LIST OF EMPERORS PAST AND PRESENT: Emperors were, and are known by the name, or names of their reigns. If the name of the Emperor in column one of the list is known, it is given. In the case of the present Emperor Akihito and his predecessor, Hirohito, the names of their reigns is given. In the list below, the dates are first the date or year assumed duties of Emperor, second is the date of coronation if different from the first date (shown in parentheses), and third is the date or year of the end of the reign. There have been few reigning Empresses. The last, Suiko, held the throne from 592 - 628 A.D.
THE EMPEROR TODAY: The reigning Emperor, Akihito is number 125. The first was, Jimmu (660-585 B.C.).
Akihito's reign is called Heisei, meaning ("the achievement of complete peace on earth and in the heavens"). Because of the pervasive influence of the Emperor on Japanese life, the adoption of this name for Akihito's reign can be expected to influence Japan's policy. Students of Christian end-times prophecy might also take note, given Japan's use of the United Nations to achieve policy aims. Akihito's slogan could be interpreted as referring to the long period of peace and prosperity predicted in Christian theology, a period that must precede great changes prior to the return of Jesus Christ.
The Japanese word for Emperor is Tenno
Name (Reign) |
Reign Began
|
(Coronation)
|
Reign ended
|
|
|
|
|
Akihito (Heisei) |
1989
|
(1990)
|
present [1]
|
Hirohito (Showa) |
1926
|
(1928)
|
1989[2]
|
Yoshihito |
1912
|
|
1915
|
Meiji |
1866
|
(1868)
|
1912 [3]
|
Komei |
1847
|
|
1866
|
Ninko |
1817
|
|
1846
|
Kokaku |
1780
|
|
1817
|
Gomomozono |
1771
|
|
1779
|
Gosakuramachi |
1763
|
|
1770
|
Momozono |
1747
|
|
1762
|
Sakuramachi |
1735
|
|
1747
|
Nakamikado |
1710
|
|
1735
|
Higashiyama |
1687
|
|
1709
|
Reigen |
1663
|
|
1687
|
Gosai |
1656
|
|
1663
|
Gokomyo |
1643
|
|
1654
|
Empress Meisho |
1630
|
|
1643
|
Gomizuno-o |
1611
|
|
1629
|
Goyozei |
1586
|
|
1611
|
Ogimachi |
1557
|
(1560)
|
1586
|
Gonara |
1526
|
(1536)
|
1557
|
Gokashiwabara |
1500
|
(1521)
|
1526
|
Gotsuchimikado |
1465?
|
(1465)
|
1500
|
Gohanazono |
1429?
|
(1429)
|
1464
|
Shoko |
1412
|
(1414)
|
1428
|
Gokomatsu |
1392
|
|
1412
|
Gokameyama |
1383
|
|
1392
|
Chokei |
1368
|
|
1383
|
Gomurakami |
1339
|
|
1368
|
Godaigo |
1318
|
|
1339
|
Hanazono |
1308
|
|
1318
|
Gonijo |
1301
|
|
1308
|
Gofushimi |
1298
|
|
1301
|
Fushimi |
|
(1288)
|
1298
|
Go -uda |
1274
|
|
1287
|
Kameyama |
1259
|
|
1274
|
Gofukakusa |
1246
|
|
1259
|
Gosaga |
1242
|
|
1246
|
Shijo |
1232
|
|
1242
|
Gohorikawa |
1221
|
|
1232
|
Chukyo |
1221
|
|
1221
|
Juntoku |
1210
|
|
1221
|
Tsuchimikado |
1198
|
|
1210
|
Gotoba |
1183
|
(1184)
|
1198
|
Antoku |
1180
|
|
1183
|
Takakura |
1168
|
|
1180
|
Rokujo |
1165
|
|
1168
|
Nijo |
1158
|
|
1165
|
Goshirakawa |
1155
|
|
1158
|
Konoe |
1141
|
|
1155
|
Sutoku |
1123
|
|
1141
|
Toba |
1107
|
|
1123
|
Horikawa |
1086
|
|
1107
|
Shirakawa |
1072
|
|
1086
|
Gasanjo |
1068
|
|
1072
|
Goreizi |
1045
|
|
1068
|
Gosuzaku |
1036
|
|
1045
|
Go-ichijo |
1016
|
|
1036
|
Sanjo |
1011
|
|
1016
|
Ichijo |
986
|
|
1011
|
Kazan |
984
|
|
986
|
En-yu |
969
|
|
984
|
Reizi |
967
|
|
969
|
Murakami |
946
|
|
967
|
Suzaku |
930
|
|
946
|
Daigo |
897
|
|
930
|
Uda |
887
|
|
897
|
Koko |
884
|
|
887
|
Yozei |
876
|
(877)
|
884
|
Seiwa |
858
|
|
876
|
Montoku |
850
|
|
858
|
Nimmyo |
833
|
|
850
|
Junna |
823
|
|
833
|
Saga |
809
|
|
823
|
Heizei |
806
|
|
809
|
Kammu |
781
|
|
806
|
Konin |
770
|
|
781
|
Empress Shotoku |
764
|
|
770
|
Junnin |
758
|
|
764
|
Empress Koken |
749
|
|
758
|
Shomu |
724
|
|
749
|
Empress Gensho |
715
|
|
724
|
Empress Gemmei |
707
|
|
715
|
Mommu |
697
|
|
707
|
Empress Jito |
unknown
|
(690)
|
697
|
Temmu |
unknown
|
(673)
|
686
|
Kobun |
671
|
|
672
|
Tenji |
unknown
|
(662)
|
971
|
Empress Saimei |
unknown
|
(655)
|
661
|
Kotoku |
645
|
|
654
|
Empress Kogyoku |
unknown
|
(642)
|
645
|
Jomei |
unknown
|
(629)
|
641
|
Empress Suiko |
592
|
|
628
|
Sushun |
587
|
|
592
|
Yomei |
585
|
|
587
|
Bidatsu |
unknown
|
(572)
|
585
|
Kimmei |
539
|
|
571
|
Senka |
535
|
|
539
|
Ankan |
531
|
|
535
|
Keitai |
unknown
|
(507)
|
531
|
Buretsu |
498
|
|
506
|
Ninken |
unknown
|
(488)
|
498
|
Kenzo |
unknown
|
(485)
|
487
|
Seinei |
unknown
|
(-480)
|
484
|
Yuryaku |
456
|
|
479
|
Anko |
453
|
|
456
|
Ingyo |
unknown
|
(412)
|
453
|
Hanzei |
unknown
|
(406)
|
410
|
Richu |
unknown
|
(400)
|
405
|
Nintoku |
unknown
|
(313)
|
399
|
Ojin |
unknown
|
(270)
|
310
|
Chuai |
unknown
|
(192)
|
210
|
Jingu Kogo 201 - 269 (Regent)Seimu |
unknown
|
(130)
|
190
|
Keiko |
unknown
|
(71)
|
130
|
----BC---- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Suinin |
29
|
|
70 A.D.
|
Sujin |
unknown
|
(97)
|
30
|
Kaika |
158
|
|
98
|
Kogen |
214
|
|
158
|
Korei |
290
|
|
215
|
Koan |
392
|
|
291
|
Kosho |
475
|
|
393
|
Itoku |
510
|
|
477
|
Annei |
549
|
|
511
|
Suizei |
581
|
|
549
|
Jimmu |
unknown
|
(660)
|
585
|
This web document of Japan's Emperors was written by Richard Rongstad