was the 47th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. The seventh son of Prince Toneri and a grandson of Emperor Tenmu, his reign spanned the years 758 to 764.
Before his ascension to the throne, his name (imina) was à Âi-no-à Â. He was the seventh son of Prince Toneri, a son of Emperor Tenmu. And although his father died when he was three, he was not given any rank or office at the court. After the forced abdication he received the newer rank, thus addressed à Âi-shinnà Â. In the older Japanese documents, he is usually referred to as Haitai (), the dethroned emperor. The posthumous name of Emperor Junnin was given by Emperor Meiji a thousand years later.
In 757 the Empress Kà Âken, his third cousin appointed him to be her crown prince instead of Prince Funado, who had been appointed to this position in the will of the Emperor Shà Âmu. In the tenth year of Kà Âken-tennà Âs reign (), on December 7, 758 (Tenpyà Â-shà Âhà  2, 1st day of the 8th month), the empress abdicated and the succession (senso) passed to her adopted son. Shortly afterwards, Emperor Junnin is said to have ascended to the throne (sokui). In 760 (Tenpyà Â-hà Âji 4), additional coins were put into circulationâÂÂcopper coins bearing the words Mannen Ten-hà Â, silver coins bearing the words Teihei Genhà Â, and gold coins bearing the words Kaiki Shà Âhà Â.
The years of Junnin's reign, 758âÂÂ765, are more specifically encompassed within a single era name or nengà Â,Tenpyà Â-hà Âji. Junnin seemingly had very little power and was possibly a mere figurehead. In 764, six years after Empress Kà Âken had abdicated, the former empress reclaimed the throne during Fujiwara no Nakamaro's Rebellion, forcing Junnin to abdicate.
On November 10, 765 (Tenpyà Â-jingo 1, 23rd day of the 10th month), the former emperor died while in exile. The official cause of death was illness, but according to one theory, it was the assassination by the order of Emperor Shà Âtoku. The site of Junnin's actual grave is unknown, and he is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) at Awaji. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Junnin's mausoleum: It is formally named Awaji no misasagi.
Though Junnin had, technically, been emperor, he was not featured on the official List of Japanese Emperors until the late nineteenth century. In 1870, Emperor Meiji conferred the posthumous name and title by which Emperor Junnin is now known. His place in the traditional order of succession was confirmed at the same time as announcements about Emperor Kà Âbun and Emperor Chà «kyà  were made public.
is a collective term for the few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre-Meiji eras. In general, this elite group included only three or four men at a time, and they were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background would have brought them to the pinnacle of their careers. During Junnin's reign, the ranks of this group of Daijà Â-kan included:
Consort: Awata no Morone (), widow of Fujiwara no Mayori, the first son of Fujiwara no Nakamaro
By Unknown woman: