Japanese Monarchs
A history of Japanese monarchs.
Contents
Description
There is a partially legendary lineage of emperors going back to Emperor Jimmu (神武天皇) in 660 BC.
Daimyo (大名, daimyou) were feudal lords nominally subordinate to the emperor.
Shogun were military commanders with temporary administrative powers. From 1185 until 1868, these were the effective monarchs.
Shikken (執権) were regents within the shogunate administration (幕府, bakufu). From 1199 until 1333, these were the effective monarchs.
Tokugawa Shogunate
Empire of Japan
The emperors held significant political power during this era, though the military continued to be the effective regime.
Japan rapidly expanded across the Pacific. Officially, the empire included just:
Sakhalin (contested with Russia)
the Kwantung Leased Territory (leased under duress from China in perpetuity)
All other occupied and conquered territories were instead organized as puppet states. For details on the entire imperial complex, see the Empire of Japan
Modern Japan
The emperor remains the ceremonial head of state in Japan.
Dynasties
Tokugawa
Shogun |
Reign |
Ieyasu (徳川 家康) |
1603 - 1605 |
Hidetada (徳川 秀忠) |
1605 - 1623 |
Iemitsu (徳川 家光) |
1623 - 1651 |
Ietsuna (徳川 家綱) |
1651 - 1680 |
Tsunayoshi (徳川 綱吉) |
1680 - 1709 |
Ienobu (徳川 家宣) |
1709 - 1712 |
Ietsugu (徳川 家継) |
1713 - 1716 |
Yoshimune (徳川 吉宗) |
1716 - 1745 |
Ieshige (徳川 家重) |
1745 - 1760 |
Ieharu (徳川 家治) |
1760 - 1786 |
Ienari (徳川 家斉) |
1787 - 1837 |
Ieyoshi (徳川 家慶) |
1837 - 1853 |
Iesada (徳川 家定) |
1853 - 1858 |
Iemochi (徳川 家茂) |
1858 - 1866 |
Yoshinobu (徳川 慶喜) |
1866 - 1867 |
Yamato
The House of Yamato, also known simply as the Imperial House of Japan, claims a lineage from Emperor Jimmu (神武天皇) in 660 BC.
Emperors |
Imperial Name |
Reign |
明治 (Meiji) |
1867 - 1912 |
|
大正 (Taishou) |
1912 - 1926 |
|
昭和 (Shouwa) |
1926 - 1989 |
|
平成 (Heisei) |
1989 - 2019 |
|
令和 (Reiwa) |
2019 - |