<P> The Meiji Restoration in 1868 led to the resignation of Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu, agreeing to "be the instrument for carrying out" the Emperor's orders . This event restored the country to Imperial rule and the proclamation of the Empire of Japan . In 1889, the Meiji Constitution was adopted in a move to strengthen Japan to the level of western nations, resulting in the first parliamentary system in Asia . It provided a form of mixed constitutional - absolute monarchy, with an independent judiciary, based on the Prussian model of the time . </P> <P> A new aristocracy known as the kazoku was established . It merged the ancient court nobility of the Heian period, the kuge, and the former daimyōs, feudal lords subordinate to the shōgun . It also established the Imperial Diet, consisting of the House of Representatives and the House of Peers . Members of the House of Peers were made up of the Imperial Family, the Kazoku, and those nominated by the Emperor, while members of the House of Representatives were elected by direct male suffrage . Despite clear distinctions between powers of the executive branch and the Emperor in the Meiji Constitution, ambiguity and contradictions in the Constitution eventually led to a political crisis . It also devalued the notion of civilian control over the military, which meant that the military could develop and exercise a great influence on politics . </P> <P> Following the end of World War II, the Constitution of Japan was adopted as an intention to replace the previous Imperial rule with a form of Western - style liberal democracy . </P> <P> The Emperor of Japan (天皇) is the head of the Imperial Family and the ceremonial head of state . He is defined by the Constitution to be "the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people". However, he is not the nominal Chief Executive and he possesses only certain ceremonially important powers . He has no real powers related to the Government as stated clearly in article 4 of the Constitution . </P>

What type of government did japan have during ww2