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List of Emperors of Japan

The following is a traditional list of emperors of Japan, Empresses are listed in italic. * indicates an emperor or empress who is not a direct patrilineal ancestor of the current emperor.

The Pre-Yamato (Ancient) Period

1 Jimmu Tenno 660–582 BC
2 Suizei 548–511
3 Annei ?–?
4 Itoku 510–476
5 Kosho 475–393
6 Koan 392–291
7 Korei 290–215
8 Kogen 214–158
9 Kaika 157–98
10 Sujin 97–30
11 Suinin 29–70
12 Keiko 71–130
13 Seimu 131–191 *
14 Chuai 192–200
Jingo Kogo 209–269 (Regent)
15 Ojin(Hachiman) 270–310
16 Nintoku 313–399 *

Yamato Period

17 Richu 400–405 *
18 Hanzei 406–410 *
19 Ingyo 411–453 *
20 Anko 453–456 *
21 Yuryaku 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 *
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 (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)
Northern Ashikaga Pretender 4: Go-Kogon (1338–1374, r. 1351–1371) *
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)

Footnotes:

The previous three Emperors are officially called by their era name in Japan. Akihito is currently referred to as Tenno Heika, in Japanese as he is the reigning emperor, even though his era is called Heisei. In English, Akihito is referred to by name.

In English, Mutsuhito and Yoshihito are referred to as the Meiji and Taisho emperors, respectively. Hirohito, on the other hand, is referred to by name by most English speakers.