<P> The Emperor of Japan is the head of the Imperial Family and the traditional head of state of Japan . According to the 1947 constitution , he is `` the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people '' and he has `` no powers related to government '' . Historically , he was also the highest authority of the Shinto religion . In Japanese , the Emperor is called Tennō ( 天皇 ) , which translates to `` heavenly sovereign '' . In English , the use of the term Mikado ( 帝 ) for the Emperor was once common , but is now considered obsolete . </P>
what is the emperor 's role in japan
`` the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people ''