Annotation

The Constitution of the Japanese Empire presents itself as a unique phenomenon in the history of the constitutional law. This normative legal act became the method of solution of domestic and foreign problems of the Japanese State at the same time: adjustment of the new social order after defeat of the Tokugawa regime and revision of the unequal treaties, restricting economic sovereignty, which Japan concluded with European countries and Russia in the 1850s. The author examines the problem of the Chrysanthemum Throne as a peculiar pivot on which the Japanese Empire lasted during the whole period of its existence. The acknowledgement of an Emperor as the center of nation and to be sacred was necessary for the ruling elite for the enforcing of legitimacy of authority of persons, who helped the Emperor to defeat the Tokugawa shogunate. The opinions of Japanese public men are cited concerning status of an Emperor in the constitutional order of the country. The author examines the position of the status of Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary for demonstration of the example of unstable monarchy, which eventually declined in view of Head of the State’s lack of divine origin and solid foundation. The author expresses the thought about unsteadiness of federative monarchy and successful functioning of the unitary state, at the head of which, according to the official ideology, stood a descendant of the gods, which patronized all residents of the Japanese archipelago.