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The two concepts, Shinto and Tenno, sound completely different when those who do not have any knowledge of Shinto hear the terms, Shinto and Tenno. The fact is that, in Japanese culture, Tenno has been defined as the highest priest in the world of Shinto. What do you think was the real nature of the military regime of the Japanese Empire? Or, what do you think was the real nature of the regime of the Japanese Empire after the Meiji Restoration (1867) was like when Tenno started to be “redefined” as the ruler of the Japanese Empire, the Emperor, before the Pacific War?

Even though Japanese people say the definition of the Imperial System in Japan, has been changed since the end of the Pacific War, the very essential role of the present Tenno and that of Showa Tenno to perform Shinto rituals has not been so different from that of Tenno since the early days of Japanese history, even though there were some interruptions. This role was true of the Emperor Meiji, the Emperor Taisho and the Emperor Showa.

Many Japanese people think, in modern Japanese definition, the role of Tenno, has been changed drastically in many ways since the end of the Pacific War by MacArthur’s order. Until then, many Japanese tended to think the Emperors were absolute rulers of the Japanese Empire.

Traditionally, the main role of Tenno has served as mediating or moderating conflicts between strong clans to avoid wars within Tenno’s kingdom. Therefore, the role of the “emperor,” as the “supreme existence” in a bureaucratic system like the Qing Empire based on neo-Confucianism between the Meiji Restoration and the end of the Pacific War (1868-1945) had not been existed with a few exceptions throughout the Japanese history.

The definition of Tenno is written in chapter one in the present Constitution of Japan because the role of Tenno in Japan is crucial for Japanese national identity. I will discuss this in the later chapter regarding the most important role of Tenno in the society which, in fact, has not changed throughout Japanese history.

It may be hard to understand not only the role of Tenno but also the Chapter one in the present Constitution of Japan just by reading about Tenno. Some just say Tenno was the “sole” dictator of Japan with no background knowledge of Japanese culture.

This is because the revision of the Chapter one of the present Constitution was not drafted by the Japanese bureaucrats after the Pacific War. The previous version written by the post-war Japanese bureaucrats was read through by the Supreme Commander, Douglas MacArthur, and thrown away into the garbage on the spot. He handed out MacArthur’s version of the key parts of the imperial system drafted by the splendid young researchers, who were selected by him and had a clear understanding of idealisms of Democracy.

Taking the definition of “Tenno” under the new democratized regime into consideration was something especially crucial for Supreme Commander Douglas MacArthur. He wanted to avoid political confusion in Japan after the Pacific War. He understood that the definition of Tenno had to be restored back to the original role. As I mentioned before, one of the major roles of Tenno was to moderate the confrontations among clans which were based on blood stream. Douglas MacArthur thought Tenno was set to be defined as the symbol of unity and peace in Japanese society just like the British Monarchy after the Glorious Revolution.

Why do you think Japan could revive from the disaster of the war so quickly? It was not just because of the collective will of Japanese people. It had a lot to do with GHQ measures, which took enormous time for social research and data analyses on Japanese culture. It is well said that GHQ members understood Japanese culture and identity better than most of the Japanese. Their purpose was not to seek “revenge and conquer” the country but to “democratize” the country, where people have the right of freedom and are emancipated from slavery.