Definition

Noun: 1. The Emperor of Japan: The historical title for the sovereign ruler of Japan, especially when considered in a traditional or ceremonial context. 2. A religious leader: In certain contexts, particularly when emphasizing the emperor's role in Shinto tradition, the term can denote a spiritual leader, synonymous with "tenno."

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The mikado issued a decree that was respected throughout the land.
  • In the 19th century, foreign diplomats were formally received by the mikado.
  • The concept of the mikado as a divine figure was central to pre-war state Shinto.

Advanced Usage

• Historical/Formal Context: The term "mikado" is now largely archaic or used in historical and ceremonial discourse. The modern common term is "Emperor of Japan."
  • The restoration of the mikado to direct political power is known as the Meiji Restoration.
• In Arts and Literature: The word appears in titles of artistic works, most notably in Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera (1885), which is set in a fictionalized Japan.
  • The plot of 'The Mikado' revolves around a son fleeing from his father, the titular Mikado.

Variants and Related Words

• Tenno (天皇): (noun) The Japanese word for "emperor," literally meaning "heavenly sovereign." This is the term used in Japan and in modern academic contexts.
  • The reign of each tenno is given a era name (gengō), such as Heisei or Reiwa.
• Emperor: (noun) The standard English translation and general term for the sovereign.

Synonyms

• Emperor: The sovereign of an empire.
• Sovereign: A supreme ruler, especially a monarch.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• The Chrysanthemum Throne: A metonym for the Japanese monarchy and the institution of the emperor.
  • He ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne in 2019.

Noun

1. the emperor of Japan; when regarded as a religious leader the emperor is called tenno