Political History
At around 400 AD the Yomato clan gained control of western Japan and set up an imperial court. Shortly after warrior clans known as the samurai were rising to power and around 1200 the Minamoto clan set up a military government, under the rule of Yoritomo. For the next 700 years, military dictators ruled in Japan and the imperial court still existed, but it was unimportant. Due to contact with the West in the 1500's, especially Portuguese and English traders, Jesuit missionaries, and Spanish travelers helped support Japanese revolt. The revolts failed and the dictators outlawed trade with foreign countries. In 1868 an emperor named Meiji came to power, and he abolished the military dictator system. An imperial army was established along with a parliamentary government in 1889. Japan gained Taiwan, and other islands from a 1 year war with China during 1894, and later gained land in Russia during 1904. Japan remained under an emperor system until they converted to a constitutional monarchy, where the power of a emperor is limited to primarily ceremonial duties.
Japans current government is a constitutional monarchy and the government is divided into 3 branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branch, defined by Japans post war constitution. A feature known as "the fusion of powers" was implemented into the government, and is where different branches are held accountable for each other. Japan has a prime minister who is the head of the Cabinet and has the power to dissolve the House of Representatives. The emperor of Japan is Emperor Akihito, and the prime minister is Shinzo Abe.
Japans current government is a constitutional monarchy and the government is divided into 3 branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branch, defined by Japans post war constitution. A feature known as "the fusion of powers" was implemented into the government, and is where different branches are held accountable for each other. Japan has a prime minister who is the head of the Cabinet and has the power to dissolve the House of Representatives. The emperor of Japan is Emperor Akihito, and the prime minister is Shinzo Abe.