The following is a traditional list of Emperors of Japan. Female monarchs are are listed in italic. An asterisk (*) following an entry indicates an emperor who is not a direct patrilineal ancestor of the current emperor. Dates for the first 28 emperors, and especially the first 16, are based on tradition.

The Pre-Yamato (Ancient) Period (660 BC–AD 399)

1 Jimmu 660–585 BC
2 Suizei 581–549 BC
3 Annei 549–511 BC
4 Itoku 510–476 BC
5 Kōshō 475–393 BC
6 Kōan 392–291 BC
7 Kōrei 290–215 BC
8 Kōgen 214–158 BC
9 Kaika 157–98 BC
10 Sujin 97–30 BC
11 Suinin 29 BC–AD 70
12 Keikō 71–130
13 Seimu 131–191 *
14 Chūai 192–200
Jingū Kōgō 209–269 (Regent)
15 Ōjin(Hachiman) 270–310
16 Nintoku 313–399 *

Yamato Period (AD 400 –AD 539)

17 Richū 400–405 *
18 Hanzei 406–410 *
19 Ingyō 411–453 *
20 Ankō 453–456 *
21 Yūryaku 456–479 *
22 Seinei 480–484 *
23 Kenzō or Kensō 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 (AD 539–AD 715)

29 Kimmei (509–571, r. 539–571)
30 Bidatsu (538–585, r. 572–585)
31 Yōmei (?–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 Kōgyoku(Saimei) (594–661, r. 642–645) *
36 Kōtoku(Taika) (597–654, r. 645–654) *
37 Saimei (594–661, r. 655–661) *
38 Tenji (626–672, r. 661–672)
39 Kōbun (648–672, r. 672) *
40 Temmu (?–686, r. 672–686) *
41 Jitō (645–703, r. 686–697) *
42 Mommu (683–707, r. 697–707) *
43 Gemmei (661–722, r. 707–715) *

The Nara Period (AD 715–AD 781)

44 Genshō(Yoro) (680–748, r. 715–724) *
45 Shōmu (701–756, r. 724–749) *
46 Kōken (718–770, r. 749–758) *
47 Junnin (733–765, r. 758–764) *
48 Shōtoku (718–770, r. 764–770) *
49 Kōnin (709–782, r. 770–781)

The Heian Period (AD 781–AD 1198)

50 Kammu or Kwammu (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 Nimmyō (810–850, r. 833–850)
55 Montoku (827–858, r. 850–858) *
56 Seiwa (850–881, r. 858–876) *
57 Yōzei (869–949, r. 876–884) *
58 Kōkō (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'yū (959–991, r. 969–984)
65 Kazan (968–1008, r. 984–986) *
66 Ichijō (980–1011, r. 986–1011) *
67 Sanjō (976–1017, r. 1011–1016) *
68 Go-Ichijō (1008–1036, r. 1016–1036) *
69 Go-Suzaku (1009–1045, r. 1036–1045)
70 Go-Reizei (1025–1068, r. 1045–1068) *
71 Go-Sanjō (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 Nijō (1143–1165, r. 1158–1165) *
79 Rokujō (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 (AD 1198–AD 1339)

83 Tsuchimikado (1195–1231, r. 1198–1210)
84 Juntoku (1197–1242, r. 1210–1221) *
85 Chūkyō (1218–1234, r. 1221) *
86 Go-Horikawa (1212–1234, r. 1221–1232) *
87 Shijō (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-Nijō (1285–1308, r. 1301–1308) *
95 Hanazono (1297–1348, r. 1308–1318) *
96 Go-Daigo (1288–1339, r. 1318–1339) *

The Muromachi Period (AD 1339–AD 1611)

97 Go-Murakami (1328–1368, r. 1339–1368) *
98 Chōkei (1343–1394, r. 1368–1383) *
99 Go-Kameyama (?–1424, r. 1383–1392) *

Northern Court (AD 1331–AD 1611)

Northern Ashikaga Pretender 1: Kōgon (1313–1364, r. 1331–1333)
Northern Ashikaga Pretender 2: Kōmyō (1322–1380, r. 1336–1348) *
Northern Ashikaga Pretender 3: Sukō (1334–1398, r. 1348–1351)
Interregnum, November 26, 1351 until September 25, 1352
Northern Ashikaga Pretender 4: Go-Kōgon (1338–1374, r. 1352–1371) *
Northern Ashikaga Pretender 5: Go-En'yū (1359–1393, r. 1371–1382) *

100 Go-Komatsu (1377–1433, r. 1392–1412) *
101 Shōkō (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 Ōgimachi (1517–1593, r. 1557–1586)
107 Go-Yōzei (1572–1617, r. 1586–1611)

The Edo Period (AD 1611–AD 1867)

108 Go-Mizunoo (1596–1680, r. 1611–1629)
109 Meishō (1624–1696, r. 1629–1643) *
110 Go-Kōmyō (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 Kōkaku (1771–1840, r. 1780–1817)
120 Ninkō (1800–1846, r. 1817–1846)
121 Kōmei (1831–1867, r. 1846–1867)

Modern Japan (AD 1867–present)

Naming standards become more complicated for the last four emperors of Japan:

122 明治 Meiji (1852–1912, r. 1867–1912)

• By Japanese and English speakers, referred to as the Meiji emperor, not by his name Mutsuhito.

123 大正 Taishō (1879–1926, r. 1912–1926)

• By Japanese and English speakers, referred to as the Taisho emperor, not by his name Yoshihito

124 Hirohito (昭和 Shōwa emperor) (1901–1989, r. 1926–1989)

• By Japanese speakers, referred to as the Showa emperor.
• By English speakers, referred to as Hirohito.

125 Akihito (1933–, r. 1989–present)

• By Japanese speakers, Akihito is currently referred to as Tenno Heika, as he is the reigning emperor, even though his era is called Heisei 平成 .
• By English speakers, referred to as Akihito.

See also

• List of Japanese Imperial Advisers