Who was the first shogun to rule in Japan in the Kamakura Shogunate?

Minamoto no Yoritomo (May 9, 1147 – February 9, 1199) was the founder and the first shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate of Japan. He ruled as the initial shogun from 1192 until 1199. As the shogun (the military commander), Yoritomo was a hereditary military dictator in Japan in part of the period from 1192 to 1867.

In this period, all the shoguns were the de facto rulers of the country. Although it was negligible in meaning, they were appointed by the Emperor as a ceremonial formality. The Shogun held almost absolute power over territories through military means. The Kamakura Shogunate lasted for almost 150 years, from 1192 to 1333.

Currently, the modern rank of shogun in Japan is roughly equivalent to a generalissimo (the highest ranking general officer of all generals). Today, the head of the Japanese government is the Prime Minister; the usage of the term shogun has only continued in colloquialisms. A retired Prime Minister who still wields considerable power and influence behind the scenes is called a "shadow shogun".