The roles of an emperor

The emperor is a spiritual but from 1185 onwards he had no real power and was passed down to the Shogun, the power he acctually held was ceremonial.
He lived in the imperial palace in kyoto and performed rituals that reinforced his status as a divine figure, while the day-to-day governance of the country was handled by the Shogunate.

Although his ceremonial power he was still seen as the head of state abd had to officially allow and grant the shogun his title and right to rule to ensure a semblance of legitimacy, which was vital for maintaining stability in the feudal system. Additionally, the emperor's role included the preservation of cultural traditions and the patronage of the arts, which helped to unify the nation under a common cultural heritage.