The Japanese Shogunate was a hereditary military dictatorship that ruled Japan from the 12th century until the Meiji Restoration in the late 19th century. The shogun, or supreme military commander, held the real power in Japan, while the emperor was a figurehead. The shogunate was characterized by a strict social hierarchy, with the samurai warrior class at the top, followed by peasants, artisans, and merchants. The shogunate also implemented isolationist policies, limiting contact with foreign countries.