In Article 1 of the Constitution of the Empire of Japan, it says, 'The Empire of Japan shall be reigned over and governed by a line of Emperors unbroken for ages eternal' and Article 4 says 'The Emperor is the head of the Empire, combining in Himself the rights of sovereignty, and the exercise of them, according to the provisions of the present Constitution'; in which, unlike the Constitution of Japan, clearly states the Emperor is the Genshu 'Head of the State'.
大日本帝国憲法第1条で、「大日本帝國ハ萬世一系ノ天皇之ヲ統治ス」と定められており、大日本帝国憲法第4条で「天皇ハ国ノ元首ニシテ統治権ヲ総攬シ此ノ憲法ノ条規ニ依リテ之ヲ行フ」と、日本国憲法とは異なり明確に「元首」と規定されている。