Akihito
| Akihito 明仁 今上天皇 |
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| Emperor of Japan (more...) | |
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| Reign | 7 January 1989 – present |
| Predecessor | Emperor Showa |
| Heir apparent | Prince Naruhito |
| Consort | Michiko Shoda |
| Issue | |
| Naruhito, Prince Hiro Fumihito, Prince Aya Sayako, Princess Nori |
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| Titles and styles | |
| HIM The Emperor of Japan HIH Akihito, Prince Tsugu |
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| Royal house | Yamato Dynasty |
| Royal anthem | Kimi ga Yo |
| Era name | Heisei |
| Father | Emperor Showa |
| Mother | Empress Kojun |
| Born | 23 December 1933 Tokyo, Japan |
| Occupation | Ichthyological researcher |
Akihito (明仁? born December 23, 1933) is the current Emperor (天皇 tennō?) of Japan, and the 125th Emperor according to Japan's traditional order of succession. He ascended to the throne in 1989, and is the 21st most senior monarch or lifelong leader. He is the world's only reigning monarch whose title is customarily translated into English as "Emperor".
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Name
In Japan, the emperor is never referred to by his given name, but rather is referred to as "His Imperial Majesty the Emperor" (天皇陛下 tennō heika?), which may be shortened to "His Imperial Majesty" (陛下 heika?). In writing, the emperor is also referred to formally as "The Reigning Emperor" (今上天皇 kinjō tennō?). The Era of Akihito's reign bears the name "Heisei" (平成), and according to custom he will be renamed "Emperor Heisei" (平成天皇; see "posthumous name") after his death by order of the cabinet, in which the name of the next era under his successor will also be established.[1]
Biography
Akihito is the eldest son and the fifth child of the Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito) and Empress Kōjun (Nagako). Titled Prince Tsugu (継宮 Tsugu-no-miya?) as a child, he was raised and educated by his private tutors and then attended the elementary and secondary departments of the Peers' School (Gakushuin) from 1940 to 1952.[2] Unlike his precedents in the Imperial Family, he did not receive a commission as an Army officer, at the request from his father, Emperor Shōwa.
During the American firebombing raids on Tokyo in March 1945, he and his younger brother, HIH Prince Masahito, were evacuated from the city. During the American occupation of Japan following World War II, Prince Akihito was tutored in English by Elizabeth Gray Vining. He briefly studied at the Department of Political Science at Gakushuin University in Tokyo, though he never received a degree. Although he was Heir-Apparent to the Chrysanthemum Throne from the moment of his birth, his formal Investiture as Crown Prince (立太子礼 Rittaishi-no-rei?) was held at the Kokyo Imperial Palace on November 10, 1952. In June 1953, Crown Prince Akihito represented Japan at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.[2]
Then-Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko made official visits to thirty-seven countries. As an Imperial prince, Akihito compared the role of Japanese royalty to that of a robot; and he expressed the hope that he would like to help in bringing the Imperial family closer to the people of Japan.[3]
After the death of Emperor Shōwa on January 7, 1989, the crown prince received the succession (senso).[4] Emperor Akihito formally acceded to the throne (sokui)[4] on November 12, 1990.[2] In 1998, during a state visit to the United Kingdom, he was invested with The Most Noble Order of the Garter. To this date, Akihito is the only stranger Knight of the Garter who is of non-European descent.[5]
On December 23, 2001, during his annual birthday meeting with reporters, the Emperor, in response to a reporter's question about the tensioned relation with Korea, remarked that he felt a kinship with Korean peninsula and went on to explain his feeling as resulting from the classical book Shoku Nihongi that the mother of Emperor Kammu (736–806), was one of 10th descendants of the king of Baekje, Muryeong, a Korean King from a Korean Empire.[6] The Emperor also noted that Koreans who migrated to Japan in ancient times introduced some aspects of culture and technology to the country, and that the regrettable fact that Japan’s exchanges with Korea have not all been so friendly should never be forgotten. These remarks were reported and became headlines in the South Korean Media[7].
Emperor Akihito underwent surgery for prostate cancer in January, 2003.[8] Since succeeding to the throne, Emperor Akihito has made an effort to bring the Imperial Family closer to the Japanese people. The Emperor and Empress of Japan have made official visits to eighteen countries, as well as all forty-seven Prefectures of Japan.[2]
Marriage and children
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HIM The Emperor
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On April 10, 1959, he married Miss Michiko Shōda (born October 24, 1934), the eldest daughter of Mr. Hidesaburo Shōda, the president and later honorary chairman of Nisshin Flour Milling Company.[2] The new Crown Princess was the first commoner to marry into the imperial family. The Emperor and the Empress have three children:
- HIH The Crown Prince Naruhito (b. February 23, 1960, titled Hiro-no-miya or Prince Hiro),
- HIH The Prince Akishino (Fumihito, b. November 30, 1965, titled Aya-no-miya or Prince Aya) and
- Sayako Kuroda, formerly HIH The Princess Sayako (titled Nori-no-miya or Princess Nori, b. April 18, 1969).[2]
Official functions
Despite being strictly constrained by his constitutional position, he also issued several wide-ranging statements of remorse to Asian countries, for their suffering under Japanese occupation, beginning with an expression of remorse to China made in April 1989, three months after the death of his father, Emperor Shōwa.
In June 2005, the Emperor visited the U.S. territory of Saipan, the site of one of the most brutal World War II battles from June 15 to July 9, 1944 (Battle of Saipan). Accompanied by Empress Michiko, he offered prayers and flowers at several memorials, honoring not only the Japanese who died, but also American soldiers, Korean laborers, and local islanders. It was the first trip by a Japanese monarch to a World War II battlefield abroad. The Saipan journey was received with high praise by the Japanese people, as were the Emperor's visits to war memorials in Tokyo, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Okinawa in 1995.
On September 6, 2006, the Emperor celebrated the birth of his first grandson, Prince Hisahito, the third child of the Emperor's younger son. Prince Hisahito is the first male heir born to the Japanese imperial family in 41 years (since his father Prince Akishino) and could avert a possible succession crisis as the Emperor's elder son, the Crown Prince, has only one daughter, Princess Aiko. Under Japan's current male-only succession law, Princess Aiko is not eligible for the throne. The birth of Prince Hisahito could mean that proposed changes to the law to allow Aiko to ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne will not go through after being temporarily shelved following the announcement of Princess Kiko's third pregnancy in February 2006.
Awards
Japanese Awards
- Collar and Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum
- Grand Cordon of The Order of the Rising Sun with the Paulownia Blossoms
- (Renamed Grand Cordon of The Order of the Paulownia Flowers from 2003)
- Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure
- Order of Culture
- The Golden Medal of Merit of Japanese Red Cross
- The Golden Medal of Hononary Member of Japanese Red Cross
Foreign Awards
| Country | Awards |
|---|---|
 Afghanistan |
Order of the Supreme Sun |
 Argentina |
Order of the Liberator General San Martin Grand Collar |
 Austria |
Decoration of Honour for Merit Grand Star |
 Bahrain |
Order of al-Khalifa Collar |
 Belgium |
Order of Leopold Grand Cross |
 Botswana |
Presidential Order |
 Brazil |
Order of the Southern Cross Grand Collar |
 Cameroon |
Order of Valour Grand Cordon |
 Chile |
Order of Merit Grand Collar |
 Colombia |
Order of the Cross of Boyaca Grand Collar |
 Côte d'Ivoire |
Order of the Ivory Coast Grand Cordon |
 Croatia |
Grand Order of King Tomislav with Sash and Grand Star |
 Czech Republic |
Order of the White Lion 1st Class (Civil Division) with Collar Chain |
 Denmark |
Order of the Elephant Knight Grand Cross |
 Egypt |
Order of the Nile Grand Collar |
 Estonia |
Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana The Collar of the Cross |
 Ethiopia |
Order of Solomon Grand Collar |
 Finland |
Order of the White Rose Grand Cross with Collar |
 France |
Légion d'honneur Grand Cross |
 Germany |
Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Grand Cross, Special Class |
 Greece |
Order of the Redeemer Grand Cross |
 Hungary |
Order of Merit Grand Cross |
 Iceland |
Order of the Icelandic Falcon Grand Cross with Collar |
 Indonesia |
Star of Adipurna 1st Class |
 Iran |
Order of Pahlavi Grand Collar |
 Italy |
Order of Merit of the Republic Grand Cross with Cordon |
 Jordan |
Order of Hussein ibn' Ali Collar |
 Kazakhstan |
Order of the Golden Eagle |
 Kenya |
Order of the Golden Heart |
 Kuwait |
Order of Mubarak the Great Collar |
 Latvia |
Order of The Three Stars Grand Cross with Collar |
 Liberia |
Order of the Star of Africa Knight Grand Band |
| Liberia |
Order of the Pioneers of the Republic Knight Grand Band |
 Lithuania |
Order of Vytautas the Great Grand Cross with Collar |
 Luxembourg |
Order of the Golden Lion of the House of Nassau Knight |
 Malawi |
Order of the Lion Grand Commander |
 Mali |
National Order Grand Cordon |
 Mexico |
Order of the Aztec Eagle Grand Collar |
 Morocco |
Order of Muhammad Grand Collar |
 Nepal |
Order of Ojaswi Rajanya |
 Netherlands |
Order of the Netherlands Lion Knight Grand Cross |
 Nigeria |
Order of the Federal Republic Grand Cordon |
 Norway |
Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav Grand Cross with Collar |
 Oman |
Order of Oman Superior Class |
 Pakistan |
Order of Pakistan 1st Class |
 Panama |
Order of Manuel Amador Guerrero Gold Collar |
 Peru |
Order of the Sun Grand Cross in Brilliants |
 Philippines |
Philippine Legion of Honor Chief Commander |
 Poland |
Order of the White Eagle |
 Portugal |
Riband of the Three Orders |
 Qatar |
Collar of Independence |
 Saudi Arabia |
Badr Chain |
 Senegal |
Order of the Lion Grand Cordon |
 Singapore |
Order of Temasek First Class |
 South Africa |
Order of Good Hope Grand Cross in Gold |
 Spain |
Order of Carlos III Grand Cross with Collar Order of the Golden Fleece Knight |
 Sweden |
Royal Order of the Seraphim Knight |
 Thailand |
The Most Auspicious Order of the Rajamitrabhorn The Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri |
 The Gambia |
Order of the Republic of Gambia Grand Commander |
 United Arab Emirates |
Collar of the Federation |
 United Kingdom |
Order of the Garter Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal |
 Yugoslavia |
Order of the Yugoslavian Grand Star |
 Zaire |
Order of the Leopard Grand Cordon |
Other Awards
- The Royal Society King Charles II Medal
Ichthyological research
An extension of his father's interest in marine biology, the emperor is known as an ichthyological researcher, and has specialized his studies in the taxonomy of the family Gobiidae.[9] He produced articles for publication in Japanese and English scholarly journals such as Gene or Japanese Journal of Ichthyology[10].
He also wrote some articles about the early period of the Japanese science history in Edo or Meiji Era, which were published in Science[11] and Nature[12]. In 2005 a newly described goby was named Exyrias akihito in his honour.
Ancestors
| Akihito | Father: Hirohito, Emperor Shōwa |
Paternal Grandfather: Yoshihito, Emperor Taishō |
Paternal Great-grandfather: Mutsuhito, Emperor Meiji |
| Paternal Great-grandmother: Adopted: Haruko, Empress Shōken - Biological: Lady Yanagihara Naruko , concubine |
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| Paternal Grandmother: Sadako, Empress Teimei |
Paternal Great-grandfather: Prince Kujō Michitaka |
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| Paternal Great-grandmother: Lady Noma Ikuko, concubine |
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| Mother: Nagako, Empress Kōjun |
Maternal Grandfather: Imperial Prince Kuniyoshi Kuni |
Maternal Great-grandfather: Prince Kuni Asahiko |
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| Maternal Great-grandmother: Lady Isume Makiko, concubine |
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| Maternal Grandmother: Princess Shimazu Chikako of Satsuma |
Maternal Great-grandfather: Prince Shimazu Tadayoshi, 29th and last Daimyo of Satsuma, Osumi and Hyuga |
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| Maternal Great-grandmother: Lady Hiro Sumako, concubine |
References
- ↑ "NATIONAL DAY OF JAPAN TO BE CELEBRATED", Embassy of Japan in Pakistan (2007-12-07). Retrieved on 2007-12-28.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress". Imperial Household Agency (2002). Retrieved on 2007-12-28.
- ↑ "Those Apprentice Kings and Queens Who May -- One Day -- Ascend a Throne," New York Times. November 14, 1971.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki, p. 44.
- ↑ "PoWs' anger at Akihito honour", BBC News, British Broadcasting Corporation (1998-04-10). Retrieved on 2007-12-28.
- ↑ "Press Conference on the Occasion of His Majesty's Birthday". Imperial Household Agency. Retrieved on 2008-07-07.
- ↑ 일 환무왕 생모‘백제 화씨부인’묘소 탐방기;초라한 왕후릉… 교토 야산에 홀로 잠들어 조선일보 2002.02.05 발행 / 19
- ↑ "Akihito has successful cancer operation", BBC News, British Broadcasting Corporation (2003-01-18). Retrieved on 2007-12-28.
- ↑ Hamilton, Alan. "Palace small talk problem solved: royal guest is a goby fish fanatic," The Times (London). May 30, 2007]
- ↑ PubMed Search Results
- ↑ Early cultivators of science in Japan. Science. 1992, 258(5082), 578
- ↑ Linnaeus and taxonomy in Japan. Nature. 12 July 2007
See also
- List of Japanese Emperors
- List of longest reigning current monarchs
- Imperial Household of Japan
- Imperial Household Agency
External links
- The Japanese Imperial Household Agency Homepage, press conferences, extensive biography, official duties and public activities.
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Akihito
House of Yamato
Born: 23 December 1933 |
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| Regnal titles | ||
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| Preceded by Emperor Shōwa Hirohito |
Emperor of Japan 1989 – present |
Incumbent Designated heir: Crown Prince Naruhito |
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