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Japanese Imperial line

Japanese history

Quick Summary

The Japanese imperial line, according to tradition, was founded in 660 BC by the legendary emperor Jimmu, a descendant of the sun goddess Amaterasu. The imperial clan asserted suzerainty over Japan around the 3rd century AD. For centuries, real power often resided with aristocratic and military clans, such as the shogunate, while the emperor remained a symbolic figure.12

The Meiji Restoration in 1868 claimed to reestablish direct imperial rule, making the emperor a symbol of national unity, though with limited governmental responsibilities. The current emperor, Naruhito, ascended the throne in 2019, marking the beginning of the Reiwa period. The postwar constitution defines the emperor as a symbol of the state without effective political power.134

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