Emperor of Japan

The Emperor of Japan (天皇 tennō) is a constitutionally-recognized symbol of the Japanese nation and the unity of its people. He is the head of the Japanese Imperial Family, the royal family of Japan.

Related Topics:
Emperor - Japan - Japanese Imperial Family - Royal family

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The role of the Emperor of Japan has alternated between that of a supreme-rank cleric with largely symbolic powers and that of an actual imperial ruler from the dawn of history until the mid-twentieth century. An underlying imperial cult (Arahitogami) has played a role, as monarch's high-priestly (mediator between people and divine) position has regarded to have come from his close (hereditary) ties with Japanese gods. Whereas violence and military operations have been regarded inconsistent with Tenn?'s role for at least 14 centuries - thus Japanese monarchs have not been military commanders at least since, contrary to the role of monarchs usually and in the West. However, the main function of the Emperor for most of the last millennium has usually been merely to authorize and legitimize those in power. Under Japan's present constitution, the emperor is largely a ceremonial figurehead in its constitutional monarchy (see Politics of Japan).

Related Topics:
Cleric - Imperial cult - Arahitogami - Monarch - Constitutional monarchy - Politics of Japan

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The current Emperor is Emperor Akihito (Tennō heika), who has been on the Chrysanthemum Throne since his father Emperor Sh?wa (Hirohito) died in 1989.

Related Topics:
Emperor Akihito - Chrysanthemum Throne - Emperor Sh?wa (Hirohito) - 1989

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Since the mid-nineteenth century, the Imperial Palace has been called Kōkyo (皇居), and located on the site of Edo Castle in the heart of Tokyo. Earlier emperors resided in Kyoto for nearly eleven centuries.

Related Topics:
Kōkyo - Edo Castle - Tokyo - Kyoto

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Certain dates and details may be in dispute among Japanese historians. Many Emperors cited in the formal list of Emperors of Japan died at a very young age and can hardly be said to have "ruled" in any serious sense of the word. Others were overshadowed by their predecessors, who had ostensibly retired to a monastery but continued to exert influence in a process called "cloistered rule." It is nevertheless important to maintain the entire list, because, even today, dating by the reigns of emperors is the standard way of referencing Japanese history.

Related Topics:
Historian - List of Emperors of Japan - Cloistered rule

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Cloistered Emperors have been known to come into conflict with their official counterparts from time to time; a notable example is the Hogen Rebellion of 1156, in which former Emperor Sutoku attempted to seize power from the then current Emperor Go-Shirakawa. Other instances, such as Emperor Go-Toba's 1221 rebellion against the Kamakura shogunate and the 1336 Kenmu Restoration under Emperor Go-Daigo, clearly show the power struggle that has taken place between the Imperial House and the military governments of Japan.

Related Topics:
Hogen Rebellion - 1156 - Emperor Sutoku - Emperor Go-Shirakawa - Emperor Go-Toba - 1221 - Kamakura shogunate - 1336 - Emperor Go-Daigo

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