noun
Royalists; imperial loyalists
Historical term referring to supporters of the emperor, especially during the Bakumatsu period. Often used in the context of the sonnō jōi movement.
幕末には多くの尊王家が活躍した。
Many imperial loyalists were active at the end of the Edo period.
勤王家 is a near-synonym also meaning imperial loyalist, but 尊王家 emphasizes reverence for the emperor, while 勤王家 emphasizes service to the emperor.
Compound of 尊王 (sonnō, 'revere the emperor') + 家 (ka, 'person, specialist'). The term arose in the late Edo period to describe supporters of imperial restoration.