Editing Emperor of Japan (section)

=== Contemporary (1978–present) ===
The Emperors of Japan have not visited [[Yasukuni Shrine]] since 1978.<ref name="reuters.com">{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/why-yasukuni-shrine-is-controversial-symbol-japans-war-legacy-2021-08-13/ | title=Explainer: Why Yasukuni shrine is a controversial symbol of Japan's war legacy | newspaper=Reuters | date=August 14, 2021 }}</ref> Hirohito maintained an official boycott of Yasukuni Shrine after it was revealed to him that Class-A war criminals had secretly been enshrined. The boycott was continued by his son and grandson, [[Akihito]] and [[Naruhito]].<ref name="reuters.com"/>

By 1979, Emperor Shōwa was the only monarch in the world with the [[Imperial, royal and noble ranks|monarchical title]] "[[emperor]]." Emperor Shōwa was the longest-reigning historical monarch in Japan's history and the world's longest reigning contemporary monarch until he was surpassed by King [[Bhumibol Adulyadej]] of Thailand in July 2008.<ref name="bhumibol">{{cite news |date=21 May 1989 |title=King Bhumibol's reign |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/21/magazine/king-bhumibol-s-reign.html |url-status=live |access-date=23 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022232305/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/21/magazine/king-bhumibol-s-reign.html |archive-date=22 October 2019}}</ref>

According to journalist Makoto Inoue of ''[[The Nikkei]]'', Emperor Emeritus [[Akihito]] wanted to be closer to the people, rather than be treated like a god or robot.<ref name="efe-agencia"/> Inoue believes that during his reign, he transformed the symbolic role of emperor into a human being.<ref name="efe-agencia">{{cite web |date=April 30, 2019 |title=Japanese emperor, a state symbol with scant political power |url=https://www.efe.com/efe/english/life/japanese-emperor-a-state-symbol-with-scant-political-power/50000263-3964383 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501022048/https://www.efe.com/efe/english/life/japanese-emperor-a-state-symbol-with-scant-political-power/50000263-3964383 |archive-date=May 1, 2019}}</ref> In March 2019, the [[Mainichi]] reported 87% thought Akihito fulfilled his role as symbol of the state.<ref name="efe-agencia"/>

On 30 April 2019, Emperor [[Akihito]] abdicated due to health issues and the [[Heisei era]] ended.<ref name="cnn1">{{cite news |last=Enjoji |first=Kaori |date=1 December 2017 |title=Japan Emperor Akihito to abdicate on April 30, 2019 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/30/asia/japan-emperor-akihito-abdication-intl/index.html |work=[[CNN]] |location=Tokyo |access-date=1 December 2017 |archive-date=30 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430100018/https://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/30/asia/japan-emperor-akihito-abdication-intl/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The previous time abdication occurred was [[Emperor Kōkaku]] in 1817. Akihito's eldest son, [[Naruhito]] ascended on 1 May 2019, referred to as ''[[Reigning Emperor|Kinjō Tennō]]'' and [[Reiwa era]] started.

==== Current constitution ====
In 1947 the post-war {{Nihongo|[[Constitution of Japan]]|日本国憲法|Nihonkoku-Kenpō}} became law when it received the emperor's [[royal assent|assent]] on 3 November 1946.<ref name="edict">{{cite web |website=National Diet Library |title=Text of the Constitution and Other Important Documents |url=http://www.ndl.go.jp/constitution/e/etc/c01.html |access-date=8 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106232808/https://www.ndl.go.jp/constitution/e/etc/c01.html |archive-date=November 6, 2020}}</ref> It provides for a [[parliamentary system]] of government and guarantees certain fundamental rights. Under its terms, the emperor of Japan is "the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people" and exercises a purely ceremonial role without the possession of sovereignty.<ref name="oxford1">{{Cite book|last=Oda|first=Hiroshi|url=http://www.oxfordscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199232185.001.1/acprof-9780199232185|title=Japanese Law|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2009|isbn=978-0-19-923218-5|chapter=Sources of Law|doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199232185.001.1}}</ref> It was drawn up under the [[Allied occupation of Japan|Allied occupation]] that followed World War II and changed Japan's previous Prussian-style [[Meiji Constitution]] that granted the emperor theoretically unlimited powers.{{sfn|Takemae|2002|p=270}} The [[liberal constitution]] was inspired by several European states.{{sfn|Takemae|2002|p=xxxix}} Currently, it is a rigid document and the oldest unamended constitution.<ref name="anomalous-constitution">{{cite news|title=The Anomalous Life of the Japanese Constitution |url=https://www.nippon.com/en/in-depth/a05602/the-anomalous-life-of-the-japanese-constitution.html |date=15 August 2017 |access-date=11 August 2019 |website=Nippon.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811213143/https://www.nippon.com/en/in-depth/a05602/the-anomalous-life-of-the-japanese-constitution.html |url-status=live |archive-date=11 August 2019}}</ref>