EARLY LEGENDARY RULERS OF JAPAN
Jimmu from 1902 book
Jimmu (660-585 B.C. in the Nihon Shoki, mythological).
Suizei (581-549 B.C. in the Nihon Shoki, largely fiction).
Annei (549-511 B.C. in the Nihon Shoki, largely fiction).
Itoku (510-477 B.C. in the Nihon Shoki, largely fiction).
Kosho (475-393 B.C. in the Nihon Shoki, largely fiction).
Koan (392-291 B.C. in the Nihon Shoki, largely fiction).
Korei (290-215 B.C. in the Nihon Shoki, largely fiction).
Kogen (214-158 B.C. in the Nihon Shoki, largely fiction).
Kaika (158-98 B.C. in the Nihon Shoki, largely fiction).
Sujin (97-30 B.C.in the Nihon Shoki, largely fiction).
Suinin (29 B.C.-A.D.70 in the Nihon Shoki, largely fiction).
Keiko (71-130 in the Nihon Shoki,might be real, possibly in the 4th century).
Seimu (A.D. 131-190 in the Nihon Shoki, might be real, possibly in the 4th century).
Chuai (A.D. 192-200 in the Nihon Shoki, might be real, possibly in the 4th century).
Jingu Regent for Empress Himeko (A.D. 201-269 in the Nihon Shoki, might be real, mid 3rd century, female ruler).
[Source: Charles T. Keally, Professor of Archaeology and Anthropology (retired), Sophia University, Tokyo, t-net.ne.jp/~keally/kofun , The Nihon Shoki is an ancient history record finished in A.D. 720]
Websites: Kojiki, Nihongi and Sacred Shinto Texts sacred-texts.com ; Imperial Household Agency kunaicho.go.jp/eindexList of Emperors of Japan friesian.com ; Early Japanese History Websites: Aileen Kawagoe, Heritage of Japan website, heritageofjapan.wordpress.com; Essay on Early Japan aboutjapan.japansociety.org ; Japanese Archeology www.t-net.ne.jp/~keally/index.htm ; Ancient Japan Links on Archeolink archaeolink.com ; Good Japanese History Websites: ; Wikipedia article on History of Japan Wikipedia ; Samurai Archives samurai-archives.com ; National Museum of Japanese History rekihaku.ac.jp ; English Translations of Important Historical Documents hi.u-tokyo.ac.jp/iriki
RELATED ARTICLES IN THIS WEBSITE: NAMES AND BRIEF HISTORY OF JAPAN factsanddetails.com; THEMES IN JAPANESE HISTORY factsanddetails.com; ANCIENT HISTORY factsanddetails.com; ASUKA, NARA AND HEIAN PERIODS factsanddetails.com; SAMURAI, MEDIEVAL JAPAN AND THE EDO PERIOD factsanddetails.com; MEIJI PERIOD AND BEFORE WORLD WAR II factsanddetails.com; MODERN HISTORY factsanddetails.com
RECOMMENDED BOOKS: ““Shogun” by James Clavell Amazon.com; A Beginner's Guide to Japan: Observations and Provocations” (Vintage Departures) by Pico Iyer (2020) Amazon.com “The Chrysanthemum And The Sword” by Ruth Benedict Amazon.com; “Anthology of Japanese Literature: From the Earliest Era to the Mid-Nineteenth Century” (UNESCO) by Donald Keene Amazon.com; “A History of Japan: Revised Edition” by R. H. P. Mason and J. G. Caiger (1997) Amazon.com; “A Brief History of Japan: Samurai, Shogun and Zen: The Extraordinary Story of the Land Amazon.com; Amazon.com; “A Concise History of Japan” (Cambridge Concise Histories) by Brett L. Walker Amazon.com; “A History of Japan to 1334" by George Sansom Amazon.com;
Kofun Period Imperial Rulers (ca. 3rd century–538 A.D.)
Ojin (A.D. 270-310 in the Nihon Shoki, probably real, ca. 370-390 or early 5th century).
Emperor Nintoku
Nintoku (A.D. 313-399 in the Nihon Shoki,actual early 5th century).
Ritchu (A.D. 400-405 in the Nihon Shoki, actual early 5th century).
Hanzei (A.D. 406-410 in the Nihon Shoki, actual early 5th century).
Ingyo (A.D. 412-453 in the Nihon Shoki, actual early 5th century).
Anko (A.D. 453-456 in the Nihon Shoki, actual mid 5th century) .
Yuryaku (456-479 in the Nihon Shoki, probably correct).
Seinei (480-484 in the Nihon Shoki, probably correct).
Kenzo (485-487 in the Nihon Shoki, probably correct).
Ninken (488-498 in the Nihon Shoki, probably correct).
Buretsu (498-506 in the Nihon Shoki, probably correct).
Keitai (507-531 in the Nihon Shoki, probably correct).
Ankan (531-535 in the Nihon Shoki, probably correct).
Senka (535-539 in the Nihon Shoki, probably correct).
[Source: Charles T. Keally, Professor of Archaeology and Anthropology (retired), Sophia University, Tokyo, t-net.ne.jp/~keally/kofun , The Nihon Shoki is an ancient history record finished in A.D. 720]
Asuka Period Imperial Rulers (A.D. 538–710)
Kimmei (539-571 in the Nihon Shoki, probably correct).
Empress Jito
Bidatsu (572-585 in the Nihon Shoki, probably correct).
Yomei (585-587 in the Nihon Shoki, probably correct).
Sushun (587-592 in the Nihon Shoki, probably correct).
Suiko (592-628 in the Nihon Shoki, probably correct, female/empress). Jomei (629-641 in the Nihon Shoki, probably correct).
Kogyoku (642-645 in the Nihon Shoki, probably correct, female/empress).
Kotoku (645-654 in the Nihon Shoki, probably correct).
Saimei (655-661 in the Nihon Shoki, probably correct, female/empress).
Tenji (662-671 in the Nihon Shoki, probably correct).
Kobun (671-672 in the Nihon Shoki, probably correct).
Temmu (673-686 in the Nihon Shoki, probably correct).
Jito (690-697 in the Nihon Shoki, probably correct, female/empress).
Mommu (697-707 in the Nihon Shoki, probably correct).
Gemmei (707-715 in the Nihon Shoki, probably correct, female/empress).
[Source: Charles T. Keally, Professor of Archaeology and Anthropology (retired), Sophia University, Tokyo, t-net.ne.jp/~keally/kofun , The Nihon Shoki is an ancient history record finished in A.D. 720]
Shotoku
Nara Period Imperial Rulers (710–794)
Genmei (707–715).
Gensho (715–724).
Shomu (724–749).
Koken (749–758).
Junnin (758–764).
Shotoku (764–770).
Konin (770–781).
Kanmu (781–806).
[Source: Yoshinori Munemura, Independent Scholar, Metropolitan Museum of Art metmuseum.org]
Heian Period Imperial Rulers (794–1185)
Kanmu (781–806).
Heizei (806–809).
Saga (809–823).
Kanmu
Junna (823–833).
Ninmyo (833–850).
Montoku (850–858).
Seiwa (858–876).
Yozei (876–884).
Koko (884–887).
Uda (887–897).
Daigo (897–930).
Suzaku (930–946).
Murakami (946–967).
Reizei (967–969).
Enyu (969–984).
Kazan (984–986).
Ichijo (986–1011). Sanjo (1011–1016).
Ichijo
Go-Ichijo (1016–1036).
Go-Suzaku (1036–1045).
Go-Reizei (1045–1068).
Go-Sanjo (1068–1072).
Shirakawa (1072–1086).
Horikawa (1086–1107).
Toba (1107–1123).
Sutoku (1123–1141).
Konoe (1141–1155).
Go-Shirakawa (1155–1158).
Nijo (1158–1165).
Rokujo (1165–1168).
Takakura (1168–1180).
Antoku (1180–1185).
[Source: Yoshinori Munemura, Independent Scholar, Metropolitan Museum of Art metmuseum.org]
Kamakura Period Imperial Rulers (1185–1333)
Go Toba
Go-Toba (1183–1198).
Tsuchimikado (1198–1210).
Juntoku (1210–1221).
Chukyo (1221).
Go-Horikawa (1221–1232).
Shijo (1232–1242).
Go-Saga (1242–1246).
Go-Fukakusa (1246–1259).
Kameyama (1259–1274).
Go-Uda (1274–1287).
Fushimi (1287–1298).
Go-Fushimi (1298–1301).
Go-Nijo (1301–1308).
Hanazono (1308–1318).
[Source: Yoshinori Munemura, Independent Scholar, Metropolitan Museum of Art metmuseum.org]
Nanbokucho Period Imperial Rulers (1336–1392)
Go-Kogon
Go-Daigo (1318–1339).
Kogen (Hokucho) (1331–1333).
Komyo (Hokucho) (1336–1348).
Go-Murakami (Nancho) (1339–1368).
Suko (Hokucho) (1348–1351).
Go-Kogon (Hokucho) (1352–1371).
Chokei (Nancho) (1368–1383).
Go-Enyu (Hokucho) (1371–1382).
Go-Kameyama (Nancho) (1383–1392).
[Source: Yoshinori Munemura, Independent Scholar, Metropolitan Museum of Art metmuseum.org]
Muromachi Period Imperial Rulers (1392–1573)
Go-Komatsu (1382–1412).
Shoko (1412–1428).
Go-Hanazono (1428–1464).
Go-Tsuchimikado (1464–1500).
Go-Kashiwabara (1500–1526).
Go-Nara (1526–1557).
Oogimachi (1557–1586).
[Source: Yoshinori Munemura, Independent Scholar, Metropolitan Museum of Art metmuseum.org]
Momoyama Period Imperial Rulers (1573–1615)
Oogimachi (1557–1586).
Go-Yozei (1586–1611).
Go-Mizuo (1611–1629).
[Source: Yoshinori Munemura, Independent Scholar, Metropolitan Museum of Art metmuseum.org]
Edo Period Imperial Rulers (1615–1868)
Go-Mizuo (1611–1629).
Meisho (1629–1643).
Go-Komyo (1643–1654).
Go-Sai (1654–1663).
Reigen (1663–1687).
Higashiyama (1687–1709).
Nakamikado (1709–1735).
Sakuramachi (1735–1747).
Momozono (1747–1762).
Go-Sakuramachi (1752–1770).
Go-Momozono (1770–1779).
Kokaku (1779–1817).
Ninko (1817–1846).
Komei (1846–1867).
[Source: Yoshinori Munemura, Independent Scholar, Metropolitan Museum of Art metmuseum.org]
Meiji Period Imperial Rulers (1868–1912) and After
Meiji (1868-1912).
Taisho (1912–1926).
Showa (1926–1989).
Heisei 1989–present).
Kinjo (1989–present).
[Source: Yoshinori Munemura, Independent Scholar, Metropolitan Museum of Art metmuseum.org]
Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons
Text Sources: Aileen Kawagoe, Heritage of Japan website, heritageofjapan.wordpress.com; Charles T. Keally, Professor of Archaeology and Anthropology (retired), Sophia University, Tokyo ++; Topics in Japanese Cultural History” by Gregory Smits, Penn State University figal-sensei.org ~; Asia for Educators Columbia University, Primary Sources with DBQs, afe.easia.columbia.edu ; New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Daily Yomiuri, Times of London, Japan National Tourist Organization (JNTO), National Geographic, The New Yorker, Time, Newsweek, Reuters, AP, Lonely Planet Guides, Compton’s Encyclopedia and various books and other publications.
Last updated September 2016