Where was the true power in Japan?

The true power in Japan during the feudal period was often held by the shogunate, particularly the Tokugawa shogunate from the early 17th to the mid-19th century. While the emperor was the nominal ruler, real political and military authority rested with the shogun, who controlled the samurai class and maintained order throughout the country. The shogunate's centralized governance allowed for relative peace and stability, known as the Edo period, despite the emperor's spiritual and cultural significance.