In Japan, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko have paid what will probably be their last visit to the Fukushima Prefecture before the Emperor’s abdication on health grounds. Whilst there, the Imperial Couple undertook engagements including national tree-planting festival in Minamisoma. The event is one of three festivals, which are attended by the couple and that rotate around the prefectures…
Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan used his 25th wedding anniversary toreaffirm his commitment to his future role as ceremonial head of state, on Saturday.
He publically pledged to uphold the country’s royal traditions upon taking the throne.The 58-year-old…
The Japanese Government are considering announcing the name of the new era in Japan next February or later, due to concerns about the process of succession following Emperor Akihito’s abdication.
The announcement of the gengo era name, which will be used when the Crown…
King and Queen of Sweden greeted by Emperor and Empress of Japan in official welcome to country
24th April 2018
As their visit officially kicked off yesterday, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden were formally welcomed by Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan at the Museum Intermediate Theater in Tokyo in the morning. They were then taken on a guided tour of the exhibition “The Art of Natural Science.”
The Swedish Royal Court explained that the four royals were able to…
Emperor Akihito’s April 2019 abdication ceremony to be state occasion
22nd February 2018
The abdication ceremony of Emperor Akihito in April 2019 will be a state occasion. The Japanese government made the announcement on Tuesday, 20 February.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga headed the panel which decided to also have a ceremony at the National Theater in…
Basic plan for Japanese Imperial succession to be compiled by March
12th January 2018
A basic plan for Emperor Akihito’s abdication is to be compiled by March. The plan will have information on the ceremonies due to take place before his abdication as well as ceremonies related to the accession of Crown Prince Naruhito.
Yoshihide Suga, the Chief Cabinet…
The Japanese Imperial Family has released three new photos to mark the new year. The images show the senior members of the family: Emperor Akihito and his wife Empress Michiko, Crown Prince Naruhito, his wife Crown Princess Masako and their daughter Aiko, Princess Toshi, the Emperor’s second son Fumihito, Prince Akishino, his wife Kiko, Princess Akishino and their children Princess Mako…
The Emperor of Japan, Akihito, was greeted by tens of thousands outside the Imperial Palace who had gathered to hear his New Year’s speech.
The New Year’s speech is one of two events in which the Imperial Palace is open to the public. The other day is on the…
Poetry and monarchy very often go hand in hand. Whether it is King Edward III offering patronage to Geoffrey Chaucer, or King David of Israel being said to have written a number of Psalms found in the Bible, there is a strong mutual history between the two. Japanese…
Emperor Akihito not to perform Ritual Ceremonies of the Imperial Palace after abdication
31st December 2017
The Imperial Household Agency in Japan has announced that Emperor Akihito will not perform the Ritual Ceremonies of the Imperial Palace after his abdication 30 April 2019 at the age of 85. These ceremonies are held at the three different Imperial Palace Sanctuaries in Japan.
The ritual ceremonies, of which approximately 20 are performed per year, are “religious rites to pray for the peace…
