Information about Empress Genshō of Japan

Empress Genshō (元正天皇 Genshō-tennō) was the 44th monarch of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. She was the one empress regnant in Japan's history to have inherited her title from another empress regnant rather than from a male predecessor.

Genshō's reign spanned the years 715 through 724.

In the history of Japan, Genshō was the fifth of eight women to take on the role of empress regnant. The four female monarchs before Genshō were: Suiko, Kōgyoku, Jitō and Genmei. The three women sovereigns reigning after Genshō were Kōken, Meishō and Go-Sakuramachi.