International royalsJapan

Japan's Imperial couple return to Tokyo after last trip outside capital before Emperor's abdication

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20th April 2019
Emperor Akihito of Japan and his wife, Empress Michiko returned to Tokyo on Friday after a three-day trip to the Mie Prefecture. There were several ceremonies at the Grand Shrines of Ise where the Emperor reported his upcoming abdication. They arrived on Wednesday at the Kintetsu Railway Co.’s Ujiyamada Station in Ise to a crowd of about 3,500. A further 1,500 people took part in a lantern…
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International royalsJapan

The life of Empress Michiko

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17th April 2019
Michiko Shōda – the future Empress of Japan – was born on 20 October 1934 at the University of Tokyo Hospital. She was the daughter of Hidesaburō Shōda and Fumiko Soejima and was the second of four children. She received a solid education, a combination of…
JapanOpinion

Controversy surrounding the succession to the Imperial Throne of Japan

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15th April 2019
The Japanese Monarchy is the oldest monarchy in the world, and that becomes very clear from the moment you come across the succession law that governs it. We are now in 2019, and women are still not allowed to succeed to the Chrysanthemum Throne which is unacceptable in the world today where the principles of gender equality are so desperately important. The succession to the Chrysanthemum Throne…
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FeaturesJapan

Who is Empress Masako of Japan?

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14th April 2019
Born Masako Owada (orOwada Masako according to Asian naming customs where the family name is placed before the given name), she was born on 9 December 1963 in Tokyo’sToranomon Hospital toYumiko Egashira andHisashi Owada – the latter being…
Japan

Prince Hisahito enters junior high aiming "to lead a fulfilling student life"

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9th April 2019
Prince Hisahito of Akishino has begun his junior high education. The 12-year-old Prince attended the entrance ceremony on Monday alongside his parents, Fumihito, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko. The only grandson of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko is attending a junior high school affiliated with Ochanomizu University in Tokyo. Embed from Getty Images During the ceremony, His Imperial…
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Japan

Emperor of Japan continues with ceremonial rites ahead of abdication with visit to tomb of first emperor

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27th March 2019
Japan’s Emperor Akihito and his wife, Empress Michiko have paid a visit to the tomb of Japan’s supposed first emperor, Jimmu. This visit is part of 11 ceremonies and rites that take place ahead of the 85-year-old Emperor’s abdication at the end of next month. The visit took place on Tuesday when the imperial couple visited the Nara Prefecture’s mausoleum of the legendary…
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