Limited political role: During historical periods like the imperial period and the first part of the Edo period, political authorities such as shogun or regents (shin'yo or shikken) were the real power brokers . Although emperors held high honor as cultural and divine authority , realpolitik was driven by military leaders or ruling councils with the emperors often remaining figureheads whose influence and authority in matters of state fluctuated greatly depending on personal traits (charisma).