Modern administrative-political division

Japan is a constitutional monarchy. The dynasty of Japanese emperors is the oldest in the world. At present Akihito, the 125th Emperor of Japan reigns; his wife is Empress Michiko and his son is Crown Prince Naruhito. According to the working constitution of 1947 adopted under the pressure of American occupation powers, the Emperor is the symbol of the nation, its moral and spiritual leader. He reigns but does not actually rule the country, acting as the figure head of the country with purely ceremonial functions. Legislative power is in the hands of the two-chambered parliament, and the executive power is exercised by the government headed by the Prime Minister.

The administrative division of Japan is complex, contradictory and does not always reflect the real economic relations between regions. The country is divided into 43 prefectures ken, one special region do (Hokkaido Island), one megapolis to (the capital city of Tokyo with suburbs) and two city prefectures fu (Osaka and Kyoto). Besides, on the main island of Honshu the following administrative units (tiho) each of which unites several neighbor prefectures: Chugoku, Kansai, Kanto, Tohoku, Kinki, Tokai, and Hokuriku. The smaller administrative nits are si cities and mati towns. The smallest administrative unit is mura village which consists of several buraku settlements.

View of Emperor's palace in Tokio. Japan, Tokio. The Japanese. N. Maykova. 2006