Records of heads of state
Officially, the current Emperor of Japan, Akihito is the 125th in line from the first emperor Jimmu, who is variously believed to have reigned in the 1st or 7th century BC. The earliest documentary evidence is only for the 29th emperor, Kinmei (AD 509–571); however, this is sufficient such that even the most conservative of estimates still places the Japanese imperial family as among the oldest lines in the world today.
Emperor Murakami
In 944, he was appointed crown prince and ascended the throne two years later.Murakami's maternal uncle Fujiwara no Tadahira remained as the "Sessho" regent until 949. After the death of Tadahira, there was no regent and although contemporaries praised Murakami as the emperor who governed the state directly, in reality the Fujiwara clan seized power and ruled Japan. The brothers Fujiwara no Saneyori and Fujiwara no Morosuke became the "de facto" rulers of Japan.Murakami was a central figure in Heian period culture. He was also a skilled flute and koto (Japanese harp) player.The actual site of Murakami's grave is known. This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine ("misasagi") at Kyoto.