MIKADO, a title of the emperor of Japan. The first historic emperor, Jimmu, succeeded to the throne of Japan about B.C. 660. His father was reputed to be a god. Hence his descendants the Mikados trace their descent from the goda, land have a sanctity attached to them. Books describe the Mikado as the sacred, and the Tycoon as the secular king. Such was indeed the result of what was really a usurpation, the Tycoon being nominally only the Mikado's chief executive officer. During a period of 1000 years, successive Mikados were reduced to a state of insignificance, while the history of the country is made up of bloody contests of powerful houses for the office of Thogun or commander-in-chief, afterwards styled Taikun or Tycoon. After the ascent of the Tokugawa dynasty to power in the beginning of the 17th century, there was not a battle on Japanese soil for 250 years. The intervention of the European powers in the affairs of Japan led to the reigning Mikado (instigated by the enemies of the predominant Thogun dynasty) denouncing the concessions made to the foreigner.
Internecine troubles further weakened the power of the Thogunate, until Kieki, who succeeded to that office in 1866, resigned, and restored the government into the hands of the Mikado. He repented of his decision, and marched to remove from the emperor his bad counsellors ; but Keiki was overthrown, and finally, in 1868, he submitted to the imperial power. Since that time the Mikado's Government has been re-establishing itself on a European basis. A cabinet of ministers formed upon European models, the abolition of torture, the reform of the coinage, the introduction of railways, telegraphs, the postal system, and of Government schools, both male and female, are among the most remarkable innovations adopted by this, formerly most conservative, now most receptive, nation.