y d;mei 585–587

Sushun 587–592

Suiko (empress regnant) 593–628

Jomei (629)–641

K d;gyoku (empress regnant) (642)–645

K d;toku 645–654

Saimei (empress regnant: K d;gyoku rethroned) (655)–661

Tenji 661(668)–672

K d;bun 672

Temmu 672(673)–686

Jit d; (empress regnant) 686(690)–697

Mommu 697–707

Gemmei (empress regnant) 707–715

Gensh d; (empress regnant) 715–724

Sh d;mu (Shōmu) 724–749

K d;ken (Kōken) (empress regnant) 749–758

Junnin 758–764

Sh d;toku (Kōken) (empress regnant: K d;ken rethroned) 764(765)–770

K d;nin 770–781

Kammu 781–806

Heizei 806–809

Saga 809–823

Junna 823–833

Nimmy d; 833–850

Montoku 850–858

Seiwa 858–876

Y d;zei 876(877)–884

K d;k d; 884–887

Uda 887–897

Daigo 897–930

Suzaku 930–946

Murakami 946–967

Reizei 967–969

En'y b; 969–984

Kazan 984–986

Ichij d; 986–1011

Sanj d; 1011–16

Go-Ichij d; 1016–36

Go-Suzaku 1036–45

Go-Reizei 1045–68

Go-Sanj d; (Sanjō, Go-) 1068–72

Shirakawa 1072–86

Horikawa 1086–1107

Toba 1107–23

Sutoku 1123–41

Konoe 1141–55

Go-Shirakawa (Shirakawa, Go-) 1155–58

Nij d; 1158–65

Rokuj d; 1165–68

Takakura 1168–80

Antoku 1180–85**

Go-Toba (Toba, Go-) 1183(1184)–98

Tsuchimikado 1198–1210

Juntoku 1210(1211)–21

Ch b;ky d; 1221

Goshirakawa 1221(1222)–32

Shij d; 1232(1233)–42

Go-Saga 1242–46

Go-Fukakusa 1246–59/60

Kameyama 1259/60–74

Gouda 1274–87

Fushimi 1287(1288)–98

Go-Fushimi 1298–1301

Go-Nij d; 1301–08

Hanazono 1308–18

Go-Daigo (Daigo, Go-) 1318–39

Go-Murakami 1339–68

Ch d;kei 1368–83

Go-Kameyama 1383–92

The Northern court

K d;gon 1331(1332)–33

K d;myo 1336(1337/38)–48

Suk d; 1348(1349/50)–51

Go-K d;gon 1351(1353/54)–71

Go-En'y b; 1371(1374/75)–82

Go-Komatsu 1382–92

Go-Komatsu 1392–1412

Sh d;k d; 1412(1414)–28

Go-Hanazono 1428(1429/30)–64

Go-Tsuchimikado 1464(1465/66)–1500

Go-Kashiwabara 1500(1521)–26

Go-Nara 1526(1536)–57

c;gimachi 1557(1560)–86

Go-Y d;zei 1586(1587)–1611

Go-Mizunoo 1611–29

Meish d; (empress regnant) 1629(1630)–43

Go-K d;my d; 1643–54

Go-Sai 1654/55(1656)–63

Reigen 1663–87

Higashiyama 1687–1709

Nakamikado 1709(1710)–35

Sakuramachi 1735–47

Momozono 1747–62

Go-Sakuramachi (empress regnant) 1762(1763)–71

Go-Momozono 1771–79

K d;kaku 1780–1817

Nink d; 1817–46

K d;mei 1846(1847)–66

Meiji, personal name Mutsuhito, era name Meiji 1867(1868)–1912

Taish d; (Taishō), personal name Yoshihito, era name Taish d; 1912(1915)–26

Hirohito, era name Sh d;wa 1926(1928)–1989

Akihito, era name Heisei 1989(1990)–

*Reign dates for the first 28 sovereigns and the regent Jing b; (given in italics) are taken from the Nihon shoki ("Chronicles of Japan"). The first 14 sovereigns are considered legendary; and while the latter 14 are known to have existed, their exact reign dates have not been verified historically. When the year of actual accession and year of formal coronation are different, the latter is placed in parenthesis after the former. If the two events took place in the same year, no special notation is used. If only the coronation year is known, it is placed in parenthesis.

**Antoku's reign overlaps that of Go-Toba. Go-Toba was placed on the throne by the Minamoto clan after the rival Taira clan had fled Ky d;to with Antoku.