Japan Data Archive

About Japan > History > 

What sort of work does the current emperor engage in?

Owing to the enforcement of the 1947 Japanese Constitution, the emperor's role was completely transformed.
The sovereignty and divinity of the emperor, which was strengthened following the Meiji Restoration, was abolished, and the emperor became the "symbol of the Japanese state."
And as stipulated in the Constitution, the emperor's role was confined to serving in "state functions approved by the cabinet."
Specifically, these functions include ceremonies marking the appointment of the prime minister and chief judge of the Supreme Court, the opening and closing of Diet sessions, and the promulgation of new laws.
It can also be added that another function is to actively strive to harmonize relations between Japan and other countries through nonpolitical means such as by attending state ceremonies and national athletic meets, welcoming foreign heads of state, and paying goodwill visits to foreign countries.