The Emperor System and Japan's Royal Family

The Chrysanthemum, the Japanese Emperor's symbol of divine authority was frequently seen embossed on military hardware until 1945. Allied G.I.'s seeking to bring home war prizes with the Chrysanthemum often had to wait while the symbol was obliterated.

Japanese Emperors: B.C. 660 - A.D. 1996

Japan's royalty traces its descendancy from Jimmu, circa 660 B.C. The list shows Japan's ruling Emperors and eight ruling Empresses from Jimmu 660 B.C. to Akihito 1996 A.D. Heisei Tenno, Japan's Emperor Akihito, calls his reign Heisei, meaning "the achievement of complete peace on earth and in the heavens".

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

　

Note 1. Akihito is Emperor number 125. Sources are: (1) The Modern Reader's Japanese-English Character Dictionary, 2nd Revised Edition, by Andrew N. Nelson, Tuttle, Tokyo, 1994, pages 1018-1022; and (2), additional information on Hirohito and Akihito from wire services reports, 1989-1990. Nelson cites Nippon Hoso Kyokai's Songo to Nengo no Yokibata (1953) as his primary source.
Note 2. Not every authority agrees with the widespread belief that Hirohito (obituary) had no influence over Japan's conduct in World War II. Two historians have reexamined the Emperor's role in Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan by Herbert P. Bix (2000) and Imperial Conspiracy written by David Bergamini (1971). The authors found that Hirohito was behind all the major decisions in the war, but that his role was covered up, and that General MacArthur knew, but went along with the whitewash for pragmatic reasons. Loyal Japanese officials and military commanders, unwilling to see the Emperor soiled by association with crimes committed in his name, saw their honorable duty as taking the punishment. Earlier accounts of Hirohito's role in the war pictured him as an anachronistic figurehead, manipulated by Japan's militarists. Bergamini's book contains genealogy and history of Japan's Imperial Lineage.
Note 3. The Meiji reign marked the beginning of Japan's modern era, with a cabinet established in 1885.

This web document of Japan's Emperors was written by Richard Rongstad

Related Links and References

  • CNN May 9, 2001 Japan considers a female emperor
  • CNN April 16, 2001 Japan in a spin over Imperial baby rumors
  • Biography: Heisei Tenno - Emperor Akihito
  • THE INTERNATIONAL MILITARY TRIBUNAL OF THE FAR EAST AND EMPEROR HIROHITO -- JUSTICE UNDONE --, by Yoneyuki Sugita, Osaka University of Foreign Studies
  • Obituary: Tenno Sha - Hirohito
  • The Facts and Profiles of the Imperial Household of Japan
  • Japan and the Imperial Household
  • Friday, December 15, 2000 Ex-Imperial architect busted for chopping up woman Mainichi Shimbun
  • According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan to visit the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Argentine Republic (Japan MOFA press release 8 April 1997
  • Statement by Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto on the Visits to Brazil and Argentina by Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan
  • Imperial Marriage: Crown Prince Naruhito (1993) (Formerly at http://ifrm.glocom.ac.jp/japanecho/1993/20-2/20-2miura.html)
  • Japan's Crown Princess Masako (AP story, Dec. 8, 1996) Princess Masako speaks out.
  • Japan Royals Battle Media (AP story, Dec. 9, 1996) The private life of Naruhito and Masako get public attention.
  • Rongstad's Japanese Military Model Numbers 1926-1945 Japan marked military hardware according to the reign and year of reign of the Emperor. E.g. Sha Zero.
  • Imperial Family of Japan [unofficial]
  • Japan's Royal Family was the object of Christian prayer at this now broken link.
  • Japan's Prime Ministers
  • The page linking to Japan's history, culture, and archeology on the web at http://www.haniwa.com/english/Modern_History.html seems to have disappeared along with Professor Mitsuhiko Okayasu's views on Japan's Modern History. A new link will be selected.