Akihito
- See also Prince Komatsu Akihito, a Japanese general.
| Akihito 明仁 |
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| Reign | 7 January 1989 – present (22 years, 37 days) |
| Enthronement | 12 November 1990 (aged 56) |
| Predecessor | Hirohito |
| Heir apparent | Naruhito, Crown Prince of Japan |
| Prime Ministers |
See list
Noboru Takeshita
Sōsuke Uno Toshiki Kaifu Kiichi Miyazawa Morihiro Hosokawa Tsutomu Hata Tomiichi Murayama Ryūtarō Hashimoto Keizō Obuchi Yoshirō Mori Junichirō Koizumi Shinzō Abe Yasuo Fukuda Tarō Asō Yukio Hatoyama Naoto Kan |
| Spouse | Empress Michiko |
| Issue | |
| Naruhito, Prince Hiro Fumihito, Prince Aya Sayako, Princess Nori |
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| House | Imperial House of Japan (Yamato Dynasty) |
| Father | Hirohito |
| Mother | Empress Kōjun |
| Born | 23 December 1933 Tokyo, Empire of Japan |
| Occupation | Emperor, ichthyologist |
| Religion | Shinto |
Akihito (明仁, born 23 December 1933) is the current Emperor (天皇 tennō) of Japan, and the 125th Emperor according to Japan's traditional order of succession. He acceded to the throne in 1989, and is the 19th most senior monarch or lifelong leader. He is the world's only currently 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" 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 Emperor Hirohito (the Showa Emperor) and Empress Kōjun. 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, Hirohito.
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 and Western manners 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 Tokyo Imperial Palace on 10 November 1952. In June 1953, Crown Prince Akihito represented Japan at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in London.[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 Hirohito on 7 January 1989, the crown prince received the succession (senso).[4] Emperor Akihito formally acceded to the throne (sokui)[4] on 12 November 1990.[2] In 1998, during a state visit to the United Kingdom, he was invested with The Most Noble Order of the Garter.
On 23 December 2001, during his annual birthday meeting with reporters, the Emperor, in response to a reporter's question about tensions with Korea, remarked that he felt a kinship with Koreans and went on to explain that in the Shoku Nihongi the mother of Emperor Kammu (736–806) is related to Muryeong of Korea, King of Baekje.[5]
Emperor Akihito underwent surgery for prostate cancer in January 2003.[6] 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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HIH The Prince Mikasa
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On 10 April 1959, he married Miss Michiko Shōda (born 24 October 1934), the eldest daughter of Mr. Hidesaburo Shōda, the president and later honorary chairman of Nisshin Flour Milling Company.[2][7] 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. 23 February 1960, titled Hiro-no-miya or Prince Hiro),
- HIH The Prince Akishino (Fumihito, b. 30 November 1965, titled Aya-no-miya or Prince Aya) and
- Sayako Kuroda, formerly HIH The Princess Sayako (titled Nori-no-miya or Princess Nori, b. 18 April 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 US territory of Saipan, the site of a battle in World War II from 15 June to 9 July 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 6 September 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.
Ichthyological research
In extension of his father's interest in marine biology, the Emperor is a published ichthyological researcher, and has specialized studies within the taxonomy of the family Gobiidae.[8] He has written papers for publication in Japanese and English scholarly journals, namely Gene and the Japanese Journal of Ichthyology.[9]
He has also written papers about Scientific History in Japan during the Edo and Meiji Eras, which were published in the scientific journals Science[10] and Nature.[11] In 2005, a newly described goby was named Exyrias akihito in his honour.
Awards
National
- 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
International
| Country | Awards |
|---|---|
 Afghanistan |
Order of the Supreme Sun |
 Austria |
Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria Grand Star |
 Bahrain |
Order of al-Khalifa Collar |
.svg.png){kind=small} Belgium |
Order of Leopold Grand Cordon |
 Botswana |
Presidential Order |
 Brazil |
Order of the Southern Cross Grand Collar |
 Cameroon |
Order of Valour Grand Cordon |
 Chile |
Order of the Merit of Chile Grand Collar |
 Colombia |
Order of the Cross of Boyaca Grand Collar |
 Côte d'Ivoire |
Order of the Ivory Coast Grand Cordon |
 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 of Hungary Grand Cross |
 Iceland |
Order of the Falcon Grand Cross with Collar |
 Indonesia |
Star of Adipurna 1st Class |
 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 Order of the Pioneers of the Republic Knight Grand Band |
 Lithuania |
Order of Vytautas the Great the Great Grand Cross with Collar[12] |
 Luxembourg |
Order of the Gold 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[13] |
 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 |
 South Africa |
Order of Good Hope Grand Cross in Gold |
 Spain |
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 |
Stranger 984th Knight of Order of the Garter Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal |
 Yugoslavia |
Order of the Yugoslav Great Star |
 Zaire |
Order of the Leopard Grand Cordon |
Other Awards
- The Royal Society King Charles II Medal
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: Princess Sadako of the Fujiwara Clan, Empress Teimei |
Paternal Great-grandfather: Prince Kujō Michitaka of the Fujiwara Clan |
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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 |
See also
- The Emperor's Birthday
- Imperial Household Agency
- Imperial Household of Japan
- Japanese era name
- List of Japanese Emperors
- List of longest reigning current monarchs
References
- ↑ "National Day of Japan to be celebrated". Embassy of Japan in Pakistan. 2007-12-07. http://www.pk.emb-japan.go.jp/PRESS/Press%202007/JPNEMPAK%2007-041,%20NATIONAL%20DAY%20OF%20JAPAN%20TO%20BE%20CELEBRATED.htm. Retrieved 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. http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e03/ed03-01.html. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
- ↑ "Those Apprentice Kings and Queens Who May -- One Day -- Ascend a Throne," New York Times. 14 November 1971.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki, p. 44.
- ↑ "Press Conference on the Occasion of His Majesty's Birthday". Imperial Household Agency. http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/epress/epress-01-12.html. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
- ↑ "Akihito has successful cancer operation". BBC News (British Broadcasting Corporation). 2003-01-18. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2671271.stm. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
- ↑ Fukada, Takahiro, "Emperor — poise under public spotlight", Japan Times, November 24, 2009, p. 3.
- ↑ Hamilton, Alan. "Palace small talk problem solved: royal guest is a goby fish fanatic," The Times (London). 30 May 2007
- ↑ PubMed Search Results
- ↑ Akihito (Oct 1992). "Early cultivators of science in Japan". Science 258 (5082): 578–80. doi:10.1126/science.1411568. PMID 1411568. http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=1411568.
- ↑ His Majesty The Emperor of Japan (Jul 2007). "Linnaeus and taxonomy in Japan". Nature 448 (7150): 139–140. doi:10.1038/448139a. PMID 17632886.
- ↑ Decree 1K-974
- ↑ OPS.gov.ph
External links
- The Japanese Imperial Household Agency Homepage, press conferences, extensive biography, official duties and public activities.
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Akihito
Born: 23 December 1933 |
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| Regnal titles | ||
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| Preceded by Emperor Shōwa Hirohito |
Emperor of Japan 7 January 1989 – present |
Incumbent Heir: Crown Prince Naruhito |
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