He was succeeded first by one of his brothers, Emperor Yōmei, then by another, Emperor Sushun, and then Empress Suiko, his sister and wife, before his grandson, Emperor Jomei, eventually took the throne.

In the history of Japan, Suiko was the first of eight women to take on the role of empress regnant.

Empress Suiko was a consort to her half-brother, Emperor Bidatsu, but after Bidatsu's first wife died she became his official consort and was given the title Ōkisaki ( official consort of the emperor ).

When asked to accede to the throne to fill the power vacuum that subsequently developed, Suiko became the first of what would be several examples in Japanese history where a woman was chosen to accede to the throne to avert a power struggle.

Although political power during Suiko's reign is widely viewed as having been wielded by Prince Shōtoku and Soga no Umako, Suiko was far from powerless.

Suiko was also one of the first Buddhist monarchs in Japan and had taken the vows of a nun shortly before becoming empress.

At a time when imperial succession was generally determined by clan leaders, rather than the emperor, Suiko left only vague indications of succession to two candidates while on her deathbed.

Suiko did not make it clear who was to succeed her after her death.

Buddhism only started to spread after Mononobe no Moriya lost in the Battle of Shigisan in 587 where the Mononobe clan was defeated and crushed, and Empress Suiko openly encouraged the acceptance of Buddhism among all Japanese people.

Initial uptake of the new faith was slow, and Buddhism only started to spread some years later when Empress Suiko openly encouraged the acceptance of Buddhism among all Japanese people.

In Japan the Twelve Level Cap and Rank System was adopted in 603 during the reign of Empress Suiko.

, also known as or, was a semi-legendary regent and a politician of the Asuka period in Japan who served under Empress Suiko.

Shōtoku was appointed as regent ( Sesshō ) in 593 by Empress Suiko, his aunt.

The first historical sesshō was Prince Shōtoku who assisted Empress Suiko.

But it was not until the Suiko era that the calendar was used for politics.

Silver, illustrated by native drawings, published in London in 1867 Although it is not known precisely when this day started to be celebrated, it was probably during the reign of the Empress Suiko ( 593 – 628 A. D .).

According to records, the shrine was established in the time of Empress Suiko.

While cooperating with Soga family, Prince Shotoku, who was the regency of the Emperor Suiko, showed deep understanding in “ foreign ” Buddhism, and he was going to stabilize national politics with Buddhism.

Ono was appointed by Empress Suiko as an official envoy ( Kenzuishi ) to the Sui court in 607 ( Imperial embassies to China ), and he delivered the famous letter from Japan's Prince Shōtoku which began " The Son of Heaven where the sun rises ( Japan ), to the Son of Heaven where the sun sets ( China ), may good health be with you.

It was adopted in the reign of Empress Suiko.

He came to the throne with the support of the Soga clan and Empress Suiko, his half sister and the widow of Emperor Bidatsu.

Half-sibling marriages were found in ancient Japan such as the marriage of Emperor Bidatsu and his half-sister Empress Suiko.

The name first appears in the Nihon shoki in the 23rd year of the Emperor Suiko when Yukuha Tana, an elder from the Izumo, visits the emperor.

Prince Shōtoku made his queen Suiko call herself Empress, and claimed an equal footing with the Chinese Emperor who regarded himself as the only Emperor in the world at that time.

Between the two of them they gave birth to three future emperors, Emperor Yōmei, Emperor Sushun and Empress Suiko, as well as numerous other princes and princesses.

Umako conducted political reforms with Prince Shōtoku during the rules of Emperor Bidatsu and Empress Suiko and established the Soga clan's stronghold in the government by having his daughter married with members of the royal family.

After the death of Empress Suiko, Emishi succeeded in installing Prince Tamura on the throne as Emperor Jomei by citing the will of Empress Suiko.

Among her offspring were Emperor Yōmei, Empress Suiko and Princess Ōtomo.

Four empresses, Empress Suiko, Empress Kōgyoku ( also Empress Saimei ) and Empress Jitō, as well as the mythical Empress Jingū, were widows of deceased emperors and princesses of the blood imperial in their own right.

Later she ascended to the throne in her own right and is today known as Empress Suiko.

Princess Hashihito no Anahobe bore him four sons, including Prince Shotoku, who would later become crown prince and regent to Empress Suiko.

The seven women sovereigns reigning after Suiko were Kōgyoku / Saimei, Jitō, Gemmei, Genshō, Kōken / Shōtoku, Meishō and Go-Sakuramachi.

Empress Suiko had several names including Princess Nukatabe and ( possibly posthumous ) Toyomike Kashikiya.

" Alternatively, Suiko might have been referred to as ( ヤマト大王 / 大君 ) or the " Great Queen of Yamato.

The adoption of the Sexegenary cycle calendar ( Jikkan Jūnishi ) in Japan is attributed to Empress Suiko in 604.

Empress Suiko ruled for 35 years.

Memorial Shinto shrine and mausoleum honoring Empress Suiko.

The two female monarchs before Jitō were ( a ) Suiko and ( b ) Kōgyoku / Saimei.

The four female monarchs before Genshō were: ( a ) Suiko, ( b ) Kōgyoku, ( c ) Jitō and ( d ) Gemmei.

The five female monarchs before Kōken / Shōtoku were ( a ) Suiko, ( b ) Kōgyoku / Saimei, ( c ) Jitō, ( d ) Gemmei, and ( e ) Genshō ; and the two women sovereigns reigning after Kōken / Shōtoku were ( f ) Meishō, and ( g ) Go-Sakuramachi.

The Soga family eventually prevailed and supported Empress Suiko and Prince Shotoku, who helped impress Buddhist faith into Japan.

* Empress Suiko issues the Flourishing Three Treasures Edict, officially recognizing the practice of Buddhism in Japan.

* Empress Suiko ascends to the throne of Japan.

During the reign of Empress Suiko, the Yamato court began sending full-scale diplomatic missions to China, which resulted in a large increase in Chinese literacy at the Japanese court.