As 2019 comes to a close, we taking a look back at the Japanese royal year that was dominated by the abdication of Emperor Akihito and enthronement of their new emperor, Naruhito.
January:
Emperor Akihito delivers final New Year’s address
Princess Mako’s fiancé says financial problems solved
February:
New titles for the Japanese Emperor and Empress are revealed for after…
Emperor Emeritus Akihito celebrates first birthday since abdication
23rd December 2019
Emperor Emeritus Akihito has celebrated his first birthday since abdicating the throne in favour of his elder son, Naruhito, earlier this year.
Akihito turned 86 today, and for the first time in decades, the day is not a national holiday. While he was on the throne, his…
Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko visit memorial for war dead in Okinawa
18th December 2019
Crown Prince Akishino of Japan and his wife, Crown Princess Kiko visited the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman in the Okinawa Prefecture to lay flowers at the National Okinawa War Dead Mausoleum.
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess were joined by many bereaved family members…
The Imperial Household has announced that Empress Emerita Michiko of Japan has been in poor health since September.
According to the statement, she has been vomiting multiple times a day and has been losing weight. They say that stress is most likely a factor.
The former Empress of Japan underwent breast cancer surgery in September. She will not undergo radiation therapy because it is…
Two nieces of Emperor Naruhito of Japan attended a charity screening of the worldwide hit movie ‘Frozen 2’ held on 10 December. The event was hosted by Mainichi Newspapers Co at Toho Cinemas Roppongi Hills in Tokyo. Funds raised from the screening will be donated…
Crown Prince of Japan urges his daughter to update Japanese people regarding her wedding
1st December 2019
The Crown Prince of Japan, Akishino, has urged his eldest child and older daughter, Princess Mako, to update the Japanese public regarding engagement and postponed wedding to Kei Komuro.
His Imperial Highness said, “This coming February marks two years [since the…
The Japanese Imperial family may be expanded and this by a new law, not by newborn royals or marriage. This was first reported by “The Japan Times” following a new proposal by the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan. They propose to let some ex-imperial family members back into the family.
A conservative group within the Liberal Democratic Party has submitted a proposal to Prime…
Some in Japanese government calling for women to head their own imperial family branches
19th November 2019
Some in the Japanese government are now calling for women to head their own imperial family branches, and the government is set to start talks about just that.
The Japanese Imperial Family continues to shrink as female members marry; female royals who marry commoners must…
Ayako Moriya, formerly Princess Ayako of Takamado, has given birth to a healthy baby boy. The baby boy was born earlier this morning at 7 A.M. at the Aiiku Hospital in Tokyo. According to the Imperial Household Agency, both mother and child are doing well.
Princess Ayako…
Emperor Naruhito spends the night with sun goddess as final part of enthronement ritual
15th November 2019
On Thursday night, Emperor Naruhito took part in the final accession ritual after ascending the throne on 1 May, the day after his father, Emperor Akihito (the now Emperor Emeritus) abdicated.
The Emperor took part in a ritual feast with the sun goddess, Shinto deity Amaterasu, in the Imperial Palace’s Daijokyu Halls; the ritual is called the “Daijosai” or “rite of…
