Emperor Akihito & Empress Michiko Current Events Part 3: February 2013 - April 2017


If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
See posts with no answers
Status
Not open for further replies.
You're welcome!

Yes, Mr. Taro Aso remains the finance minister. Actually, Ms. Inada Tomomi is the second woman to be appointed Minister of Defense. Yuriko Koike (now first woman Governor of Tokyo) was appointed to the defense post in 2007 but resigned a month later. Ms. Inada is seen as Abe's successor as Prime Minister.

More about Inada Tomomi (Yikes :ermm:):
Japan's new defence minister ducks questions on war aggression, Nanjing massacre, East Asia News & Top Stories - The Straits Times
Abe Protégé With Nationalist Views Is Japan’s New Defense Minister - WSJ
 
Ms Inada is viewed as Prime Minister Abe's successor ..? :huh::huh::huh::huh: That is news to me. I thought Ms Inada is a token female in the cabinet. Ms Inada comes across as a determined person. It is remains to be seen if she is tough enough to deal with the military top brass.

On a different note ... it is nice to know that Japanese ladies can reach high positions in civil service. I do hope Prime Minister Abe will succeed in jump-starting the Japanese economy.
 
Last edited:
Yes, it's news to me too. I'm not familiar with Japanese politics but it was mentioned in another article.
Indeed it's great more women are in higher positions and I bet Prime Minister Abe would rather focus on the economy than the abdication...
 
It's news to me as well. I visited Japan several times in the 80s and early 90s. At that time it was very much a man's world. I had no idea women were gaining such high positions. It's great to see.
 
Mr. Aso is also the deputy prime minister.

There are several speculative contenders to succeed Mr. Abe, including Ms. Inada, whom Mr. Abe called "an extremely promising candidate for prime minister".

Picks fuel speculation over Abe's successor / Competition between 3 rivals may be intended - The Japan News

Three out of the 19 members of the Cabinet are women, and women make up 9.5% of the House of Representatives: "According to a survey conducted by the Geneva-based Inter-Parliamentary Union last year, the Japanese lower house's ratio of women to men comes in at an abysmal 154th out of 190 countries worldwide, making Japan the poorest performer among the G-7 states in terms of gender equality."

Editorial: Proposal to boost ratio of female lawmakers worth serious consideration - The Mainichi
 
Last edited:
On August 9th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko held a moment of silence at the Imperial Palace for the anniversary of the Nagasaki atomic bombing.
That afternoon, Empress Michiko visited Princess Hanako who was discharged from the hospital on the 7th. The princess had hip replacement surgery.

Source: page 1 of Sankei Imperial weekly 8/13
On 10th August, HM Emperor Akihito attended the Ceremony of the Presentation of Credentials of Republic of Korea and United Republic of Tanzania took place at Imperial Palace.
Click to expand...
From: https://imperialfamilyjapan.wordpress.com/2016/08/10/presentation-of-credentials/
 
On August 15th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko attended the national memorial service for the 71st anniversary of the end of WWII.
Emperor Akihito on Monday expressed “deep remorse” over World War II during the annual commemoration service at Nippon Budokan Hall in Tokyo, marking 71 years since the end of the war.

The Emperor’s speech contrasted with the more ambiguous phrasing used by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

In his speech, Abe pledged that “we shall never again repeat the horrors of war” and underscored that Japan has not waged war for more than seven decades.

But Abe stopped short of mentioning Japan’s wartime aggression overseas and omitted any mention of “remorse.”
Click to expand...

Rest of article: Emperor expresses 'deep remorse' for war on 71st anniversary of surrender; Abe does not | The Japan Times

Photos at Mainichi, Asahi, Jiji
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JRgd_pYsyc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N8OnRTQDZ0
 
Last edited:
That pretty much illustrates the fundamental difference between the Emperor and the nationalists:

Emperor Akihito is mindful of the atrocities committed by Japan during WWII - and the devastating consequences for Japan. In order to prevent it from happening again.

The PM, Abe, is keen for Japan not ending up being bombed to rubble once more. There were some minor incidents in China in particular... but the most tragic thing was that Japan was bombed.

- Considering that the current legislation prevents Japan from taking pro-active measures against North Korea, even in the face of a clear threat, the PM does have a point in dealing with the pacifist Constitution. But offering apologies for WWII? Nah.
 
Last edited:
Thank you for posting that article, Prisma.

Abe, Emperor vow not to repeat horrors of war on 71st anniv. of Japan's surrender - The Mainichi

Since Emperor Akihito ascended the Imperial Throne in 1989, every year, he has given an address at the national ceremony to honor the war dead. He gave the same speech every year between 2001 and 2014, but in his address on Aug. 15, 2015, the 70th anniversary of Japan's defeat, he spoke about "feelings of deep remorse over the last war" for the first time. The expression that "our country today enjoys peace and prosperity, thanks to the ceaseless efforts made by the people of Japan towards recovery from the devastation of the war and towards development, always backed by their earnest desire for the continuation of peace" was also included in that speech. Much of the address given by the Emperor this year overlapped with the speeches he gave up until 2014, but he still employed the phrase "feelings of deep remorse" that was introduced into his address last year.
Click to expand...
 
On August 20th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko departed for their retreat to Gunma and Nagano Prefectures and will return on the 30th. However, they will visit the Shinshu University Faculty of Textile Science in Ueda, Nagano in the afternoon of the 20th and the Kasaharakogyo Tsuneda Museum Silk Mill on August 23rd.

Source: Mainichi

ETA: Getty Images, Asahi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A4mLpiJ7tM
 
Last edited:
On August 23rd, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited the Kasaharakogyo Tsuneda Museum, "Tsuneda Museum Silk Mill” in Ueda, Nagano Prefecture. The silk spinning factory was founded in 1900 and has been designated an important cultural property. The Imperial couple toured the 5-story wooden warehouse dating back to 1905. The Empress has deep knowledge of sericulture, which is inherited history from Empresses since the Meiji era. The couple’s retreat will continue at Kusatsu, Gunma Prefecture from August 27-30th.

Photos/info at: Asahi, Sankei, and Mainichi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4WyYorRuw0
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: eya
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: eya
Typhoon No. 10 has caused major damage and deaths in Hokkaido and Iwate Prefectures. Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko conveyed their sympathies to the prefectures' governors through the court chamberlain on August 31st. 11 people have been killed, including 9 at an elderly facility. A man in a vehicle in Taiki, Hokkaido went missing after being swept away.
Source: Asahi
Floods kill 9 at Iwate elderly facility - The Japan News

The IHA announced the Imperial couple will travel to Iwate Prefecture September 28 to October 2 to attend the National Sports Festival and inspect the reconstruction situation from the Great East Japan Earthquake in Otsuchi and Yamada.
Source: Asahi, Mainichi
 
.

Emperor Akihito met with Saudi Arabian Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo today, September 1st:


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 **
 
During the meeting with Deputy Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman, Emperor Akihito thanked Saudi Arabia's support after the Great East Japan Earthquake. They also discussed the Emperor's memories of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation where he was seated next to King Fahd.

Source: Sankei Imperial Weekly #450 page 3
On 2nd September, HM Emperor Akihito and HM Empress Michiko attended the reception to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of The Illuminating Engineering Institute of Japan took place in Tokyo.
Click to expand...
Photo: https://imperialfamilyjapan.wordpress.com/2016/09/02/illuminating-engineering-institute/
 
Emperor Akihito and Empress are visiting Yamagata Prefecture September 10-12th. Their agenda includes:
  • Kano Aquarium in Tsuruoka and welcome reception
  • 36th National Development of an Abundantly Productive Sea convention in Sakata
  • Nezugaseki Port of Tsuruoka
  • Tsuruoka Matsugaoka reclamation field
Photos/info for day 1: Sankei, Yomiuri, Asahi 1, Asahi 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3lMIeVqhOY
 
Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko attended the 36th "National Development of an Abundantly Productive Sea convention" in Sakata. Afterward, they took a special train with the chrysanthemum emblem to Nezugaseki Port where the Emperor released flounder and black sea bream; the Empress released fry of flatfish and tiger puffer into the harbor.

Mainichi, Asahi gallery

The train staff at Sakata Station waiting for the Imperial couple:
https://twitter.com/shimaykkkt/status/774833409201872897

The Imperial couple waving from the special train:
https://twitter.com/ukkaritetu/status/774842839612043264
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rUIQEM5gAs
 
Last edited:
The Imperial couple visited Matsugaoka reclamation field on September 12th. During the Meiji Restoration, former samurai of the Shonai domain used the area for sericulture and it has been designated a national historic site.

Photos: Asahi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj6NduB_6TU
 
  • Like
Reactions: eya
On September 12th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko gave a solatium to Hokkaido and Iwatre Prefectures for damages caused by Typhoon no. 10. Nomura Zenshi* of the IHA delivered the payment to each prefecture's Tokyo office.

* Google translates Nomura Zenshi's title as "Deputy Director" in the Mainichi article whereas his title is "Secretary Deputy Director-General" in the Sankei translation.

Source: Mainichi, Sankei

On September 14th, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga announced plans for the Imperial couple to visit Vietnam, possibly next spring.

Sources: Sankei
Japanese emperor, empress mulling Vietnam trip as soon as next spring- Nikkei Asian Review
 
On September 26th, Emperor Akihito attended the opening of the 192nd Diet session. His speech at the IHA site.

Getty Images

Arrival and departure:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONRrNRM4edo

On September 27th, the Imperial couple hosted a private lunch for Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong and his wife.

Emperor Akihito hosts PM Lee Hsien Loong to lunch, East Asia News & Top Stories - The Straits Times
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibR68_09gv8

ETA: The Imperial couple started their visit to Iwate Prefecture on the 28th. Besides attending the 71st National Sports Festival, they will inspect the reconstruction progress from the Great East Japan Earthquake. They will return to Tokyo on October 2nd.

Photo: Asahi 1

ETA2: The Imperial couple are staying at a Yukari hotel reopened after the earthquake+tsunami disaster as "Sanrikuhana hotel Nippon chrysanthemum". They met with people from their visit to Otsuchi 19 years ago. The governor gave the couple a progress report of the reconstruction situation, agricultural damage, and victims of typhoon No. 10.

Photos/info: Asahi 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPCmv6Vks1U
 
Last edited by a moderator:
A good article:
Imperial couple make nostalgic return to Iwate's 'Hotel Daisy' : The Asahi Shimbun

On September 29th, the Imperial couple visited a fish market and town hall in Otsuchi and a "town contact center" in Yamada. The market had been destroyed in the 2011 tsunami and earthquake but resumed partial operations that November. They also learned about freshwater fish "three-spined stickleback". In Yamada, junior and high school students spoke about the children's book corner at the town's contact center.

Photos/info: Asahi, Sankei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-jgYWKXVbU
 
Last edited:
Emperor's second research paper on Imperial Palace 'tanuki' published by museum | The Japan Times

Brazilian President Michel Temer is planning to visit Japan in mid-October for talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in what would be the first trip by the leader of the South American country in eight years, according to government sources.

Abe and Temer are expected to affirm cooperation for the success of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, drawing on the experience of Brazil hosting the Summer Games this year, as well as discuss how to boost economic cooperation, including the possible export of a nuclear plant, the sources said Tuesday.

Abe will likely push for expanded Japanese business operations in Brazil, which is home to the biggest overseas community of Japanese descendants and which hopes to attract foreign investment to spur its economy, which has been hit by a serious slump, the sources said.

[...]

During his stay in Japan, Temer will meet with Emperor Akihito and Finance Minister Taro Aso, the sources said.
Click to expand...
Brazil president to visit Japan in October | The Japan Times
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

iceflower
  • Sticky
The Imperial Family of Japan: Birthday and Anniversary Wishes 2024
Replies
4
Views
549
Blog Real
Blog Real
iceflower
Princess Caroline Current Events Part 4: January 2024 -
Replies
6
Views
3K
iceflower
iceflower
iceflower
King Frederik X, Current Events Part 1: January 2024 -
2 3
Replies
64
Views
8K
polyesco
P
iceflower
Queen Mary, Current Events Part 1: January 2024 -
2 3
Replies
71
Views
9K
Sister Morphine
Sister Morphine
iceflower
Prince Albert & Princess Charlene Current Events Part 6: January 2024 -
Replies
8
Views
3K
iceflower
iceflower

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom