Imperial Court in Kyoto was the nominal ruling government of Japan since 794 until the Meiji Era, in which the court was moved to Tokyo and was integrated into the Meiji government.
Since Minamoto no Yoritomo launched the shogunate, the true power had been in the hand of the Shoguns, who were mistaken several times as the Emperors of Japan by the Chinese government.
See also: Five regent houses
