Japan is not actually "ruled by an emperor." It is a constitutional monarchy similar to England, the Netherlands and others. The emperor has no power to rule, his duties are largely ceremonial. Bhutan is an absolute monarchy, meaning that the monarch has full power to rule. A very good source of information is The CIA World Fact Book.
May 13 2008, 7:08 PM
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The Emperor (formerly often called the Mikado) of Japan is the country's monarch. He is the head of the Japanese Imperial Family. Under Japan's present constitution, the Emperor is the "symbol of the state and the unity of the people," and is a ceremonial figurehead in a constitutional monarchy (see Politics of Japan).
The current emperor is His Imperial Majesty the Emperor Akihito, who has been on the Chrysanthemum Throne since his father Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito) died in 1989.
Akihito (born December 23, 1933) is the current emperor of Japan, and the 125th emperor according to Japan's traditional order of succession. He acceded to the throne in 1989, and is the 21st most senior monarch or lifelong leader. He is the world's only reigning monarch with the title of emperor.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_of_Japan