Josei Tennō

From the reign of Empress Jitō onwards, emperors (Tennō 天皇) who were women were distinguished from their male counterparts with the qualifier of josei (女性, woman).

[3][4][5] However, as empresses regnant, they held the rank of Tennō without the qualifier, indicating they were emperors equal to their male counterparts.

Before the Fujiwara clan and in times when an heir was underaged, a female relative (typically a sister or mother) would take the throne.

[31] In February 2024, the former Prime minister Yoshihiko Noda of the Democratic Party of Japan held another Parliament meeting, suggesting women should be allowed to marry without losing their titles, lead their own branch of the Imperial family, and possibly rule.

[38] Shigeru Ishiba who became the Japanese prime minister on October 1, 2024, is known to support a female emperor (Josei Tennō)[39] The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, had requested the succession laws be looked at.