noun
retired empress; empress emerita
Official title for a former empress who has abdicated or retired, especially used for Empress Michiko after Emperor Akihito's abdication in 2019.
上皇后美智子さまは、平成の天皇とともに公務を退かれました。
Her Majesty Empress Emerita Michiko retired from official duties together with the Heisei Emperor.
Refers to the current empress, whereas 上皇后 is the title after abdication.
Compound of 上 (じょう, 'retired' or 'former') and 皇后 (こうごう, 'empress'). The term gained prominence after the abdication of Emperor Akihito in 2019, when Empress Michiko became known as 上皇后.