is a title for an Emperor of Japan who abdicates the Chrysanthemum Throne in favour of a successor. As defined in the Taihō Code, although retired, a Daijō Tennō could still exert power. The first such example is the Empress Jitō in the 7th century. A retired emperor sometimes entered the Buddhist monastic community, becoming a cloistered emperor. During late Heian period, cloistered emperors wielded power in a system known as cloistered rule. List A total of 64 Japanese emperors have abdicated. A list follows: {| class="wikitable" |- ! Name ! Acceded ! Abdicated ! Died ! Successor ! Notes |- | Jitō | 686 | 697 | 703 | Monmu |Prince Kusabake was named as crown prince to succeed Empress Jitō, but he died aged only 27. Kusabake's son, Prince Karu, was then named as Jitō's successor. He eventually would become known as Emperor Monmu. After Jitō abdicated in Monmu's favor, as a retired sovereign, she took the post-reign title daijō-tennō. After this, her imperial successors who retired took the same title after abdication. Jitō continued to hold power as a cloistered ruler, which became a persistent trend in Japanese politics. She died 4 years later at the age of 58. |- | Genmei | 707 | 715 | 721 | Genshō | Gemmei had initially planned to remain on the throne until her grandson might reach maturity. However, after reigning for 8 years, Gemmei abdicated in favor of Monmu's older sister who then became known as Empress Genshō. 715 (Wadō 8): Gemmei resigned as empress in favor of her daughter, who was then known as Empress Genshō. After abdicating, Gemmei was known as Daijō-tennō; she was only the second woman after Empress Jitō to claim this title. Gemmei lived in retirement until her death at the age of 61. |- | Genshō | 715 | 724 | 748 | Shōmu | |- | Shōmu | 724 | 749 | 756 | Kōken | |- | Kōken | 749 | 758 | 770 (restored 764) | Junnin | Emperor Shōmu abdicated in favor of his daughter Princess Takano in 749, who became Empress Kōken. Empress Kōken abdicated in 758 for her cousin to reign as Emperor Junnin but returned to rule again in 764 as Empress Shōtoku. Her cousin would die a year later in 765. |- | Junnin | 758 | 764 (deposed) | 765 | Shōtoku (Kōken)