TheEmperor of Japanis the ceremonialmonarchinJapan's system ofconstitutional monarchyand is the head of theJapanese Imperial Familyand the symbolichead of state. According to Japan's 1947 constitution, which dissolved the Empire of Japan, he is "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is also the highest authority of theShintoreligion as he and his family are said to be direct descendants ofAmaterasu.[1]
The Emperor is called theTennō(天皇) in Japanese, which means "heavenly sovereign". He is also referred to in English as theMikado(帝) ofJapan. Currently, the Emperor of Japan is theonly remaining monarchin the world reigning under the title of "Emperor".
The Imperial House of Japan is the oldest continuinghereditary monarchyin the world.[2]In Kojiki orNihon Shoki, a book of Japanese history finished in the eighth century, it is said that the Empire of Japan was founded in 660 BC byEmperor Jimmu. The current Emperor isAkihito, who has been on theChrysanthemum Thronesince his father theShowa Emperor(Hirohito) died in 1989.
The role of the Emperor of Japan has, historically, alternated between a largely ceremonial symbolic role and that of an actual imperial ruler. Since the establishment of the firstshogunatein 1192, the Emperors of Japan have rarely taken on a role as supreme battlefield commander, unlike many Westernmonarchs. Japanese Emperors have nearly always been controlled by external political forces, to varying degrees. In fact, from 1192 to 1867, theshoguns, or theirshikkenregents inKamakura(12031333), were thede factorulers of Japan, although they were nominally appointed by the Emperor. The Emperor was, officially, the embodiment of all sovereign power in the realm, from 1889 to 1947, under theMeiji Constitution(and de facto from the end of the shogunate in 1867). His current status as a figurehead dates from the 1947 Constitution, which dissolved theEmpire of Japan.
Since the mid-nineteenth century, the Imperial Palace has been calledKyūjō(宮城), thenKōkyo(皇居), and is located on the former site ofEdo Castlein the heart ofTokyo. Earlier, Emperors resided inKyotofor nearly eleven centuries.
