# The Emperor of Japan has abdicated **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 30, 2019, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-of-japan-has-abdicated/833263 "2019-04-30T14:17:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2019, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-of-japan-has-abdicated/833263/41 "2019-05-17T23:00:06Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > There is of course a typo there, and TB meant the Schwa Era, the turbulent time when Japan was ruled by an upside-down “e.” No, the Schwa Era was actually unstressful, some say it was a lazy time. OK, that was uhh typo. Showa Era. > [@clairobscur](#): > > Yes, but in theory at least, you can’t really prevent him from just quiting. This comes up in the questions about British monarchy, but they really do take tradition very seriously. It’s hard for Americans to get it. > [@Annoying\_Buzz](#): > > The general populace isn’t really. They’re seen as a nice couple who don’t get involved in political matters but are genuinely compassionate. Liked and respected, but not worshipped except by ultra-nationalist fringe groups who are more devoted to the idea of an emperor than to the actual emperor. It’s pretty much been that way after the first few emperors. They have been figureheads more than anything. While Hirohito was more involved in WWII than has been commonly believed, the cult around the emperor was him being used by the ultranationalists for their purposes. A common misunderstanding is that in the West it’s often said that emperors up to Hirohito were seen as living gods. That’s not really a good explanation, as many Westerners then have a feeling that the Japan viewed him as some sort of real god. It’s more like he was seen as sacred. Descendant of the mythical gods, but a man and not any divine power. Historically, one of his most important jobs was to perform important Shinto rites. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-emperor-of-japan-has-abdicated/833263.md?page=2)