EMPEROR
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EMPEROR
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The oldest Japanese history books state that the first emperor was crowned in 660 BC. In reality, however, it may have been several centuries later. It is believed that all emperors have been descendants of the same imperial family.
Almost throughout Japan's history, the power of the emperor (tenno) has been either limited or only purely symbolic. But all the effective leaders, from the Fujiwara leaders to the Minamoto shoguns, Hojo regents, Ashikaga and Tokugawa shoguns have always respected the emperor and were keen in having the imperial legitimization for their position as rulers of Japan. During the Edo period, nationalist scholars developed theories that the emperor is the direct descendants of the Sun goddess, the most important goddess in Shinto, and should, therefore, be worshipped like gods. Those theories have been taught at Japanese schools until the end of World War II. With the Meiji restoration of 1868, the power of emperor Meiji was restored. Until after World War II the emperor was leader over government and military. The effective power, however, first laid with the oligarchic genro and later the generals and admirals. The constitution of 1946 states that the emperor has only a symbolic function. He now mainly participates at ceremonies and diplomatic meetings, but has no effective power in the government. Since 1989, Akihito is the 125th Japanese emperor. His wife's name is Michiko. She is the first empress that did not come from the nobility. Akihito met her while playing tennis and their love story is very famous among the Japanese. |
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 EMPEROR
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November 26, 1997
In Deutsch | all copyrights by Schauwecker's Guide to Japan |
