Kugyō (公卿) is the collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre-Meiji eras.

[2] In Japan, the kugyō was similarly divided into two groups of court officials the three Kō and the nine Kei.

The Kō comprised the Chancellor of the Realm (Taishi or Daijō-daijin), the Minister of the Left (Taifu or Sadaijin), and the Minister of the Right (Taiho or Udaijin); and the Kei comprised the Associate Counselors (Shōshi, Shōfu, Shōho, Chōsai, Shito, Sōhaku, Shiba, Shikō, and Shikū, or collectively the Sangi), who held the court rank of Third Rank or higher.

However, later on government offices not specified in the administrative code of the ritsuryō, the Regent (Sesshō and Kampaku), the Inner Minister (Naidaijin), the Middle Counsellor (Chūnagon), and Associate Counselors holding the Fourth Rank were also included in the kugyō.

The kugyō was also known as kandachime (上達部), keishō (卿相), gekkei (月卿), and kyokuro or odoronomichi (棘路).