In addition, she was the only emperor of Japan, who experienced succession to the throne through the maternal line, from mother to daughter (N.B. her father Kusakabe no miko was a male imperial family member descended through a line of males, and therefore the male imperial blood line was maintained).
また、歴代天皇の中で唯一、母から娘へと女系での継承が行われた天皇でもある（ただし、父親は男系男子の皇族である草壁皇子であるため、男系の血統は維持されている）。