Exploring the impact of the Japanese Imperial family
Exploring the Impact of the Japanese Imperial Family Although it has been more than a century since Japan became a unified state, with all of its regions joined together under a single ruler, the impact of its former imperial family is still felt today. Currently, the head of the imperial family is the Emperor, and the role is chiefly ceremonial, serving as a symbol of state unity and national identity. This role, however, was not always the same. How did the Japanese imperial family's influence change over the years, and what have been the consequences of their decisions? The first important step in the path to modern Japan was the Meiji Restoration in 1868. This period saw the restoration of power to the Emperor of Japan, which had been greatly diminished in the centuries prior. Emperor Meiji sought to modernize the nation, and for the first time the imperial family began to take an active role in the Japanese government. The imperial family served as a symbol of national pride ...