Emperor Hirohito was under the government at the time of constitutional monarchy. Sovereignty belong to the people—not in the emperor, whose powers were strictly shortened. The emperor was selected the “symbol of the state and of the unity of the people.” In an effort to bring the imperial family closer to the people, Hirohito started to make numerous public appearances and allowed periodical of pictures and stories of his personal and family life. Those whereabouts improved Hirohito’s popularity and facilitated reserve the Japanese imperial system.
