Emperor Akihito
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Emperor Akihito (明仁天皇 Akihito tennō) (b. Tokyo, 23 December 1933) (age 75), as he is known outside of Japan, is the reigning Emperor of Japan. He is the 125th Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional count of order of succession from Japan's legendary first Emperor, Jimmu.
His Majesty is also the fourth Constitutional Monarch of Japan, after the changes brought about during his great-grandfather, Emperor Meiji's, reign. In addition, he is the first "non-divine" Emperor, after his father, Emperor Shōwa, was forced to repudiate formally the traditional claim that he was an incarnate divinity (arahitogami) at the end of World War 2. The current Constitution of Japan states that the Emperor is "the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people" and derives his position from "the will of the people with whom resides sovereign power."
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The Emperor's Name
According to Japanese custom, the living Emperor is never referred to by his given name, but rather is he referred to as "His Majesty the Emperor" (天皇陛下 Tennō Heika), which may be shortened to Heika (陛下 "Your Majesty"). In writing, the Emperor is formally referred to as Kinjō Tennō (今上天皇 "The Reigning Emperor").
The current Emperor's era bears the name "Heisei" (平成), and in line with tradition he will be renamed "Emperor Heisei" (平成天皇 Heisei Tennō) after his death. At the same time, the name of the era of his successor, Crown Prince Naruhito, will also be determined.
Early Years
Prince Akihito was born on 23 December 1933, the fifth child and eldest son of the Emperor Shōwa and Empress Kōjun. His birth resulted in great joy in Japan, because his birth had been preceded by that of four girls and only a male could inherit the throne.
In line with tradition, he was schooled at the boy's section of the Gakushuin Peers School from 1940 to 1952. However, his education was interrupted in 1945 by the fire bombing raids on Tokyo, during which he and his classmates were evacuated to safety. They were encamped in the mountains of Nikko, when the war came to and end.
After the war's end, and during the American occupation, Prince Akihito was tutored in English by Elizabeth Vining, an American Quaker. Upon completion of his schooling, he enrolled at Tokyo's Gakushuin University's Faculty of Political Science and Economics, but never completed his degree.
After his investiture as Crown Prince (Kōtaishi 皇太子), he traveled to the United Kingdom to attend the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. This was his first trip abroad and he subsequently traveled extensively in North America and Europe. He later completed his university education in 1956 as a special student, as well as receiving special tutoring from authorities in various areas of learning, such as Japanese History and Constitutional Law.
On 10 April 1959, Crown Prince Akihito married Michiko Shoda (born 20 October 1934), today the Empress Michiko, and the daughter of a distinguished businessman. It created a precedent in that, with the blessing of Emperor Shōwa, a future regent married a commoner. In fact, in accordance with the Imperial House Law, the Imperial House Council, headed by the Prime Minister, gave its unanimous consent to the marriage. [1]
The Emperor and Empress have three children:
- Crown Prince Naruhito (born 23 February 1960)
- Prince Akishino (born 30 November 1965)
- Princess Sayako (born 18 April 1969)
Ascent to Power
Even though Prince Akihito was heir-apparent to the Chrysanthemum Throne from the moment of his birth, he was only formally invested as Crown Prince at the Tokyo Imperial Palace on 10 November 1952.
The Crown Prince assumed the throne after the death of his father on January 7, 1989, becoming the 125th Japanese monarch, according to the traditional order of succession. He was formally enthroned as the Emperor of Japan on 12 November 1990.
The Emperor's Reign
Even before assuming the throne, the then Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko set the tone for their reign, visiting 37 countries across the world, often on behalf of the then Emperor and Empress. These trips generated an enormous amount of goodwill in the countries they visited, as people came to appreciate their unassuming and sincere personalities.
As Emperor, His Majesty performs those acts in matters of state that the Constitution allows for. These include appointing the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, attesting the appointment of Ministers of State, convoking the National Diet (Parliament), promulgating laws and treaties, awarding honours, as well as receiving foreign ambassadors and emissaries. In all these matters of state, he acts on the advice and approval of the Cabinet.
Despite the constitutional restraints, the Emperor has issued several statements expressing remorse for their suffering under Japanese occupation to several Asian countries, most notably to China in April 1989, barely three months after the death of his father, Emperor Shōwa, whose reign presided over the occupation of Manchuria.
Since the Enthronement in 1989, the Royal Couple have displayed a strong sense of duty and constant attention to the real needs of the people, which has brought the Imperial Family much closer to the general public, that ever before
Their Majesties have visited all 47 prefectures and many of the remote islands of Japan. There are at least three domestic trips that they make annually. These include attending the National Sports Festival, the National Arbour Day Festival and the Cherished Sea Festival. All three are held in different prefectures, on a rotational basis. Especially concerned about welfare, they have visited more than 450 facilities for children, the elderly and the handicapped throughout the country.
They also visit areas struck by major natural disasters, to console the victims and to provide support to the rescue workers. In January 1995, they flew to Hyogo Prefecture after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake as soon as local conditions made it possible. On the day of the trip, they visited the disaster area from early in the morning until late in the evening. In addition, they always follow up on the situation in the disaster areas until full recovery is confirmed. In 2001, they returned to the area to inspect the state of the recovery of the area affected by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake of 1995.
Following in his father's footsteps, the Emperor has taken a keen interest in marine biology and to date has published a total of 30 scientific papers and was one of the nineteen contributors to The Fishes of the Japanese Archipelago, first published in 1984, with an English edition in 2002. This was the first illustrated book to cover all the fish found in Japanese waters.[2]
Although the Emperor underwent treatment for prostrate cancer in 2003 [3], he remains healthy and almost every day, the Emperor and Empress take early morning walks in the Palace woods and gardens. On weekends, time permitting, they play tennis, their favourite sport.
External links
- Emperor Akihito NNDB.
References
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