The Emperor of Ashihara

The Emperor of Ashihara is the monarch and the head of the Imperial Family of Ashihara, a title currently held by the Hinonishi clan. Under the Asatera regime, the Emperor is defined as the symbol of the Ashihara and the unity of the people. The Emperor is widely regarded to be the direct descendant of Hi-no-Kami, and is also the officiator of all symbolic orders, decorations, medals, and awards.

The role of the emperor has historically shifted between a ceremonial symbolic role and that of an actual imperial ruler. Since the assassination of Emperor Tensei, the emperors of Ashihara have never taken on a role as a battlefield commander. The emperors have nearly always been controlled by external political forces, such as the house of representatives, to varying degrees.

Etymology
Since the founding of the Shuzora Empire in the 4th century, the Emperor had been referred to as "Sumeramikoto" or "Ashihara-ōkimi". In the mid 15th century, the reigning Asatera clan began reforming the public notion of the Emperor from the sword of the heavens to a softer image. Previous terms quickly became obsolete as Empress Himiya was coronated as "Tenshi" or "Tenshi-sama".