Empress of Japan

The empress of Japan is the title given to the wife of the Emperor of Japan or a female ruler in her own right. The current empress consort is Empress Masako, who ascended the throne with her husband on 1 May 2019.

Empress regnant

thumb|[[Empress Jitō (645–703) by Katsukawa Shunsho, 18th century]]

Titles

Josei Tennō (女性天皇, lit. "female heavenly emperor") or Jotei (, lit. "female emperor") – Because there is no feminine equivalent to king and emperor in East Asian languages, different titles are used for female monarchs and female consorts. Josei Tennō refers only to an empress regnant of Japan, and Jotei refers to an empress regnant of any countries.
Tennō (天皇, lit. "heavenly emperor") or Kōtei (皇帝, lit. "emperor") – Unlike European languages, in East Asia, the titles of female monarchs can also be abbreviated as "king" or "emperor", much like their male counterparts. However, to avoid confusion with male monarchs, they are usually referred to as "female king" or "female emperor".

List of empresses regnant

There were eight female imperial reigns (six empresses regnant including two who reigned twice) in Japan's early history between 593 and 770, and two more in the early modern period (Edo period). Although there were eight reigning empresses, with only one exception their successors were selected from amongst the males of the paternal Imperial bloodline. After many centuries, female reigns came to be officially prohibited only when the Imperial Household Law was issued in 1889 alongside the new Meiji Constitution.

The eight historical empresses regnant are:

Nukatabe, Empress Suiko (推古天皇 Suiko Tennō) was the 33rd empress of Japan from 593 until 628, according to the traditional order of succession, and the first historically attested woman to hold this position. She was the granddaughter of Tashiraga of Yamato, herself sister of the childless Emperor Buretsu, transferring some legitimacy in succession to the throne of Yamato to her husband Emperor Keitai. Tashiraga's mother had been Kasuga of Yamato, sister of the childless Emperor Seinei, whose own marriage with the future Emperor Ninken had a similar effect a generation earlier. According to legends, these ladies descended from the legendary Empress Jingū, who had been ruler (since Meiji-era rewrites of history, Regent) of Yamato for decades at some time in the past, probably in the mid-4th century (if she really existed), and who herself descended, according to legends, from Amaterasu omikami, the Sun Goddess of the Japanese pantheon.
Takara, Empress Kōgyoku (皇極天皇 Kōgyoku Tennō), also Empress Saimei (斉明天皇 Saimei Tennō) was the 35th and 37th empress of Japan, initially from February 18, 642, to July 12, 645, ascending upon the death of her uncle Emperor Jomei (who had also been her second husband). When she abdicated, her own younger brother succeeded her. However, upon the death of the said younger brother, she reascended the throne as Empress Saimei on February 14, 655, and ruled until her death on August 24, 661. She was succeeded by her and Emperor Jomei's son, Naka no Ōe, as Emperor Tenji.
Unonosasara, Empress Jitō (持統天皇 Jitō Tennō) was the 41st imperial ruler of Japan, and ruled from 686 until 697. The previous emperor was her uncle and husband, Emperor Tenmu, and she later abdicated the throne to her grandson Emperor Monmu.
Ahe, Empress Genmei (also Empress Genmyō; 元明天皇 Genmei Tennō) was the 43rd imperial ruler of Japan ruling 707–715 (died December 7, 721). She was Empress Jitō's younger half-sister and the mother of Emperor Monmu, who died at a young age.
Hitaka, Empress Genshō (元正天皇 Genshō Tennō) was the 44th monarch of Japan (715–724). She succeeded after her mother Empress Genmei and later abdicated to her nephew Emperor Shōmu, son of Emperor Monmu.
Abe, Empress Kōken (孝謙天皇 Kōken Tennō) also Empress Shōtoku (称徳天皇 Shōtoku Tennō) was the 46th imperial ruler of Japan from 749 to 758, and the 48th from 764 to 770. Her posthumous name for her second reign (764–770) was Empress Shōtoku. She never married and her ex-crown prince was Prince Bunado, her first cousin twice removed, but after her death, another of her cousins ascended the throne as Emperor Kanmu, who was also her brother-in-law.
Okiko, Empress Meishō (明正天皇 Meishō Tennō) was the 109th empress of Japan, reigning from December 22, 1629, to November 14, 1643. She ascended upon the abdication of her father, being the eldest surviving child of her parents (the empress, Tokugawa Masako, had only four daughters without surviving sons), holding priority over her younger half-brothers.
Toshiko, Empress Go-Sakuramachi (後桜町天皇 Go-Sakuramachi Tennō) was the 117th empress of Japan, and ruled from September 15, 1762, to January 9, 1771. She abdicated in favor of her young nephew. Surviving over forty years, the retired Empress held all those decades the position of Dajo Tenno, and acted as sort of guardian of subsequent emperors.

Other than the eight historical empresses regnant, two additional empress are traditionally believed to have reigned, but historical evidence for their reigns is scant and they are not counted among the officially numbered Emperors/Empresses regnant:

Empress Jingū r. 206–269 (empress consort of Emperor Chūai)—not counted among the officially numbered Emperors
Princess Iitoyo: Imperial princess and possibly empress regnant. She was baptized as Empress Tsunuzashi in the list of emperors of Japan.

Under Shinto religious influence, the goddess Amaterasu, who is of the highest rank in the kami system, might suggest that Japan's first rulers were women. According to the and Nihon Shoki chronicles in Japanese mythology, the Emperors of Japan are considered to be direct descendants of Amaterasu.

Empress consort

thumb|[[Saionji Kishi|Empress Kishi (1303–1333) and Emperor Go-Daigo (1288–1339) from Taiheiki Emaki (17th century). Owned by Saitama Prefectural Museum of History and Folklore.]]

Titles

– It is the title of a non-reigning empress consort. The title, still in use, is generally conferred on an emperor's wife who had given birth to the heir to the throne. The title was first awarded posthumously in 806 to the late mother of Emperor Heizei. In ancient Japan, most of the empresses consort were princesses, except for Iwa no hime (empress consort of Nintoku). After Empress Kōmyō (empress consort of Shōmu), daughters of the Fujiwara clan or other clans could become empresses consort.
Kōtaigō (皇太后) – Empress Mother/Empress Dowager
Tai-Kōtaigō (太皇太后) – Grand Empress Mother/Grand Empress Dowager
' (中宮) – It was a term that evolved during the Heian period; and it came to be understood as the title of the empress. For a time, Chūgū replaced Kōgō; and then the titles became interchangeable. The numbers of Kōgō varied, but there was only one Chūgū at a time. Originally, Chūgū (中宮) referred to the palace of the Kōgō (皇后), Kōtaigō (皇太后), or Tai-Kōtaigō (太皇太后). Until the mid-Heian Period, the emperor had only one empress consort, and the empress consort was also called Chūgū. From the time of Emperor Ichijō, when emperors had two empresses consort, one of them came to be called Kōgō and another one was called Chūgū.
Junbo-Ritsugō (准母立后) – It means individuals elevated to the rank of empress due to their position as honorary mother of the emperor. After maiden Princess Yasuko became empress as the honorary or adoptive mother of Emperor Horikawa, maiden princesses could also become empress.
Zōkō (贈后) – It means individuals that were given the title of empress posthumously.
' (上皇后) – Empress Emerita
' (后位) – was an ancient title for empress consort or empress dowager. The definitions were laid down in the Ritsuryō code. Use during the Heian period is exemplified for example for the character Kiritsubo Consort (桐壺更衣, Kiritsubo no Kōi) in The Tale of Genji. The title Kōi later gave way for Kōgō (皇后) for the empress consort to avoid confusion.

List of empresses consort

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col" | Portrait

! scope="col" width="200px" | Name

! scope="col" width="200px" | Spouse

! scope="col" width="300px" | Tenure

! scope="col" width="300px" class="unsortable" | Life details

| 100px

| Himetataraisuzu-hime

| Emperor Jimmu

| 660–581 BC–548 BC (32 years)

| Daughter of Kotoshironushi. Gave birth to Emperor Annei. Empress dowager from 548 BC.–510 BC–475 BC–392 BC–290 BC–214 BC (74 years)

| Daughter of Shiki no Agatanushi Oome. Gave birth to Emperor Kōgen. Empress dowager from 214 BC.–157 BC–97 BC–29 BC (68 years)

| Daughter of Prince Ōhiko; granddaughter of Emperor Kōgen and Utsushikome. Gave birth to Emperor Suinin and five other children. Empress dowager from 29 BC.–25 BC (3 years)

| died 25 BC–AD 3 (18 years)

| died AD 3–122 (40 years)

| died 122 (10 years)

| Daughter of Prince Yasakairihiko; granddaughter of Emperor Sujin; half-cousin of Emperor Keikō. Gave birth to Emperor Seimu and 11 other children. Empress dowager from 132.–201 (8 years)

| 169–269 (100 years)

Daughter of Okinaganosukune; great-great-great-granddaughter of Emperor Kaika. Gave birth to Emperor Ōjin and served as his regent from 201 until 269. Empress dowager from 201.–313 (41 years)

| Daughter of Homudamawaka. Gave birth to Emperor Nintoku and two other children. Empress Dowager from 313.–347 (33 years)

| died 347

| Daughter of Emperor Ōjin. Gave birth to Princess Nakashi.

| 100px

| Oshisaka no Ōnakatsuhime

| Emperor Ingyō

| 413–453 (40 years)

| Daughter of Prince Wakanuke no Futamata; granddaughter of Emperor Ōjin. Gave birth to Emperor Ankō, Emperor Yūryaku and seven other children. Empress dowager from 453.

| Daughter of Emperor Richū and Kusakanohatabino-hime; niece of Emperor Ankō. Previously married to Prince Ōkusaka, son of Emperor Nintoku, and had one child with him. Became a concubine of Emperor Ankō in 454.

| Daughter of Emperor Nintoku.

| 100px

| Princess Naniwa no Ono

| Emperor Kenzō

| 485–489

In the Nihon Shoki: daughter of Prince Oka-no-Wakugo; great-granddaughter of Emperor Ingyō. In the Kojiki: daughter of Prince Iwaki; granddaughter of Emperor Yūryaku. Committed suicide due to fears over disrespecting Emperor Ninken when he was crown prince.

| Daughter of Emperor Yuryaku. Gave birth to Emperor Buretsu, Princess Tashiraka, Princess Tachibana no Nakatsu and six other children.

| 100px

| Kasuga no Iratsume

| Emperor Buretsu

| appointed 499

| Unknown parents.

| 100px

| Princess Tashiraka

| Emperor Keitai

| appointed 507

| born 489

Daughter of Emperor Ninken and Princess Kasuga no Ōiratsume. Gave birth to one child.

| 100px

| Princess Kasuga no Yamada

| Emperor Ankan

| appointed 534

| Daughter of Emperor Ninken. Married Emperor Ankan in 513.

| 100px

| Princess Tachibana no Nakatsu

| Emperor Senka

| 536–539 (3 years)

| Daughter of Emperor Ninken and Princess Kasuga no Ōiratsume. Gave birth to five children. Empress dowager from 539.–572 (32 years)

| Daughter of Emperor Senka and Princess Tachibana no Nakatsu. Gave birth to Emperor Bidatsu and two other children. Empress dowager from 572.

| 100px

| Hirohime

| rowspan=2| Emperor Bidatsu

| 575 (10 months)

| died 575

Daughter of Prince Okinaga-no-Mate; great-great-granddaughter of Emperor Ōjin. Gave birth to three children.

| 100px

| Princess Nukatabe

| 576–587 (1 year)

| 560–621 (61 years)

Daughter of Emperor Kinmei. Married to Emperor Yōmei in 564. Gave birth to four children.

| 100px

| Princess Takara

| Emperor Jomei

| 630–641 (11 years)

| 594–661 (67 years)

Daughter of Prince Chinu; great-granddaughter of Emperor Bidatsu. Gave birth to Emperor Tenji, Emperor Kōtoku and one other child. Empress regnant from 642 until 645 and from 655 until 661.

| 100px

| Princess Hashihito

| Emperor Kōtoku

| appointed 645

| died 665

Daughter of Emperor Jomei and Princess Takara.

| 100px

| Yamato Hime no Ōkimi

| Emperor Tenji

| appointed 668

| Daughter of Prince Furuhito no Ōe; granddaughter of Emperor Jomei. Poet. Gave birth to Emperor Tenmu.

| 100px

| Princess Unonosarara

| Emperor Tenmu

| 673–686 (13 years)

| 645–703 (57–58 years)

Daughter of Emperor Tenji. Gave birth to one child. Empress regnant from 686 until 697.

| 100px

| Fujiwara Asukabehime

| Emperor Shōmu

| 729–749 (9 years)

| 701–760 (58–59 years)

Daughter of Fujiwara no Fuhito. Gave birth to Empress Kōken and one other child. Empress dowager from 749.

| 100px

| Princess Inoe

| Emperor Kōnin

| 770–772 (2 years)

| 717–775 (57–58 years)

Daughter of Emperor Shōmu; half-sister of Empress Kōken. Gave birth to Sakahito, as well as to Osabe who was named crown prince. Deposed in 772 after being accused of using curses and black magic to promote Osabe to the throne.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Otomuro

| Emperor Kanmu

| 783–790 (6 years)

| 760–790 (29–30 years)

Daughter of Fujiwara no Yoshitsugu. Gave birth to Emperor Heizei, Emperor Saga and Princess Koshi. Posthumously appointed empress dowager in 806.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Tarashiko

| Emperor Heizei

| posthumously appointed in 806

| died 794

Daughter of Fujiwara no Momokawa. Married Emperor Heizei before his accession to the throne.

| 100px

| Tachibana no Kachiko

| Emperor Saga

| 815–823 (7 years)

| 786–850 (63–64 years)

Daughter of Tachibana no Kiyotomo. Married Emperor Saga in 809. Gave birth to Emperor Ninmyō, Princess Seishi and five other children. Empress dowager from 823 until 833. Grand empress dowager from 833.

| 100px

| Princess Koshi

| Emperor Junna

| posthumously appointed in 823

| 789–809 (19–20 years)

Daughter of Emperor Kanmu and Fujiwara no Otomuro. Married Emperor Junna in 804. Gave birth to four children.

| 100px

| Princess Seishi

| Emperor Junna

| 827–833 (6 years)

| 810–879 (68–69 years)

Daughter of Emperor Saga and Tachibana no Kachiko. Gave birth to three children. Empress dowager from 833 until 854. Grand empress dowager from 854.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Onshi

| Emperor Daigo

| 923–931 (7 years)

| 885–954 (68–69 years)

Daughter of Fujiwara no Mototsune. Gave birth to Emperor Suzaku, Emperor Murakami and two other children. Empress dowager from 931 until 946. Grand empress dowager from 946.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Anshi

| Emperor Murakami

| 958–964 (5 years)

| 927–964 (68–69 years)

Daughter of Fujiwara no Morosuke. Gave birth to Emperor Reizei, Emperor En'yu and seven other children.

| 100px

| Princess Masako

| Emperor Reizei

| 967–973 (5 years)

| 950–1000 (49–50 years)

Daughter of Emperor Suzaku. Adopted one child. Empress dowager from 973 until 986. Grand empress dowager from 986.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Koshi

| rowspan=2| Emperor En'yū

| 973–979 (5 years)

| 947–979 (31–32 years)

Daughter of Fujiwara no Kanemichi.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Junshi

| 982–997 (15 years)

| 957–1017 (59–60 years)

Daughter of Fujiwara no Yoritada. Empress dowager from 1000 until 1012. Grand empress dowager from 1012.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Teishi

| rowspan=2| Emperor Ichijō

| 990–1001 (10 years)

| 977–1001 (23–24 years)

Daughter of Fujiwara no Michitaka. Gave birth to three children.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Shōshi

| 1000–1012 (12 years)

| 988–1074 (86 years)

Daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga. Gave birth to Emperor Go-Ichijō and Emperor Go-Suzaku. Empress dowager from 1012 to 1018. Grand empress dowager from 1018.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Seishi

| rowspan=2| Emperor Sanjō

| 1012–1016 (4 years)

| 972–1025 (52–53 years)

Daughter of Fujiwara no Naritoki. Gave birth to six children.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Kenshi

| 1012–1018 (6 years)

| 994–1027 (32–33 years)

Daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga. Gave birth to Princess Teishi. Empress dowager from 1018.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Ishi

| Emperor Go-Ichijō

| 1018–1036 (18 years)

| 1000–1036 (36 years)

Daughter of Fujiwara no Michinaga. Gave birth to Princess Shōshi (1027–1105) and Princess Kaoruko.

| 100px

| Princess Teishi

| rowspan=2| Emperor Go-Suzaku

| 1037–1051 (14 years)

| 1013–1094 (80 years)

Daughter of Emperor Sanjō and Fujiwara no Kenshi (994–1027). Gave birth to Emperor Go-Sanjō and two other children. Empress dowager from 1051 until 1068. Grand empress dowager from 1068.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Genshi

| 1037–1039 (2 years)

| 1016–1039 (23 years)

Daughter of Prince Atsuyasu; granddaughter of Emperor Ichijō; adopted daughter of Fujiwara no Yorimichi. Gave birth to two children.

| 100px

| Princess Shōshi

| rowspan=3| Emperor Go-Reizei

| 1046–1068 (22 years)

| 1027–1105 (77–78 years)

Daughter of Emperor Go-Ichijō and Fujiwara no Ishi. Empress dowager from 1068 until 1069. Grand empress dowager from 1069.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Hiroko

| 1051–1069 (18 years)

| 1036–1127 (90–91 years)

Daughter of Fujiwara no Yorimichi. Empress dowager from 1069 until 1074. Grand empress dowager from 1074.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Kanshi

| 1068–1074 (6 years)

| 1021–1102 (80–81 years)

Daughter of Fujiwara no Norimichi. Gave birth to one child. Empress dowager from 1074.

| 100px

| Princess Kaoruko

| Emperor Go-Sanjō

| 1069–1093 (24 years)

| 1029–1093 (63–64 years)

Daughter of Emperor Go-Ichijō. Married Emperor Go-Sanjō in 1051.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Kenshi

| Emperor Shirakawa

| 1074–1084 (10 years)

| 1057–1084 (26–27 years)

Daughter of Minamoto Akifusa; adopted daughter of Fujiwara no Morozane. Gave birth to Emperor Horikawa and four other children.

| 100px

| Princess Yasuko

| Honorary; adoptive mother of Emperor Horikawa

| 1091–1093 (2 years)

| 1076–1096 (19–20 years)

Daughter of Emperor Shirakawa and Fujiwara no Kenshi (1057–1084); sister of Emperor Horikawa.

| 100px

| Princess Tokushi

| Emperor Horikawa

| 1093–1107 (14 years)

| 1060–1114 (53–54 years)

Daughter of Emperor Go-Sanjō and Princess Kaoruko.

| 100px

| Princess Reishi

| Honorary; adoptive mother of Emperor Toba

| 1108–1134 (26 years)

| 1078–1144 (65–66 years)

Daughter of Emperor Shirakawa and Fujiwara no Kenshi (1057–1084); aunt of Emperor Toba.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Tamako

| Emperor Toba

| 1118–1124 (6 years)

| 1101–1145 (43–44 years)

Daughter of Fujiwara no Kinzane. Raised by Emperor Shirakawa after losing her father when she was seven years old. Gave birth to Emperor Sutoku, Emperor Go-Shirakawa, Princess Muneko and four other children.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Kiyoko

| Emperor Sutoku

| 1130–1142 (12 years)

| 1122–1182 (59–60 years)

Daughter of Fujiwara no Tadamichi. Empress dowager from 1142.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Yasuko

| rowspan=2| Emperor Toba

| 1134–1139 (5 years)

| 1095–1156 (60–61 years)

Daughter of Fujiwara no Tadazane.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Nariko

| 1142–1149 (7 years)

| 1117–1160 (42–43 years)

Daughter of Fujiwara no Nagazane. Gave birth to Emperor Konoe, Princess Yoshiko (1141–1176) and two other children.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Tashi

| Emperor Konoe

| 1150–1156 (6 years)

| 1140–1202 (61–62 years)

Daughter of Tokudaiji Kinyoshi; adopted daughter of Fujiwara no Yorinaga. Empress dowager from 1156. Grand empress dowager from 1158. Consort of Emperor Nijō from 1160 until 1165. Only empress to become the consort of two emperors.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Teishi

| Emperor Konoe

| 1150–1158 (7 years)

| 1131–1176 (44–45 years)

Daughter of Fujiwara no Koremichi; adopted daughter of Fujiwara no Tadamichi.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Kinshi

| Emperor Go-Shirakawa

| 1156–1172 (7 years)

| 1134–1209 (74–75 years)

Daughter of Tokudaiji Kinyoshi. Empress dowager from 1172.

| 100px

| Princess Muneko

| Honorary; adoptive mother of Emperor Go-Shirakawa

| 1158–1159 (11 months)

| 1126–1189 (62 years)

Daughter of Emperor Toba and Fujiwara no Tamako; sister of Emperor Go-Shirakawa.

| 100px

| Princess Yoshiko

| rowspan=2| Emperor Nijō

| 1159–1162 (2 years)

| 1141–1176 (34 years)

Daughter of Emperor Toba and Fujiwara no Nariko.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Ikushi

| 1162–1173 (11 years)

| 1146–1173 (26–27 years)

Daughter of Tokudaiji Saneyoshi; foster mother of Emperor Rokujō.

| 100px

| Taira no Tokuko

| Emperor Takakura

| 1172–1182 (9 years)

| 1155–1214 (58–59 years)

Daughter of Emperor Go-Shirakawa. Gave birth to Emperor Antoku.

| 100px

| Princess Sukeko

| Honorary; adoptive mother of Emperor Antoku (until 1183)

Honorary; adoptive mother of Emperor Go-Toba (from 1183)

| 1182–1187 (4 years)

| 1147–1216 (68–69 years)

Daughter of Emperor Go-Shirakawa; aunt of Emperor Antoku and Emperor Go-Toba.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Ninshi

| Emperor Go-Toba

| 1190–1200 (10 years)

| 1173–1239 (65 years)

Daughter of Fujiwara no Kanezane. Gave birth to Princess Shōshi (1195–1211).

| 100px

| Princess Noriko

| Honorary; adoptive mother of Emperor Tsuchimikado

| 1198–1206 (8 years)

| 1177–1210 (32 years)

Daughter of Emperor Takakura; aunt of Emperor Tsuchimikado.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Reishi

| Emperor Tsuchimikado

| 1205–1210 (4 years)

| 1185–1243 (57–58 years)

Daughter of Fujiwara no Yorizane.

| 100px

| Princess Shōshi

| Honorary; adoptive mother of Prince Morinari

| 1208–1209 (8 months)

| 1195–1211 (16 years)

Daughter of Emperor Go-Toba and Fujiwara no Ninshi; sister of Prince Morinari (later Emperor Juntoku).

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Ritsushi

| Emperor Juntoku

| 1211–1222 (11 years)

| 1192–1248 (55–56 years)

Daughter of Kujō Yoshitsune. Gave birth to Emperor Chūkyō and one other child.

| 100px

| Princess Kuniko

| Honorary; adoptive mother of Emperor Go-Horikawa

| 1222–1224 (2 years)

| 1209–1283 (73–74 years)

Daughter of Prince Morisada; granddaughter of Emperor Takakura; sister of Emperor Go-Horikawa. Surrogate mother to Emperor Kameyama.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Ariko

| rowspan=3| Emperor Go-Horikawa

| 1223–1227 (3 years)

| 1207–1286 (78–79 years)

Daughter of Sanjō Kinfusa.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Chōshi

| 1226–1229 (2 years)

| 1218–1275 (56–57 years)

Daughter of Konoe Iezane.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Shunshi

| 1230–1233 (3 years)

| 1218–1275 (56–57 years)

Daughter of Kujō Michiie. Gave birth to Emperor Shijō and one other child.

| 100px

| Princess Rishi

| Honorary; adoptive mother of Emperor Shijō

| 1233–1239 (6 years)

| 1197–1251 (53–54 years)

Daughter of Prince Morisada; granddaughter of Emperor Takakura; aunt of Emperor Shijō.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Kisshi

| Emperor Go-Saga

| 1242–1248 (6 years)

| 1225–1292 (66–67 years)

Daughter of Saionji Saneuji. Gave birth to Emperor Go-Fukakusa, Emperor Kameyama and three other children.

| 100px

| Princess Teruko

| Honorary; adoptive mother of Emperor Go-Saga

| 1248–1251 (2 years)

| 1224–1262 (37–38 years)

Daughter of Emperor Tsuchimikado; aunt of Emperor Go-Saga.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Kimiko

| Emperor Go-Fukakusa

| 1257–1260 (2 years)

| 1232–1304 (71–72 years)

Daughter of Saionji Saneuji. Gave birth to Princess Reishi (1270–1307) and one other child.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Saneko

| rowspan=2| Emperor Kameyama

| 1261–1272 (11 years)

| 1245–1272 (26–27 years)

Daughter of Tōin Saneo. Gave birth to Emperor Go-Uda and two other children.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Kishi

| 1261–1269 (7 years)

| 1252–1318 (65–66 years)

Daughter of Saionji Kinsuke.

| 100px

| Princess Reishi

| Emperor Go-Uda

| 1285–1291 (5 years)

| 1270–1307 (36 years)

Daughter of Emperor Go-Fukakusa and Fujiwara no Kimiko.

| 100px

| Saionji Shōshi

| Emperor Fushimi

| 1288–1298 (9 years)

| 1271–1342 (70–71 years)

Daughter of Saionji Sanekane. Poet. Adopted Emperor Go-Fushimi.

| 100px

| Fujiwara no Kinshi

| Emperor Go-Nijō

| 1303–1308 (4 years)

| 1283–1352 (68–69 years)

Daughter of Tokudaiji Kintaka.

| 100px

| Princess Shōshi

| Honorary Empress of Emperor Go-Daigo

| 1319 (6 months)

| 1286–1348 (62 years)

Daughter of Emperor Go-Uda; half-sister of Emperor Go-Daigo.

| 100px

| Saionji Kishi

| rowspan=2| Emperor Go-Daigo

| 1319–1333 (14 years)

| after 1295 and before 1305–1333 (27–38 years)

Daughter of Saionji Sanekane. Poet. Married Emperor Go-Daigo in 1314. Gave birth to Princess Kanshi and one other child. Empress dowager from 1333.

| 100px

| Princess Junshi

| 1334–1337 (3 years)

| 1311–1337 (25–26 years)

Daughter of Emperor Go-Fushimi. Gave birth to one child.

| 100px

| Daughter of Saionji Kinshige

| Emperor Chōkei

| appointed as early as 1371

| Name unknown. Gave birth to one child.

| 100px

| Tokugawa Masako

| Emperor Go-Mizunoo

| 1624–1629 (5 years)

| 1607–1678 (70 years)

Daughter of Tokugawa Hidetada. Gave birth to Empress Meishō and six other children. Adopted Emperor Go-Kōmyō and Emperor Go-Sai.

| 100px

| Takatsukasa Fusako

| Emperor Reigen

| 1683–1687 (3 years)

| 1653–1712 (58 years)

Daughter of Takatsukasa Norihira. Gave birth to one child.

| 100px

| Princess Yukiko

| Emperor Higashiyama

| 1708–1710 (2 years)

| 1680–1720 (39 years)

Daughter of Prince Arisugawa Yukihito. Gave birth to one child.

| 100px

| Princess Yoshiko

| Emperor Kōkaku

| 1794–1820 (26 years)

| 1779–1846 (67 years)

Daughter of Emperor Go-Momozono. Last daughter of an emperor to become empress. Gave birth to two children. Adopted Emperor Ninkō. Empress dowager from 1820.

| 100px

| Takatsukasa Tsunako

| Emperor Ninkō

| posthumously appointed in 1824

| 1798–1823 (24–25 years)

Daughter of Takatsukasa Masahiro. Married Emperor Ninkō in 1817. Gave birth to two children.

| 100px

| Ichijō Masako

| Emperor Meiji

| 11 January 1869 – 30 July 1912 ()

| 9 May 1849 – 9 April 1914 ()

Daughter of Tadayoshi Ichijō. Married Emperor Meiji on 11 January 1869. Adopted Emperor Taishō (son of Emperor Meiji and Yanagiwara Naruko). Empress dowager from her husband's death in 1912 until her death in 1914.

| 100px

| Kujō Sadako

| Emperor Taishō

| 30 July 1912 – 25 December 1926 ()

| 25 June 1884 – 17 May 1951 ()

Daughter of Kujō Michitaka. Married Emperor Taishō on 10 May 1900. Gave birth to four sons. Empress Dowager from her husband's death in 1926 until her death in 1951.

| 100px

| Princess Nagako

| Emperor Shōwa

| 25 December 1926 – 7 January 1989 ()

| 6 March 1903 – 16 June 2000 ()

Daughter of Prince Kuni Kuniyoshi. Married Emperor Shōwa on 26 January 1924. Gave birth to seven children. Empress Dowager from her husband's death in 1989 until her death in 2000.

| 100px

| Shōda Michiko

| Akihito

| 7 January 1989 – 30 April 2019 ()

| born 20 October 1934 ()

Daughter of Hidesaburō Shōda. Married Akihito on 10 April 1959. Gave birth to three children. Empress Emerita from her husband's abdication in 2019.

| 100px

| Owada Masako

| Naruhito

| 1 May 2019 – present ()

| born 9 December 1963 ()

Daughter of Hisashi Owada. Married Naruhito on 9 June 1993. Gave birth to one daughter.

List of empresses dowager

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col" | Portrait

! scope="col" width="200px" | Name

! scope="col" width="300px" class="unsortable" | Reign

! scope="col" width="300px" class="unsortable" | Life details

| 100px

| Himetataraisuzu-hime

| appointed in 581 BC