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Akihito

Emperor of Japan from 1989 to 2019

Emperor of Japan from 1989 to 2019

FieldValue
nameAkihito
{{native nameja明仁italicsnoparen=omit}}
imageEmperor Akihito (2016).jpg
captionAkihito in 2016
successionEmperor of Japan
reign7 January 1989 – 30 April 2019
coronation12 November 1990
cor-typeJapan
predecessorHirohito
successorNaruhito
spouse
issue{{plain list
era nameHeisei
era dates
8 January 1989 – 30 April 2019
royal houseImperial House of Japan
fatherEmperor Shōwa
motherPrincess Nagako Kuni
birth_nameAkihito, Prince Tsugu
(継宮明仁親王)
birth_date
birth_placeImperial Palace, Tokyo, Japan
religionShinto
signature[[File:Heisei shomei.svgclass=skin-invert35px]]

| ja | cor-type = Japan

  • Naruhito, Emperor of Japan
  • Fumihito, Crown Prince of Japan
  • Sayako Kuroda 8 January 1989 – 30 April 2019 (継宮明仁親王) Akihito (born 23 December 1933) is a member of the Imperial House of Japan who reigned as the 125th emperor of Japan from 7 January 1989 until his abdication on 30 April 2019. The era of his rule was named the Heisei era, Heisei being an expression of achieving peace worldwide.

Akihito was born as the fifth child and first son of Emperor Hirohito and Empress Kōjun. During the Second World War, he moved out of Tokyo with his classmates and remained in Nikkō until the surrender of Japan. In 1952, his Coming-of-Age ceremony and investiture as crown prince were held, and he began to undertake official duties in his capacity as crown prince. The next year, he made his first journey overseas and represented Japan at the coronation of Elizabeth II in London. He completed his university education in 1956. In April 1959, he married Michiko Shōda, a commoner; it was the first imperial wedding to be televised in Japan, drawing about 15 million viewers. The couple has three children: Naruhito, Fumihito, and Sayako.

Akihito succeeded to the Chrysanthemum Throne and became emperor upon his father's death in January 1989, with an enthronement ceremony in 1990. He made efforts to bring the Japanese imperial family closer to the Japanese people, and made official visits to all forty-seven prefectures of Japan and to many of the remote islands of Japan. He has a keen interest in natural life and conservation, as well as Japanese and world history. Akihito abdicated in 2019, citing his advanced age and declining health, and assumed the title Emperor Emeritus. He was succeeded by his elder son, Naruhito, whose era is named Reiwa. At age , Akihito is the longest-lived verifiable Japanese emperor in recorded history. During his reign, 17 prime ministers served in 25 terms, beginning with Noboru Takeshita and ending with Shinzo Abe. He is the oldest living member of the Imperial House of Japan, following the death of Yuriko, Princess Mikasa on 15 November 2024.

Name

During his reign, Akihito was never referred to by his own name, but instead as "His Majesty the Emperor" which may be shortened to "the Emperor" or "His Majesty". The era of Akihito's reign from 1989 to 2019 bore the era name Heisei, and according to custom he will be posthumously renamed Emperor Heisei as the 125th emperor of Japan by order of the Cabinet.

Following his abdication, he is referred to by the title of , officially translated as "Emperor Emeritus".

Early life and education

Prince Akihito was born on 23 December 1933 at 6:39 am in the Tokyo Imperial Palace as the fifth child and eldest son of Emperor Hirohito and Empress Kōjun. Titled Prince Tsugu as a child, Akihito was educated by private tutors prior to attending the elementary and secondary departments of the Peers' School (Gakushūin) from 1940 to 1952. At the request of his father, he did not receive a commission as an army officer, unlike his predecessors.

Akihito being invested as Crown Prince, 1952

During the American firebombing raids on Tokyo in March 1945 during World War II, Akihito and his younger brother Prince Masahito were evacuated from the city. Akihito was tutored in the English language and Western manners by Elizabeth Gray Vining during the Allied occupation of Japan, and later briefly studied at the department of political science at Gakushuin University in Tokyo, though he never received a degree.

Akihito was the heir apparent to the Chrysanthemum Throne from birth. His formal investiture as crown prince took place at the Tokyo Imperial Palace on 10 November 1952. In June 1953, Akihito represented Japan at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in London on his first journey abroad. He later completed his university education as a special student in 1956.

Marriage and family

A Japanese stamp commemorating the imperial wedding, 1959

In August 1957, Akihito met Michiko Shōda on a tennis court at Karuizawa near Nagano. Initially, there was little enthusiasm for the couple's relationship; Michiko Shōda was considered too low class for the young Crown Prince and had been educated in a Catholic environment. Therefore, in September 1958, she was sent away to Brussels to attend an international conference of the Alumnae du Sacré-Cœur. The Crown Prince was determined to keep in contact with his girlfriend but did not want to create a diplomatic incident. Therefore, he contacted the young King Baudouin of Belgium to send his messages directly to his loved one. Baudouin later negotiated the marriage of the couple with the Emperor, directly stating that if the Crown Prince was happy with Michiko, he would be a better emperor later on.

The Imperial Household Council formally approved the engagement of the Crown Prince to Michiko Shōda on 27 November 1958. The announcement of the then-Crown Prince Akihito's engagement and forthcoming marriage to Michiko Shōda drew opposition from traditionalist groups, because Shōda was from a Catholic family. Although she was never baptized, she had been educated in Catholic schools and seemed to share her parents' faith. Rumours also speculated that Prince Akihito's mother, Empress Kōjun had opposed the engagement. After the death of Empress Kōjun on 16 June 2000, Reuters reported that she was one of the strongest opponents of her son's marriage, and that in the 1960s, she had driven her daughter-in-law and grandchildren to depression by persistently accusing Shōda of not being suitable for her son. At that time, the media presented their encounter as a real "fairy tale", or the "romance of the tennis court". It was the first time a commoner had married into the Imperial Family, breaking more than 2,600 years of tradition. The engagement ceremony took place on 14 January 1959, and the marriage on 10 April 1959.

The couple have three children (two sons and a daughter):

  1. Naruhito, Prince Hiro
  2. Fumihito, Prince Aya
  3. Sayako, Princess Nori, following her marriage to urban designer Yoshiki Kuroda on 15 November 2005, Princess Nori gave up her imperial title and left the Imperial Family as required by 1947 Imperial Household Law, took the surname of her husband and became known as "Sayako Kuroda".

Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko made official visits to thirty-seven countries. As an Imperial Prince, Akihito compared the role of Japanese royalty to that of a robot. He expressed the desire to help bring the Imperial family closer to the people of Japan.

Reign

Upon the death of Emperor Hirohito on 7 January 1989, Akihito acceded to the throne, becoming the 125th Emperor of Japan. Owing to his father being the longest-reigning emperor in Japanese history, Akihito was the third oldest to ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne in history; he was 55 years old at the time. The enthronement ceremony took place on 12 November 1990. In 1998, during a state visit to the United Kingdom, he was invested with the Order of the Garter.

Following his accession, he began issuing several wide-ranging statements of remorse to Asian countries, for their suffering under Japanese occupation, beginning with an expression of remorse to China made in April 1989, three months after the death of his father, Emperor Hirohito. In October 1992, Akihito visited China, the first visit to China by a Japanese emperor. The visit marked a significant improvement in the China–Japan relationship.

On 23 December 2001, during his annual birthday meeting with reporters, the Emperor, in response to a reporter's question about tensions with South Korea, remarked that he felt a kinship with Koreans and went on to explain that, in the Shoku Nihongi, the mother of Emperor Kammu (736–806) is related to Muryeong of Korea, King of Baekje, a fact that was considered taboo for discussion.

In June 2005, the Emperor and Empress visited the island of Saipan (part of the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory), the site of a battle in 1944 during World War II. Akihito offered prayers and flowers at several memorials, honouring not only the Japanese who died, but also American servicemen, Korean labourers, and local islanders. It was the first trip by a Japanese monarch to a World War II battlefield abroad. The Saipan journey was received with high praise by the Japanese people, as were the Emperor's visits to war memorials in Tokyo, Hiroshima Prefecture, Nagasaki Prefecture and Okinawa Prefecture in 1995.

After succeeding to the throne, Akihito made an effort to bring the Imperial family closer to the Japanese people. He and Michiko made official visits to eighteen countries and to all forty-seven Japanese prefectures. Akihito has never visited Yasukuni Shrine, continuing his predecessor's boycott from 1978, due to its enshrinement of war criminals.

On 6 September 2006, the Emperor celebrated the birth of his first grandson, Prince Hisahito, the third child of the Emperor's younger son. Prince Hisahito was the first male heir born to the Japanese imperial family in 41 years (since his father Prince Akishino) and could avert the Japanese imperial succession crisis, as the only child of the Emperor's elder son, the then Crown Prince Naruhito, is his daughter, Princess Aiko, who is not eligible for the throne under Japan's male-only succession law. The birth of Prince Hisahito meant that proposed changes to the law to allow Aiko to ascend the throne were dropped.

In response to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami which also triggered the Fukushima nuclear accident, the Emperor made urging his people not to give up hope and to help each other.

Constitutional role

issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Abdication

Main article: Japanese imperial succession debate, 2019 Japanese imperial transition

On 13 July 2016, national broadcaster NHK reported that the then 82-year-old Emperor intended to abdicate in favour of his eldest son Crown Prince Naruhito within a few years, citing his age. An abdication within the Imperial Family had not occurred since Emperor Kōkaku in 1817. However, senior officials within the Imperial Household Agency denied that there was any official plan for the monarch to abdicate. Abdication by the Emperor required an amendment to the Imperial Household Law, which had no provisions for such a move. On 8 August 2016, the Emperor gave a rare televised address, where he emphasized his advanced age and declining health; this address was interpreted as an implication of his intention to abdicate.

On 19 May 2017, the bill that would allow Akihito to abdicate was issued by the Cabinet of Japan. On 8 June 2017, the National Diet passed it, whereupon it became known as the Emperor Abdication Law. This commenced government preparations to hand the position over to Naruhito. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced in December 2017 that Akihito's abdication would take place at the end of 30 April 2019, and that Naruhito would become the 126th Emperor as of 1 May 2019.

Post-abdication

On 19 March 2020, Akihito and his wife moved out of the Imperial Palace, marking their first public appearance since his abdication. On 31 March, they moved in to the Takanawa Residence.

In December 2021, Akihito celebrated his 88th birthday, making him the longest-living verifiable Japanese emperor in recorded history, ahead of his father. His daily routine is said to include morning and evening walks with his wife, reading and visits to an imperial biology institute.

In August 2023, Akihito and Michiko visited the tennis court where they first met and interacted with members of the organization responsible for its upkeep.

With the death of Princess Yuriko in November 2024, Akihito became the oldest living member of the Japanese imperial family.

Health

Emperor Akihito underwent surgery for prostate cancer on 14 January 2003. Later in 2011 he was admitted to hospital suffering from pneumonia. In February 2012, it was announced that the Emperor would be having a coronary examination; he underwent successful heart bypass surgery on 18 February 2012. In July 2018, he suffered from nausea and dizziness due to insufficient blood flow to his brain. In January 2020, he temporarily lost consciousness and collapsed at his residence, though "no abnormalities" were detected in his brain. He was diagnosed with heart failure in July 2022. In 2025, Akihito was diagnosed with myocardial ischemia and supraventricular tachycardia.

Children

The Emperor and Empress with their family, 2013

Akihito and Michiko have two sons and a daughter.

NameBirthMarriageChildrenDateSpouseNaruhito, Emperor of Japan
(Naruhito, Prince Hiro)Fumihito, Crown Prince of Japan
(Fumihito, Prince Aya)Sayako Kuroda
(Sayako, Princess Nori)
9 June 1993Masako OwadaAiko, Princess Toshi
29 June 1990Kiko Kawashima
15 November 2005Yoshiki Kuroda

Ichthyological research

In extension of his father's interest in marine biology, who published taxonomic works on the Hydrozoa, the Emperor Emeritus is a published ichthyological researcher, and has specialized in studies within the taxonomy of the family Gobiidae. He has written papers for scholarly journals such as Gene, Ichthyological Research, and the Japanese Journal of Ichthyology. He has also written papers about the history of science during the Edo and Meiji eras, which were published in Science and Nature. In 2005, a newly described goby was named Exyrias akihito in his honour, and in 2007 a genus Akihito of gobies native to Vanuatu also received his name. In 2021, the Imperial Household Agency announced Akihito had discovered two new species of goby fish. The discovery was catalogued in an English-language journal published by the Ichthyological Society of Japan.

In 1965, then-Crown Prince Akihito sent 50 Nile tilapia to Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej in response to a request for fish that could solve malnutrition issues in the country. The species has since become a major food source in Thailand and a major export.

  • JPN Member of the Ichthyological Society of Japan
  • GBR Foreign member of the Linnean Society of London (1980)
  • GBR Honorary member of the Linnean Society of London (1986)
  • AUS Research associate of the Australian Museum
  • GBR Honorary member of the Zoological Society of London (1992)
  • ARG Honorary member of the Research Institute for Natural Science of Argentina (1997)
  • SWE Honorary degree of the Uppsala University (2007)

Honours

CountryAwards
Kingdom of Afghanistan[[File:Order of the Sun (Afghanistan) - ribbon bar.gif60px]] Order of the Supreme Sun
Austria[[File:AUT Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria - 1st Class BAR.svg60px]] Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria, Grand Star
Bahrain[[File:Wisam al-Khalifa 1st class.gif60px]] Order of al-Khalifa, Collar
Belgium[[File:BEL - Order of Leopold - Grand Cordon bar.svg60px]] Order of Leopold, Grand Cordon
Botswana[[File:BWA Presidential Order of Botswana ribbon.svg60px]] Presidential Order
Brazil[[File:BRA - Order of the Southern Cross - Grand Cross BAR.svg60px]] National Order of the Southern Cross, Grand Collar
Bulgaria[[File:BUL Order Stara planina ribbon.svg60px]] Order of the Balkan Mountains, Grand Cross
Cambodia[[File:KHM Ordre Royal du Cambodge - Grand Croix BAR.svg60px]] Royal Order of Cambodia, Grand Cross
Cameroon[[File:Ordre de la Valeur (Cameroun) GC 2nd type ribbon.svg60px]] Order of Valour, Grand Cordon
Chile[[File:CHL Order of Merit of Chile - Grand Cross BAR.svg60px]] Order of the Merit of Chile, Collar
Colombia[[File:COL Order of Boyaca - Grand Cross BAR.svg60px]] Order of Boyaca, Grand Collar
Côte d'Ivoire[[File:Cote d'Ivoire Ordre national GC ribbon.svg60px]] National Order of the Ivory Coast, Grand Cross
Czech Republic[[File:CZE Rad Bileho Lva 3 tridy BAR.svg60px]] Order of the White Lion, Member 1st Class (Civil Division) with Collar
Denmark[[File:Order of the Elephant Ribbon bar.svg60px]] Order of the Elephant, Knight (8 August 1953)
Egypt[[File:EGY Order of the Nile - Grand Cordon BAR.svg60px]] Order of the Nile, Collar
Estonia[[File:EST Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana - 1st Class BAR.svg60px]] Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, The Collar of the Cross of Terra Mariana
Ethiopian Empire[[File:ETH Order of Solomon BAR.png60px]] Order of the Seal of Solomon, Grand Cordon (1960)
Finland[[File:FIN Order of the White Rose Grand Cross BAR.svg60px]] Order of the White Rose, Grand Cross with Collar
France[[File:Legion Honneur GC ribbon.svg60px]] National Order of the Legion of Honour, Grand Cross
The Gambia[[File:GAM Order of the Republic of the Gambia ribbon.svg60px]] Order of the Republic of the Gambia, Grand Commander
Germany[[File:GER Bundesverdienstkreuz 9 Sond des Grosskreuzes.svg60px]] Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, Grand Cross Special Class
Greece[[File:GRE Order Redeemer 1Class.svg60px]] Order of the Redeemer, Grand Cross
Hungary[[File:HUN Order of Merit of the Hungarian Rep 1class Collar BAR.svg60px]] Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary, Grand Cross with Chain
Iceland[[File:ISL Icelandic Order of the Falcon - Grand Cross BAR.png60px]] Order of the Falcon, Collar with Grand Cross Breast Star
Indonesia[[File:Bintang Republik Indonesia Adipurna rib.svg60px]] Star of the Republic of Indonesia, Member 1st Class (Adipurna) (31 January 1962)
Ireland[[File:Decoration without ribbon - en.svg60px]] Freedom of the City of Dublin, awarded by Lord Mayor of Dublin
Italy[[File:Cordone di gran Croce di Gran Cordone OMRI BAR.svg60px]] Order of Merit of the Republic, Knight Grand Cross with Collar
Jordan[[File:JOR Al-Hussein ibn Ali Order BAR.svg60px]] Order of al-Hussein bin Ali, Collar
Kazakhstan[[File:Ord.GoldenEagle-ribbon.gif60px]] Order of the Golden Eagle, Recipient
Kenya[[File:Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya.svg60px]] Order of the Golden Heart, Chief
Kuwait[[File:KUW Order of Mubarak the Great ribbon.svg60px]] Order of Mubarak the Great, Collar
Latvia[[File:LVA Order of the Three Stars - Commander BAR.svg60px]] Order of the Three Stars, Commander Grand Cross with Chain
Liberia[[File:Order of the Star of Africa (Liberia) - ribbon bar.png60px]] Order of the Star of Africa, Grand Cross
[[File:Order of the Pioneers of Liberia - ribbon bar.png60px]] Order of the Pioneers of Liberia, Grand Cordon
Lithuania[[File:LTU Order of Vytautas the Great with the Golden Chain BAR.png60px]] Order of Vytautas the Great, Golden Chain
Luxembourg[[File:Huisorde van de Gouden Leeuw van Nassau Ribbon.gif60px]] Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau, Knight
Malawi[[File:Ord.LionMalawi.gif60px]] Order of the Lion, Grand Commander
Malaysia[[File:MY Darjah Utama Seri Mahkota Negara (Crown of the Realm) - DMN.svg60px]] Most Exalted Order of the Crown of the Realm, Honorary Recipient
Mali[[File:Mali Ordre national du Mali GC ribbon.svg60px]] National Order of Mali, Grand Cordon
Mexico[[File:MEX Order of the Aztec Eagle 1Class BAR.png60px]] Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle, Collar
Morocco[[File:Ribbon Wissam al Mohamadi Morocco.png60px]] Order of Muhammad, Member Special Class
Nepal[[File:Order of Ojaswi Rajanya (Nepal) - ribbon.svg60px]] Order of the Benevolent Ruler, Member (19 April 1960)
[[File:King Birendra Investiture Medal 1975.svg60px]] King Birendra Investiture Medal (24 February 1975)
Netherlands[[File:Order of the Netherlands Lion ribbon - Knight Grand Cross.svg60px]] Order of the Netherlands Lion, Knight Grand Cross
Nigeria[[File:Order of the Federal Republic (civil) - Nigeria - ribbon bar.gif60px]] Order of the Federal Republic, Grand Commander
Norway[[File:Order Sint Olaf 1 kl.png60px]] Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav, Grand Cross with Collar (11 August 1953)
Oman[[File:Civil Order of Oman - First Class.png60px]] Order of Oman, Member 1st Class
Pakistan[[File:Nishan-e-Pakistan ribbon bar.svg60px]] Nishan-e-Pakistan, Member 1st Class
Panama[[File:PAN Order of Manuel Amador Guerrero - Grand Cross BAR.png60px]] Order of Manuel Amador Guerrero, Collar
Peru[[File:PER Order of the Sun of Peru - Grand Cross BAR.png60px]] Order of the Sun, Grand Cross with Diamonds
Philippines[[File:PHL Legion of Honor - Chief Commander BAR.png60px]] Philippine Legion of Honor, Chief Commander
[[File:PHL Order of Sikatuna - Grand Cross BAR.png60px]] Order of Sikatuna, Grand Collar (Raja)
[[File:PHI Order of Lakandula Grand Collar BAR.svg60px]] Order of Lakandula, Grand Collar
Poland[[File:POL Order Orła Białego BAR.svg60px]] Order of the White Eagle, Knight
Portugal[[File:PRT Order of Saint James of the Sword - Grand Collar BAR.png60px]] Military Order of Saint James of the Sword, Grand Collar (2 December 1993)
[[File:PRT Order of Prince Henry - Grand Collar BAR.svg60px]] Order of Prince Henry, Grand Collar (12 May 1998)
Qatar[[File:Order of Independence (Qatar) - ribbon bar.gif60px]] Collar of Independence
Saudi Arabia[[File:Decoration without ribbon - en.svg60px]] Badr Chain
Senegal[[File:SEN Order of the Lion - Grand Cross BAR.svg60px]] National Order of the Lion, Grand Cross
South Africa[[File:Ord.GoodHope-ribbon.gif60px]] Order of Good Hope, Grand Cross in Gold (4 July 1995)
Spain[[File:Order of the Golden Fleece ribbon bar.svg60px]] Distinguished Order of the Golden Fleece, Knight
[[File:ESP Charles III Order GC.svg60px]] Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Charles III, Grand Cross
[[File:Order of Charles III - Sash of Collar.svg60px]] Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Charles III, Collar
Sweden[[File:Seraphimerorden ribbon.svg60px]] Royal Order of the Seraphim, Knight
Thailand[[File:Order of the Rajamitrabhorn (Thailand) ribbon.svg60px]] Most Auspicious Order of the Rajamitrabhorn, Knight
[[File:Order of the Royal House of Chakri (Thailand) ribbon.svg60px]] Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri, Knight
[[File:King Rama IX 60th Accession to the Throne (Thailand) ribbon.svg60px]] King Bhumibol Adulyadej Diamond Jubilee Medal
Ukraine[[File:Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise 1st 2nd and 3rd Class of Ukraine.png60px]] Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, Member 1st Class
United Arab Emirates[[File:Ribbon bar of the Order of the Union (United Arab Emirates).svg60px]] Collar of the Federation
United Kingdom[[File:Order of the Garter UK ribbon.svg60px]] Most Noble Order of the Garter, Stranger Knight Companion (985th member; 1998)
[[File:UK Royal Victorian Order honorary member ribbon.svg60px]] Royal Victorian Order, Honorary Knight Grand Cross (1953)
[[File:UK Queen EII Coronation Medal ribbon.svg60px]] Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (2 June 1953)
FR Yugoslavia a[[File:Order of the Yugoslavian Great Star Rib.png61px]] Order of the Yugoslav Star, Yugoslav Great Star
Zaire b[[File:Ribbon bar of the National Order of the Leopard (Zaire).svg60px]] National Order of the Leopard, Grand Cordon

:a FR Yugoslavia split into Serbia and Montenegro. As of 2006 this order is аbolished. :b Zaire is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Other awards

  • The Royal Society King Charles II Medal
  • Golden Pheasant Award of the Scout Association of Japan (1971)

Overseas visits

The following tables include official visits jointly made by the Emperor and Empress from 1991 to 2017. Although Empress Michiko has made two official visits on her own, in 2002 (to Switzerland) and 2014 (to Belgium), they did not include the Emperor and are not included in this list.

1990s

DatesLocation(s)Details
26 September – 6 October 1991"To foster friendly relations at the invitation of Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia"
23–28 October 1992China"To foster friendly relations at the invitation of China"
6–9 August 1993BelgiumAttended the funeral of King Baudouin of Belgium.
3–19 September 1993"To foster friendly relations at the invitation of Italy, Belgium and Germany"
10–26 June 1994United States"To foster friendly relations at the invitation of the United States"
2–14 October 1994"To foster friendly relations at the invitation of France and Spain"
30 May – 13 June 1997"To foster friendly relations at the invitation of Brazil and Argentina"
23 May – 5 June 1998"To foster friendly relations at the invitation of the United Kingdom and Denmark"

2000s

DatesLocation(s)Details
20 May – 1 June 2000"To foster friendly relations at the invitation of the Netherlands and Sweden"
6–20 July 2002"To foster friendly relations at the invitation of Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary"
7–14 May 2005Norway"To foster friendly relations at the invitation of Norway"
27–28 June 2005United StatesCommemorations of the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II.
8–15 June 2006Commemorations of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Singapore; attended the 60th anniversary celebrations of the accession to the throne of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand.
21–30 May 2007Invited by Sweden and the United Kingdom to mark the 300th birth anniversary of Carl von Linné as an honorary member of the Linnean Society; invited by Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to conduct a state visit.
3–14 July 2009Canada"To foster friendly relations at the invitation of Canada"
15–17 July 2009United StatesVisited Hawaii to mark the 50th anniversary of the Crown Prince Akihito Scholarship Foundation.

2010s

DatesLocation(s)Details
16–20 May 2012United KingdomAttended a luncheon hosted by Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee.
30 November – 6 December 2013India"To foster friendly relations at the invitation of India"
8–9 April 2015PalauCommemorations of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.
26–30 January 2016Philippines"To foster friendly relations on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations at the invitation of the Philippines"
28 February – 6 March 2017Vietnam"To foster friendly relations at the invitation of Vietnam"
5–6 March 2017ThailandMet with King Vajiralongkorn and paid respect to the remains of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Ancestry

Patrilineal descent

Akihito's patriline is the line from which he is descended father to son.

Patrilineal descent is the principle behind membership in royal houses, as it can be traced back through the generations, which means that Akihito is a member of the Imperial House of Japan.

;Imperial House of Japan

  1. Descent prior to Keitai is unclear to modern historians, but traditionally traced back patrilineally to Emperor Jimmu
  2. Emperor Keitai, ca. 450–534
  3. Emperor Kinmei, 509–571
  4. Emperor Bidatsu, 538–585
  5. Prince Oshisaka, ca. 556–???
  6. Emperor Jomei, 593–641
  7. Emperor Tenji, 626–671
  8. Prince Shiki, ???–716
  9. Emperor Kōnin, 709–786
  10. Emperor Kanmu, 737–806
  11. Emperor Saga, 786–842
  12. Emperor Ninmyō, 810–850
  13. Emperor Kōkō, 830–867
  14. Emperor Uda, 867–931
  15. Emperor Daigo, 885–930
  16. Emperor Murakami, 926–967
  17. Emperor En'yū, 959–991
  18. Emperor Ichijō, 980–1011
  19. Emperor Go-Suzaku, 1009–1045
  20. Emperor Go-Sanjō, 1034–1073
  21. Emperor Shirakawa, 1053–1129
  22. Emperor Horikawa, 1079–1107
  23. Emperor Toba, 1103–1156
  24. Emperor Go-Shirakawa, 1127–1192
  25. Emperor Takakura, 1161–1181
  26. Emperor Go-Toba, 1180–1239
  27. Emperor Tsuchimikado, 1196–1231
  28. Emperor Go-Saga, 1220–1272
  29. Emperor Go-Fukakusa, 1243–1304
  30. Emperor Fushimi, 1265–1317
  31. Emperor Go-Fushimi, 1288–1336
  32. Emperor Kōgon, 1313–1364
  33. Emperor Sukō, 1334–1398
  34. Prince Yoshihito Fushimi, 1351–1416
  35. Prince Sadafusa Fushimi, 1372–1456
  36. Emperor Go-Hanazono, 1419–1471
  37. Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado, 1442–1500
  38. Emperor Go-Kashiwabara, 1464–1526
  39. Emperor Go-Nara, 1495–1557
  40. Emperor Ōgimachi, 1517–1593
  41. Prince Masahito, 1552–1586
  42. Emperor Go-Yōzei, 1572–1617
  43. Emperor Go-Mizunoo, 1596–1680
  44. Emperor Reigen, 1654–1732
  45. Emperor Higashiyama, 1675–1710
  46. Prince Naohito Kanin, 1704–1753
  47. Prince Sukehito Kanin, 1733–1794
  48. Emperor Kōkaku, 1771–1840
  49. Emperor Ninkō, 1800–1846
  50. Emperor Kōmei, 1831–1867
  51. Emperor Meiji, 1852–1912
  52. Emperor Taishō, 1879–1926
  53. Emperor Hirohito, 1901–1989
  54. Emperor Akihito, b. 1933

Notes

References

References

  1. (10 February 1989). "Speeches by the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister at the National Diet". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
  2. (2009-04-09). "Imperial marriage created bond with people". [[The Japan Times]].
  3. Enjoji, Kaori. (1 December 2017). "Japan Emperor Akihito to abdicate on April 30, 2019". [[CNN]].
  4. (2019-04-30). "天皇陛下きょう退位 平成、30年余りで幕".
  5. (2019-02-25). "Japan emperor to be addressed with "emeritus" after abdication".
  6. (21 September 1988). "The Princeton Companion to Classical Japanese Literature". Princeton University Press.
  7. (14 April 2017). "Government panel outlines proposals on Emperor's abdication, titles".
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