Chancellor / Chief Minister Daijō-daijin Minister of the Right Udaijin Major Counselor Dainagon | Minister of the Left Sadaijin Minister of the Center Naidaijin Middle Counselor Chūnagon | |
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The Imperial Court in Kyoto was the nominal ruling government of Japan from 794 AD until the Meiji period (1868–1912), after which the court was moved from Kyoto to Tokyo and integrated into the Meiji government. The shogunate system came after the Imperial Court, with Minamoto no Yoritomo being the first to establish the post of the Shogun as hereditary, in 1192.
Since Minamoto no Yoritomo launched the shogunate, true power has been in the hand of the Shoguns, who were mistaken several times for the Emperors of Japan by western countries.
References
Imperial Court in Kyoto Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA