Q. What is the difference between the Emperor and the Shogun?

Question: Jeff (England)

A. The history of Tenno, or the Japanese Emperor, spans more than 2000 years. Some people say the term "Emperor" is not a suitable translation for "Tenno" and it should be translated as "King" instead. This is because although the Emperor's role differs by age, they have acted more as a spiritual governor like the Roman Pope rather than as a dictator.

The shoguns' role can be briefly described as the commissioner of the Emperor. The official title of the shogun is "Seii-Taishogun," which was given originally to the heads of the Emperor's military who were dispatched from the Yamato (Kinki region) Imperial Court to Northern Japan (called "Emishi") to conquer the area, where a different race was believed to have lived.

Since the warrior MINAMOTO Yoritomo started the Shogunate in Kamakura in 1192, its character was changed. He held not only military, but also political power. Becoming the first shogun to have the power to rule the politics of Japan became a historical event. Since then, the Emperors had been kept away from controlling politics. The autocracy of the Shogun continued until the Meiji Restoration occurred in 1868.

After that, the age of Emperor's sovereignty resumed, but after Japan's defeat in World War 2 in 1945, the Emperor became the symbol of the Japanese people, and seperated from politics.

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