In a narrow sense, the supreme command meant the military command powers which were decision of strategy, planning of military operation, and the supervision and command committed by the Emperor to the military experts, the Chief of the General Staff and the President of the Naval General Staff.
狭い意味では天皇が軍事の専門家である参謀総長・軍令部総長に委託した戦略の決定や、軍事作戦の立案や指揮命令をする軍令権のことをさして統帥権ともいう。