Topic summary
Abdicate
Extracted from the Wikipedia article Abdication.
Japan
Before the Meiji Restoration, Japan had eight reigning empresses, with two reigning twice, making ten times Japan was ruled by a woman. The two who reigned twice, Kōgyoku and Kōken abdicated during their first reign, but not their second. Other than them, Suiko is the only female emperor of Japan not to abdicate. Typically a woman abdicated after a suitable male heir either was found or came of age, with Genmei being the exception who abdicated in favour of her daughter, Genshō.