 In the history of Japan, Jitō was the third of eight women to take on the role of empress regnant.The two female monarchs before Jitō were Suiko and Kōgyoku/Saimei.The five women sovereigns reigning after Jitō were Genmei, Genshō, Kōken/Shōtoku, Meishō, and Go-Sakuramachi.