The primary difference between feudalism in Europe and Japan was the role of the monarch. The Japanese emperor had no political power. Instead, as a ceremonial figurehead, he was responsible for religious rituals and acted as a cultural icon. By contrast, kings in Europe had almost unlimited power, capable of doing as they pleased. Additionally, while both societies were agrarian economies, the importance of rice to Japan was so great that it was used as a currency itself, while Europeans traded in precious metals. Finally, Japan lacked a religious institution similar to Europe's Catholic Church, which helped to maintain social order throughout the feudal period.