Incoming Imperial monarchs offer Japan something new
Crown Prince Naruhito and his wife, Crown Princess Masako, represent a lot of firsts for the nation's next Imperial monarchs: university-educated, multilingual and with years of experience living overseas, during which the monarch-to-be even did his own laundry. As they prepare to carve out identities ...
Japan's peaceful Heisei Era leaves legacy of change, growth and tragedy
Emperor Akihito's abdication Tuesday will end the three-decade Heisei Era that began on Jan. 8, 1989, a day after he inherited the throne upon the death of his father, Emperor Showa. During his rein, Japan struggled with economic stagnation and was hit by several natural ...
Reiwa Era to open in wake of decades of tumultuous economic change in Japan
The Heisei Era began three decades ago with Emperor Akihito ascending the throne near the zenith of one of the biggest stock market bubbles in history. It's been punctuated by the triple hit of an earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown, the fall of tech ...
Emperor Akihito’s abdication, one of several ceremonies marking the transition to his heir, Crown Prince Naruhito, will be a brief, relatively simple and rare event.
Emperor Akihito performs last official duty outside Imperial Palace ahead of abdication
Emperor Akihito took part in an award ceremony in Tokyo on Friday, in what was likely his last official duty outside the Imperial Palace ahead of his abdication next week. He appeared at the ceremony held by the Cabinet Office to present the Midori Prize, ...
Security to be tightened in central Tokyo in preparation for Reiwa Era celebrations
Thousands of police officers will be deployed next week to enhance security in central Tokyo, as areas surrounding the Imperial Palace are expected to overflow with people celebrating the beginning of the new era on May 1. Extra security measures to tackle potential threats and ...
Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited the tomb of Emperor Showa in Hachioji, western Tokyo, on Tuesday for an official ceremony to mark the Emperor's abdication on April 30. The visit to his father's mausoleum in the Musashino Imperial Graveyard is among the 11 ceremonies ...
Kōshitsu yōgo: Terminology that's fit for an Emperor
With the Emperor's abdication approaching you may be hearing some interesting Japanese vocabulary that is used only on royal occasions.
The government needs to figure out how to ensure stable Imperial succession amid a dearth of male heirs.
Japan's Imperial couple return to Tokyo after last trip outside capital before Emperor's abdication
Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko returned to Tokyo on Friday after a three-day trip to Mie Prefecture for ceremonies at the Grand Shrines of Ise, where the Emperor reported his abdication set for April 30. About 60,000 people gathered along roads and railway tracks and ...
Academics who have interacted with Emperor Akihito, a keen marine biologist, during his visits to Britain have paid tribute to the monarch and offered warm wishes ahead of his abdication at the end of this month. The Emperor has long-established links with scientific communities in ...
Emperor Akihito visits Grand Shrines of Ise to report his April 30 abdication to ancestral deities
Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited the Grand Shrines of Ise in Mie Prefecture on Thursday to report his upcoming abdication to the ancestral deities of the Imperial family enshrined there. The couple have been on a three-day trip to Mie Prefecture since Wednesday. It ...
