The imperial dynasty of Japan is the oldest on earth and the only one the Japanese have ever known. It is unique in the sense that Japanese emperors hardly ever decided policies, commanded troops, administered the state, passed judgments, or decreed on matters of faith. Actual power was usually in the hands of subordinates, whether aristocrats, warlords, bureaucrats or politicians. Despite their political and military weakness, the emperors of Japan occupied the highest position in the realm, enjoyed a sacred status, and their dynasty could not be overthrown. This 4-volume publication presents learned articles and book chapters in English on various aspects of the Japanese emperors from the ancient past until today, including Hirohito's controversial role in the Pacific War.

Brill's Critical Readings publications are a one stop reference resource in English, presenting high quality scholarship on one subject area assembled by experts in the field. By selecting the best material published to-date from a huge bank of sources, and contextualizing it thematically, the editor creates a unique tool for rapid access not only to seminal works but also to less familiar texts.