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Imperial House of Japan 皇室 Kōshitsu
Imperial Seal of Japan
Country	Japan
Founded	11 February 660 BC, 2683 years ago (mythical) 5 December 539 AD, 1485 years ago (historical)
Founder	Emperor Jimmu (mythical) Emperor Kinmei (historical)
Current head	Naruhito
Titles	Emperor of Japan Josei Tennō Emperor Emeritus Dharma Emperor Great King of Yamato King of Wa Regent of Japan Crown Prince
Cadet branches	The Shinnōke and Ōke Minamoto clan Taira clan Tachibana clan Abe clan and others
Website	https://www.kunaicho.go.jp/eindex.html

The Imperial House (皇室, Kōshitsu) is the reigning dynasty of Japan, consisting of those members of the extended family of the reigning emperor of Japan who undertake official and public duties. Under the present constitution of Japan, the emperor is "the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people". Other members of the imperial family perform ceremonial and social duties, but have no role in the affairs of government. The duties as an emperor are passed down the line to their male children. The Japanese monarchy is the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy in the world. The imperial dynasty does not have a name, therefore its direct members do not have a family name.

Origins and name

The imperial house recognizes 126 monarchs, beginning with Emperor Jimmu (traditionally dated to 11 February 660 BCE), and continuing up to the current emperor, Naruhito. However, scholars have agreed that there is no evidence of Jimmu's existence, that the traditional narrative of the imperial family's founding is mythical, and that Jimmu is a mythical figure. Historical evidence for the first 25 emperors is scant, and they are considered mythical, but there is sufficient evidence of an unbroken agnatic line since the early 6th century. Historically, verifiable emperors of Japan start from 539 CE with Emperor Kinmei, the 29th tennō.

The earliest historic written mentions of Japan were in Chinese records, where it was referred to as Wa (倭 later 和), which later evolved into the Japanese name of Wakoku (倭國). Suishō (帥升, ca. 107 CE) was a king of Wa, the earliest Japanese monarch mentioned in Volume 85 of the Book of the Later Han from 445 CE. Further records mention the five kings of Wa (倭の五王, Wa no go ō), of which the last one Bu of Wa is generally considered to be Emperor Yūryaku (417/18 – 479 CE). The existence of his reign has been established through modern archaeological research.

While the main line of the dynasty does not have a name and is referred to as Kōshitsu (皇室, imperial house), there are agnatic cadet branches which split during the course of centuries who received their own family names in order to distinguish them from the main line. They were considered a part of the imperial family (皇族 Kōzoku), with members carrying the title "Imperial Highness", until the laws changed in 1947. The most important branches were the Shinnōke of which the most senior branch Fushimi-no-miya (伏見宮) is first in the order of succession. Out of the Fushimi branch the Ōke branches split, which are the Kuni (久邇), Kaya (賀陽), Asaka (朝香), Higashikuni (東久邇) and Takeda (竹田) families as of 2024. Furthermore there are branches created from sons of the emperor who were excluded from the line of succession and demoted into the ranks of the court (kuge) or sword (buke) nobility. Such families are the Minamoto (源 also known as Genji), Taira (平 also known as Heishi) and Abe (安倍), as well as through in-laws the Tachibana (橘) for example. Out of these families further branches split through male descent who were also considered noble Japanese clans. The line of legitimate direct male descendants of emperors is therefore numerous.

Other terms used for the dynasty are also Kōka (皇家, Imperial House). Formerly the term Kyūshitsu (宮室, Palace Household) was also used under the old Imperial Constitution and the Imperial Household Law, as well as Teishitsu (帝室, Imperial Household).

List of current members

Japanese imperial family
The Emperor The Empress The Princess Toshi
The Emperor Emeritus The Empress Emerita The Crown Prince Akishino The Crown Princess Akishino Princess Kako of Akishino Prince Hisahito of Akishino
The Prince Hitachi The Princess Hitachi
Princess Tomohito of Mikasa Princess Akiko of Mikasa Princess Yōko of Mikasa The Princess Takamado Princess Tsuguko of Takamado
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This article is part of a series on
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The emperor (天皇, tennō) is the head of the Japanese imperial family.

Article 3 and 4 of the Law for Special Exception of the Imperial House Law concerning Abdication, etc. of Emperor (天皇の退位等に関する皇室典範特例法, Tennō no taii nado ni kansuru Kōshitsu Tenpan Tokureihō) define the Emperor Emeritus (上皇, jōkō) and Empress Emerita (上皇后, jōkōgō).

Article 5 of the Imperial Household Law (皇室典範, Kōshitsu Tenpan) defines the Imperial Family members (皇族, kōzoku) as the Empress (皇后, kōgō); the Grand empress dowager (太皇太后, tai-kōtaigō); the Empress dowager (皇太后, kōtaigō); the Emperor's legitimate sons and legitimate grandsons in the legitimate male line (親王, shinnō), and their consorts (親王妃, shinnōhi); the Emperor's unmarried legitimate daughters and unmarried legitimate granddaughters in the legitimate male line (内親王, naishinnō); the Emperor's other legitimate male descendants in the third and later generations in the legitimate male line (王, ō) and their consorts (王妃, ōhi); and the Emperor's other unmarried legitimate female descendants in the third and later generations in the legitimate male line (女王, joō).

In English, shinnō (親王) and ō (王) are both translated as "prince" as well as shinnōhi (親王妃), naishinnō (内親王), ōhi (王妃) and joō (女王) as "princess".

After the removal of 11 collateral branches from the imperial house in October 1947, the official membership of the imperial family has effectively been limited to the male-line descendants of the Emperor Taishō, excluding females who married outside the imperial family and their descendants.

There are currently 16 members of the imperial family:

• Emperor Naruhito, the eldest son and first child of the Emperor Emeritus Akihito and the Empress Emerita Michiko, was born in the Hospital of the Imperial Household in Tokyo on 23 February 1960. He became heir apparent upon his father's accession to the throne. Crown Prince Naruhito married Masako Owada on 9 June 1993. He ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne and became the 126th emperor upon his father's abdication on 1 May 2019.
• Empress Masako was born on 9 December 1963, the daughter of Hisashi Owada, a former vice minister of foreign affairs and former permanent representative of Japan to the United Nations. She became empress consort upon her husband's succession to the throne on 1 May 2019.
  • Aiko, Princess Toshi was born on 1 December 2001, and is the only child of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.
• Emperor Emeritus Akihito was born at Tokyo Imperial Palace on 23 December 1933, the eldest son and fifth child of the Emperor Shōwa and Empress Kōjun. He married Michiko Shōda on 10 April 1959. When his father died on 7 January 1989, Akihito became emperor of Japan. He abdicated on 30 April 2019, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Naruhito on 1 May 2019.
• Empress Emerita Michiko was born in Tokyo on 20 October 1934, the eldest daughter of Hidesaburō Shōda, president and honorary chairman of Nisshin Flour Milling Inc.
  • Fumihito, Crown Prince Akishino is the Emperor Emeritus' second son, the Emperor's younger brother and the current heir presumptive. He was born on 30 November 1965 in the Hospital of the Imperial Household in Tokyo. His childhood title was Prince Aya. He received the title Prince Akishino and permission to start a new branch of the Imperial Family upon his marriage to Kiko Kawashima on 29 June 1990.
  • Kiko, Crown Princess Akishino was born on 11 September 1966, the daughter of Tatsuhiko Kawashima, professor of economics at Gakushuin University. Crown Prince and Princess Akishino have two daughters (one of whom remains a member of the Imperial Family) and a son:
    • Princess Kako of Akishino (born 29 December 1994), the second daughter of the Crown Prince Akishino.
    • Prince Hisahito of Akishino (born 6 September 2006), the first male born to the Imperial Household since his father 41 years before.
• Masahito, Prince Hitachi was born on 28 November 1935, the second son and sixth child of the Emperor Shōwa and Empress Kojun. His childhood title was Prince Yoshi. He received the title Prince Hitachi and permission to set up a new branch of the Imperial Family on 1 October 1964, the day after his wedding.
• Hanako, Princess Hitachi was born on 19 July 1940, the daughter of former Count Yoshitaka Tsugaru. The Prince and Princess Hitachi have no children.
• Nobuko, Princess Tomohito of Mikasa is the widow of Prince Tomohito of Mikasa (5 January 1946 – 6 June 2012), the eldest son of the Prince and Princess Mikasa and a first cousin once removed of Emperor Naruhito. Princess Tomohito was born on 9 April 1955, the daughter of Takakichi Asō, chairman of Asō Cement Co., and his wife, Kazuko, a daughter of former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida. She has two daughters with the late Prince Tomohito of Mikasa:
  • Princess Akiko of Mikasa (born 20 December 1981)
  • Princess Yōko of Mikasa (born 25 October 1983)
• Hisako, Princess Takamado is the widow of Norihito, Prince Takamado (29 December 1954 – 21 November 2002), the third son and the youngest child of the Prince and Princess Mikasa and a first cousin once removed of Emperor Naruhito. The Princess Takamado was born on 10 July 1953, the eldest daughter of Shigejiro Tottori. She married the Prince Takamado on 6 December 1984. Originally known as Prince Norihito of Mikasa, he received the title Prince Takamado and permission to start a new branch of the Imperial Family on 1 December 1984. The Princess Takamado has three daughters, one of whom remains a member of the Imperial Family:
  • Princess Tsuguko of Takamado (born 6 March 1986)

Family tree

The following family tree shows the lineage of current members of Japanese imperial family:

Notes

• Numbers in brackets indicate places in the line of succession.
• Boldface indicates living individuals listed as members of the imperial family.
• Italics indicate princesses who left the Imperial Family upon their marriage.
• Dashed lines indicate married couples.
• Dagger (†) indicates deceased individuals.

Living former members

Under the terms of the 1947 Imperial Household Law, naishinnō (imperial princesses) and joō (princesses) lose their titles and membership in the family upon marriage, unless they marry the Emperor or another male member of the imperial family.

Four of the five daughters of Emperor Shōwa, the two daughters of the Prince Mikasa, the only daughter of Emperor Emeritus Akihito, the second and third daughter of the Prince Takamado, and most recently, the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Akishino, left the Imperial Family upon marriage, joining the husband's family and thus taking the surname of the husband.

The living eight former imperial princesses are:

• Atsuko Ikeda (born 7 March 1931), fourth daughter and fourth child of Emperor Shōwa and Empress Kōjun, surviving elder sister of Emperor Emeritus Akihito.
• Takako Shimazu (born 2 March 1939), fifth daughter and youngest child of Emperor Shōwa and Empress Kōjun, younger sister of Emperor Emeritus Akihito.
• Yasuko Konoe (born 26 April 1944), eldest daughter and eldest child of the Prince and Princess Mikasa.
• Masako Sen (born 23 October 1951), second daughter and fourth child of the Prince and Princess Mikasa.
• Sayako Kuroda (born 18 April 1969), third child and only daughter of Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko, younger sister of Emperor Naruhito.
• Noriko Senge (born 22 July 1988), second daughter of the Prince and Princess Takamado.
• Ayako Moriya (born 15 September 1990), third daughter and youngest child of the Prince and Princess Takamado.
• Mako Komuro (born 23 October 1991), first daughter and eldest child of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Akishino.

Kyū-Miyake

Additionally, there are several people of Imperial descent in the Fushimi cadet branch (Shinnōke), which itself consists of a main branch and five extant sub-branches (Ōke). The cadet royal families lost membership in the Imperial Family by the American Occupation Authorities in October 1947, as part of the abolition of collateral imperial houses and the kazoku (hereditary peerage). However, there are still unofficial heads of the living collateral families. These are the living Kyū-Miyake (旧宮家, "former Miyake"):

• Fushimi (伏見)
  • Asaka (朝香)
  • Higashikuni (東久邇)
  • Kaya (賀陽)
  • Kuni (久邇)
  • Takeda (竹田)

The Higashifushimi or Komatsu collateral branch became extinct in the male line in 1922, followed by the Nashimoto branch in 1951, Kachō or Kwachō branch in 1970, Yamashina branch in 1987, and Kitashirakawa branch in 2018. The main Fushimi branch will become extinct upon the death of the current head, Fushimi Hiroaki (b. 1932), as he has no male offspring to succeed him; although he does not have any sons, his adoptive grandnephew has male issue who can be expected to become the head of the Fushimi-no-miya.

Finances of the Imperial Family

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Background

The Japanese monarchy was considered to be among the wealthiest in the world until the end of World War II. Before 1911, there was no distinction between the Imperial Crown Estates and the Emperor's personal properties. When the Imperial Property Law was enacted in January 1911, two categories were established namely hereditary (crown estates) and personal property of the Imperial Family. The Imperial Household Minister had the responsibility for observing any judicial proceedings concerning Imperial holdings. According to the law, Imperial properties were only taxable if there was no conflict with the Imperial House Law. However, crown estates could only be used for public or imperially-sanctioned undertakings. Personal properties of certain members of the Imperial Family, such as Empress Dowager, the Empress, Crown Prince and Crown Princess, the Imperial Grandson and the consort of the Imperial Grandson, in addition to properties held for Imperial Family members who were minors, were exempted from taxation.

Up to 1921, the Imperial Crown Estates comprised 1,112,535.58 acres (450,227.18 ha). In 1921, due to the poor economic situation in Japan, 289,259.25 acres (117,059.07 ha) of crown lands (26%) were sold or transferred to the Japanese government and the private sector. In 1930, the Nagoya Detached Palace (Nagoya Castle) was donated to the city of Nagoya and six other imperial villas were sold or donated. In 1939, Nijō Castle was donated to the city of Kyoto. The former Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa shogunate which became an imperial palace in the Meiji Restoration, was donated to the city of Kyoto.

At the end of 1935, the Imperial Court owned 3,111,965 acres (1,259,368 ha) landed estates according to official government figures. 2,599,548 acres (1,052,000 ha) of that was the Emperor's private lands. The total landholdings of the crown estates was 512,161 acres (207,264 ha). It comprised palace complexes, forest and farm lands and other residential and commercial properties. The total economic value of the Imperial properties was estimated at ¥650 million in 1935 which is approximately US$195 million at prevailing exchange rates and $19.9 billion as of 2017. Emperor Shōwa's personal fortune was an additional hundreds of millions of yen (estimated over $6 billion as of 2017). It included numerous family heirlooms and furnishings, purebred livestock and investments in major Japanese firms, such as the Bank of Japan, other major Japanese banks, the Imperial Hotel and Nippon Yusen.

After World War II, all of the 11 collateral branches of the Imperial Family were abolished under the Allied occupation of Japan, and the subsequent constitutional reforms imposed under Allied supervision forced those families to sell their assets to private or government owners. Staff numbers of the Imperial Household Ministry were slashed from roughly 6000 to about 1000. The Imperial Estates and the Emperor's personal fortune (then estimated at $17.15 million in 1946, or roughly $270.70 million as of 2023) were transferred to state or private ownership with the exception of 6,810 acres (2,760 ha) of landholdings. The largest imperial divestments were the former imperial Kiso and Amagi forest lands in Gifu and Shizuoka prefectures, grazing lands for livestock in Hokkaido and a stock farm in the Chiba region. They were all transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Imperial property holdings were further reduced since 1947 after several handovers to the government. When Emperor Shōwa died, he left a personal fortune of £11 million in 1989. In 2017, Emperor Akihito had an estimated net worth of US$40 million.

Property

Currently the primary Imperial properties are the Tokyo Imperial Palace and the Kyoto Imperial Palace. The estimated landholdings are 6,810 acres (2,760 ha). The Tōgū Palace is located in the larger Akasaka Estate where numerous other Imperial Family members reside. There are privately used imperial villas in Hayama, Nasu and the Suzaki Imperial Villa in Shimoda. The Katsura Imperial Villa, Shugakuin Imperial Villa and Sentō Imperial Palace are in Kyoto. There are a number of Imperial farms, residences and game preserves. The Imperial Household Agency administers the Shosoin Imperial Repository in Nara. The Imperial properties are all owned by the State.

Budget

The Emperor can spend £150 million of public money annually. The imperial palaces are all owned and paid for by the State.

Until 2003, facts about the Japanese Imperial Family's life and finances were kept secret behind the "Chrysanthemum Curtain." Yohei Mori (former royal correspondent for the Mainichi Shimbun and assistant professor of journalism at Seijo University) revealed details about finances of the Imperial Family in his book based on 200 documents that were published with the public information law.

Staff

The Japanese Imperial Family has a staff of more than 1,000 people (47 servants per royal). This includes a 24-piece traditional orchestra (gagaku) with 1,000 year-old instruments such as the koto and the shō, 30 gardeners, 25 chefs, 40 chauffeurs as well as 78 builders, plumbers and electricians. There are 30 archaeologists to protect the 895 imperial tombs. There is a silkworm breeder of the Momijiyama Imperial Cocoonery. The Emperor has four doctors on standby 24 hours a day, five men manage his wardrobe and 11 assist in Shinto rites.

The Imperial Palace in Tokyo has 160 servants who maintain it. This is partly due to demarcation rules, such as a maid who wipes a table cannot also wipe the floor. There are also separate stewards in charge of handling silverware and the crystal. The Kyoto Imperial Palace has a staff of 78 people. There are also 67 who care for the horses at the Tochigi ranch. There are scores of additional staff for the summer palaces at the beach and in the mountains.

Expenditure

The Imperial Palace has a £2 million-a-year clinic with 42 staff and 8 medical departments. An example of lavish spending is the prior redecoration of a room for £140,000 where Crown Princess Masako gave birth to Princess Aiko in 2001. Emperor Akihito spent £140,000 on building a wine cellar. It has 4,500 bottles of 11 types of white wine and seven types of red such as Chateau Mouton Rothschild (1982) and champagne Dom Perignon (1992).

The Imperial properties includes a 622 acres (252 ha) farm which supplies produce and meat for the Imperial Family. The farm costs were £3 million per year as of 2003; the emperor and his family had a monthly water bill of approximately £50,000, also as of 2003.

The Imperial Guard is a special over 900 strong police force that provides personal protection for the Emperor and other members of the Imperial Family including their residences for £48 million per year.

The Imperial Household owns and operates a fleet of Toyota Century motor vehicles, designated "Empresses", for exclusive use of the Imperial Household. In 2006, the Imperial Household Agency took delivery of the first of four bespoke Toyota Century Royals. The first of these specially prepared vehicles, Empress 1, serve as the official state car of the Emperor. Two Century Royals, Empress 3 and Empress 5, were assigned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for special use by visiting dignitaries and foreign heads of state. The last, Empress 2, was built in 2008 as a hearse exclusively for imperial funerals. Despite the imperial family's extravagant expenditures, there is a limitation with travel expenses since the Emperor's entourage pays a maximum of £110 a night, regardless of the actual cost of the hotel. Hotels accept it since they regard it as an honour to host the Imperial Family.

Aside from the inner court (the Emperor and Empress, and their children including the Crown Prince and Crown Princess), the civil list covers additional family members who live in imperial residences. They are not prohibited from holding jobs or running businesses. For example, Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, his wife and two daughters received £310,000 per year, but they are not well known by the Japanese public and have had few imperial duties.

The real annual cost was estimated to be $325 million per year, also as of 2003.

Involvement in war

This section needs expansion with: The only example here is World War 2.. You can help by adding to it. (May 2024)

World War II

Members of the imperial family, including Naruhiko, Prince Higashikuni, Yasuhito, Prince Chichibu, Takahito, Prince Mikasa and Tsuneyoshi, Prince Takeda, were involved in unethical human experimentation programs in various ways, which included authorizing, funding, supplying, and inspecting biomedical facilities.

Since 1978, the Emperors of Japan (Emperor Shōwa, Akihito and Naruhito) have never visited Yasukuni Shrine due to Emperor Shōwa's displeasure over the enshrinement of convicted Class-A war criminals.

Support

A 1997 survey by Asahi Shimbun showed that 82% of Japanese supported the continuation of the monarchy. Polls after showed 1⁄3 of respondents were "indifferent" towards it. The imperial system is considered a symbol of the country, it provides a sense of linkage, purpose, spiritual core, diplomatic role as ambassador and a source of tradition and stability. A small percentage argue that the imperial system is out of date, not in synchrony with the contemporary times.

Imperial standards currently in use

• Imperial Standard of the Emperor (tennō)
• Imperial Standard of the Emperor Emeritus (jōkō)
• Imperial Standard of the Empress (kōgō)
• Imperial Standard of the Crown Prince (kōshi)
• Imperial Standard of a member of the Imperial House

See also

• Akasaka Palace
• Family tree of Japanese monarchs
• Ie (Japanese family system)
• Imperial Regalia of Japan
• Kyoto Imperial Palace
• List of emperors of Japan
• Three Palace Sanctuaries
• Tokyo Imperial Palace

Related terms

• Shinnōke
  • Fushimi
    • Ōke
  • Arisugawa
  • Kan'in
  • Katsura

Notes

1. (¥650 million was worth $195 million in 1935 and $19.9 billion as of 2017 https://www.measuringworth.com/calculators/uscompare/ Archived 2018-10-22 at the Wayback Machine)

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36. William D. Hoover (2011). Historical Dictionary of Postwar Japan (second ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. p. 147. ISBN 978-1538111550.

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• Japan Zone | The Imperial Family
• Imperial family news at The Japan Times

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v t e Emperors of Japan (list) Legendary Jōmon 660 BC–291 BC Jimmu Suizei Annei Itoku Kōshō Kōan Yayoi 290 BC–269 AD Kōrei Kōgen Kaika Sujin Suinin Keikō Seimu Chūai Jingū Yamato Kofun 269–539 Ōjin Nintoku Richū Hanzei Ingyō Ankō Yūryaku Seinei Kenzō Ninken Buretsu Keitai Ankan Senka Asuka 539–710 Kinmei Bidatsu Yōmei Sushun Suiko Jomei Kōgyoku Kōtoku Saimei Tenji Kōbun Tenmu Jitō Monmu Genmei Nara 710–794 Genmei Genshō Shōmu Kōken Junnin Shōtoku Kōnin Kanmu Heian 794–1185 Kanmu Heizei Saga Junna Ninmyō Montoku Seiwa Yōzei Kōkō Uda Daigo Suzaku Murakami Reizei En'yū Kazan Ichijō Sanjō Go-Ichijō Go-Suzaku Go-Reizei Go-Sanjō Shirakawa Horikawa Toba Sutoku Konoe Go-Shirakawa Nijō Rokujō Takakura Antoku Go-Toba Kamakura 1185–1333 Go-Toba Tsuchimikado Juntoku Chūkyō Go-Horikawa Shijō Go-Saga Go-Fukakusa Kameyama Go-Uda Fushimi Go-Fushimi Go-Nijō Hanazono Go-Daigo Northern Court 1333–1392 Kōgon Kōmyō Sukō Go-Kōgon Go-En'yū Go-Komatsu Muromachi 1333–1573 Go-Murakami Chōkei Go-Kameyama Go-Komatsu Shōkō Go-Hanazono Go-Tsuchimikado Go-Kashiwabara Go-Nara Ōgimachi Azuchi-Momoyama 1573–1603 Ōgimachi Go-Yōzei Edo 1603–1868 Go-Yōzei Go-Mizunoo Meishō Go-Kōmyō Go-Sai Reigen Higashiyama Nakamikado Sakuramachi Momozono Go-Sakuramachi Go-Momozono Kōkaku Ninkō Kōmei Meiji Empire of Japan 1868–1947 Meiji Taishō Shōwa Japan 1947–present Shōwa Akihito Naruhito Unless otherwise noted (as BC), years are in CE / AD  Imperial Consort and Regent Empress Jingū is not traditionally listed. Imperial family tree Imperial House Order of succession Imperial tombs Category v t e Empresses consort of Japan Legendary Jōmon 660 BC–291 BC Himetataraisuzu-hime Isuzuyori-hime Nunasokonakatsu-hime Amonotoyototsu-hime [ja] Yosotarashi-hime Oshihime [ja] Yayoi 290 BC–269 AD Kuwashi-hime Utsushikome [ja] Ikagashikome Mimaki-hime Saho-hime Hibasu-hime [ja] Harima no Inabi no Ōiratsume [ja] Yasakairi-hime [ja] Okinagatarashi-hime Yamato Kofun 269–539 Nakatsuhime Princess Iwa Princess Yata Princess Kusakanohatabino Oshisaka no Ōnakatsuhime Princess Nakashi Kusaka no Hatabi no hime Princess Naniwa no Ono Princess Kasuga no Ōiratsume Kasuga no Iratsume Princess Tashiraka Princess Kasuga no Yamada Princess Tachibana no Nakatsu Asuka 539–710 Princess Ishi-hime Hirohime Princess Nukatabe Princess Hashihito no Anahobe Princess Takara Princess Hashihito Yamato Hime no Ōkimi Princess Unonosarara Nara 710–794 Fujiwara Asukabehime Princess Inoe Fujiwara no Otomuro Heian 794–1185 Fujiwara no Tarashiko Tachibana no Kachiko Princess Koshi Princess Seishi Fujiwara no Onshi Fujiwara no Anshi Princess Masako Fujiwara no Koshi Fujiwara no Junshi Fujiwara no Teishi Fujiwara no Shōshi Fujiwara no Seishi Fujiwara no Kenshi Fujiwara no Ishi Princess Teishi Fujiwara no Genshi Princess Shōshi Fujiwara no Hiroko Fujiwara no Kanshi Princess Kaoruko Fujiwara no Kenshi Princess Teishi Princess Tokushi Princess Reishi Fujiwara no Tamako Fujiwara no Kiyoko Fujiwara no Yasuko Fujiwara no Nariko Fujiwara no Tashi Fujiwara no Teishi Fujiwara no Kinshi Princess Muneko Princess Yoshiko Fujiwara no Ikushi Taira no Tokuko Princess Sukeko Kamakura 1185–1333 Princess Sukeko Fujiwara no Ninshi Princess Noriko Fujiwara no Reishi Princess Shōshi Fujiwara no Ritsushi Princess Kuniko Fujiwara no Ariko Fujiwara no Chōshi Fujiwara no Shunshi Princess Rishi Fujiwara no Kisshi Princess Teruko Fujiwara no Kimiko Fujiwara no Saneko Fujiwara no Kishi Princess Reishi Saionji Shōshi Fujiwara no Kinshi Princess Shōshi Saionji Kishi Princess Junshi Northern Court 1333–1392 None Muromachi 1333–1573 Empress consort of Emperor Chōkei Azuchi-Momoyama 1573–1603 None Edo 1603–1868 Tokugawa Masako Takatsukasa Fusako Princess Yukiko Princess Yoshiko Takatsukasa Tsunako Empire of Japan 1868–1947 Ichijō Masako Kujō Sadako Princess Nagako State of Japan 1947–present Princess Nagako Shōda Michiko Owada Masako Unless otherwise noted (as BC), years are in CE / AD  individuals that were given the title of empress posthumously individuals elevated to the rank of empress due to their position as honorary mother of the emperor Shōshi served briefly as honorary empress for her younger brother Emperor Go-Daigo Imperial House Category v t e Empresses dowager of Japan Legendary Jōmon 660 BC–291 BC Himetataraisuzu-hime Isuzuyori-hime Nunasokonakatsu-hime Amatoyotsu-hime Yosotarashi-hime Yayoi 290 BC–269 AD Oshi-hime Kuwashi-hime Utsushikome Ikagashikome Mimaki-hime Yasakairi-hime Futajiiri-hime Okinagatarashi-hime Yamato Kofun 269–539 Nakatsuhime Oshisaka no Ōnakatsuhime Princess Tachibana no Nakatsu Asuka 539–710 Princess Ishi-hime Nara 710–794 Fujiwara Asukabehime Ki no Tochihime Takano no Niigasa Heian 794–1185 Takano no Niigasa Fujiwara no Otomuro Fujiwara no Ryoshi Tachibana no Kachiko Princess Seishi Fujiwara no Junshi Fujiwara no Akirakeiko Fujiwara no Takaiko Fujiwara no Sawako Fujiwara no Inshi Princess Hanshi Fujiwara no Onshi Fujiwara no Anshi Princess Masako Fujiwara no Chikako Fujiwara no Senshi Fujiwara no Junshi Fujiwara no Tōko Fujiwara no Shōshi Fujiwara no Kenshi Fujiwara no Yoshiko Princess Teishi Princess Shōshi Fujiwara no Hiroko Fujiwara no Shigeko Fujiwara no Kanshi Fujiwara no Kenshi Fujiwara no Ishi Fujiwara no Kiyoko Fujiwara no Tashi Minamoto no Yoshiko Fujiwara no Teishi Taira no Shigeko Fujiwara no Kinshi Kamakura 1185–1333 Fujiwara no Kinshi Minamoto no Michiko Saionji Kishi Northern Court 1333–1392 None Muromachi 1333–1573 Ano no Renshi Niwata Asako Madenokōji Eiko Azuchi-Momoyama 1573–1603 None Edo 1603–1868 Konoe Hisako Nijō Ieko Ichijō Tomiko Konoe Koreko Princess Yoshiko Takatsukasa Yasuko Empire of Japan 1868–1947 Kujō Asako Ichijō Masako Kujō Sadako State of Japan 1947–present Kujō Sadako Princess Nagako Unless otherwise noted (as BC), years are in CE / AD  individuals that were given the title of empress dowager posthumously title removed in 896 due to a suspected affair with head priest of the Toko-ji Temple; title posthumously restored in 943 was made High Empress or de jure empress dowager during her husband's reign Imperial House v t e Grand empresses dowager of Japan Nara 710–794 Fujiwara no Miyako Heian 794–1185 Takano no Niigasa Tachibana no Kachiko Princess Seishi Fujiwara no Junshi Fujiwara no Akirakeiko Fujiwara no Onshi Fujiwara no Anshi Princess Masako Fujiwara no Junshi Fujiwara no Shōshi Princess Teishi Princess Shōshi Princess Reishi Fujiwara no Tashi Kamakura 1185–1333 Fujiwara no Tashi Years are in CE / AD  individuals that were given the title of grand empress dowager posthumously Imperial House v t e Japanese princes The generations indicate descent from Emperor Meiji, who founded the Empire of Japan. 1st generation Yukihito, Prince Take [ja] Yoshihito, Emperor Taishō Michihito, Prince Aki [ja] Teruhito, Prince Mitsu [ja] 2nd generation Hirohito, Emperor Shōwa Yasuhito, Prince Chichibu Nobuhito, Prince Takamatsu Takahito, Prince Mikasa 3rd generation Emperor Emeritus Akihito Masahito, Prince Hitachi Prince Tomohito of Mikasa Yoshihito, Prince Katsura Norihito, Prince Takamado 4th generation Emperor Naruhito Fumihito, Crown Prince Akishino 5th generation Prince Hisahito of Akishino v t e Japanese princesses The generations indicate descent from Emperor Meiji, who founded the Empire of Japan. 1st generation Shizuko, Princess Hisa (ja) Masako, Princess Tsune Fusako, Princess Kane* Nobuko, Princess Fumi Toshiko, Princess Yasu* Takiko, Princess Sada (ja) 2nd generation None 3rd generation Shigeko, Princess Teru* Sachiko, Princess Hisa Kazuko, Princess Taka** Atsuko, Princess Yori** Takako, Princess Suga** Princess Yasuko of Mikasa** Princess Masako of Mikasa** 4th generation Sayako, Princess Nori** Princess Akiko of Mikasa Princess Yōko of Mikasa Princess Tsuguko of Takamado Princess Noriko of Takamado** Princess Ayako of Takamado** 5th generation Aiko, Princess Toshi Princess Mako of Akishino** Princess Kako of Akishino * Reduced to commoner status with the abolition of titles of nobility by the American occupation authorities. ** Lost the title upon her marriage. v t e Japanese princesses by marriage Generations are numbered from the daughter-in-law of Emperor Meiji 1st generation Sadako Kujō 2nd generation Princess Nagako of Kuni* Setsuko Matsudaira Kikuko Tokugawa Yuriko Takagi 3rd generation Michiko Shōda Hanako Tsugaru Nobuko Asō Hisako Tottori 4th generation Masako Owada Kiko Kawashima * also a princess of Japan in her own right.

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