A shogunate is a form of government in Japan where a military leader, known as a shogun, holds significant power, often ruling in place of the emperor. This system began in the late 12th century and lasted until the 19th century. The shogunate was characterized by a feudal structure, where local lords, or daimyō, governed their own territories under the shogun's authority. The most notable shogunates include the Kamakura Shogunate, the Ashikaga Shogunate, and the Tokugawa Shogunate. Each of these periods had its own unique political and social structures, influencing Japan's history and culture. The shogunate system ended with the Meiji Restoration in 1868, which restored power to the emperor.