Tag Archives: Emperor Akihito of Japan

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A New Imperial Portrait!

  May 22, 2018 at 10:35 am by

A new oil painting of Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan was revealed yesterday by the Imperial Household Agency. The painting, by 81 year old Hiroshi Noda, is square portrait measuring two metres by two metres and depicts Their Majesties standing formally side-by-side.  It uses muted tones, colour and light, with Emperor Akihito wearing a dark suit and tie, and Empress Michiko resplendent in full-length embroidered outfit and a … Continue reading →

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Japanese Imperial Family Attend New Year’s Lectures

  January 10, 2018 at 8:00 am by

Members of the Japanese Imperial Family attended the traditional New Year’s Lectures, Kousho Hajime, held at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Wednesday. Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko and the family listened to lectures by Professor Kazui Tashiro, Professor Naoyuki Osaka and Akira Fujishima, the President of the Tokyo University of Science, deliver lectures on topics relating to “human, social and natural sciences”. Crown Princess Masako was present at the event for the … Continue reading →

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Emperor Akihito Receives New Year’s Greetings From The Public

  January 2, 2018 at 4:40 pm by

On Tuesday January 2nd, Emperor Akihito of Japan received the well-wishes of the Japanese public on the occasion of the New Year from the balcony of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. The Emperor wished the crowd – which amounted to more than 125,000 over the course of the day – “that this year will prove a gentle and spiritually fulfilling one for as many people as possible.” He was joined … Continue reading →

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Imperial Family Gather For New Year’s Greetings at Palace

  January 1, 2018 at 7:20 am by

Adult members of the Japanese Imperial Family gathered at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Monday, January 1, for the annual New Year’s greetings delivered to Emperor Akihito. The Emperor and Empress led the festivities, where they received greetings for 2018 from the Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe; the heads of the National Diet chambers (the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors); lawmakers and foreign ambassadors listed to Japan. This … Continue reading →

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Emperor Akihito To Abdicate In April 2019

  December 1, 2017 at 5:42 am by

Following a meeting of the Imperial Household Council on Friday morning, the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, has announced that Emperor Akihito will abdicate the throne on April 30, 2019. His son, Crown Prince Naruhito, will succeed the throne the following day, May 1. Emperor Akihito, who will be 85 when his abdication comes around, announced his wish to abdicate in a video broadcast to the Japanese people in August 2016. … Continue reading →

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Luxembourg’s Grand Duke Begins State Visit to Japan

  November 27, 2017 at 7:04 pm by

Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg began a four-day state visit to Japan on Monday, accompanied by his daughter, Princess Alexandra. The visit’s purpose is to mark the 90th anniversary of bilateral relations between Luxembourg and Japan. The pair were welcomed at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo by Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, with whom they had a fifteen-minute audience after the Grand Duke reviewed the traditional military guard of honour … Continue reading →

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Emperor Akihito Meets With US President Trump At Imperial Palace

  November 6, 2017 at 9:12 am by

The Emperor and Empress of Japan today welcomed United States President Donald Trump to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo for an audience. Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko greeted the President and his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, outside the Palace entrance before the 20-minute long audience, during which the monarch and the President discussed the strong relationship between Japan and the United States that has been achieved in the years … Continue reading →

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Two Be(ne)lux State Visits Announced

  October 27, 2017 at 7:10 am by

Two Benelux State Visits have been announced yesterday. Both state visits will take place in November. King Philippe and Queen Mathilde will be visiting India from November 5th to 11th. The Belgian king and queen will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Didier Reynders and by the prime ministers of Belgium’s various regions and communities. The visit will focus mainly on New Delhi and Mumbai. The State Visit of the Grand … Continue reading →

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Abdication Law Approved By Japanese Parliament

  June 9, 2017 at 11:03 pm by

The Upper House of the Japanese Parliament on Friday approved a special law that will allow Emperor Akihito, 83, to abdicate within the next three years. It was the final step in granting the Emperor’s wish to retire, after he made his desire known in a television broadcast last August. It is expected the Emperor’s abdication will be set for December 2018, to coincide with his 85th birthday. It will … Continue reading →

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Japanese Government Approves Bill To Allow Emperor’s Abdication

  May 19, 2017 at 5:25 pm by

The Japanese Cabinet on Friday approved a bill that will allow Emperor Akihito to abdicate the throne. It will now be submitted to a full sitting of Parliament for final approval, which is is likely to receive as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has a majority. Emperor Akihito made his desire to abdicate public last August. Once the bill – which is specifically written to allow only the current Emperor to … Continue reading →

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Crown Princess Victoria Begins Japanese Visit With Imperial Audience

  April 18, 2017 at 8:58 am by

Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria has started a working visit to Japan today, in her role as an advocate of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. She spent time at the Tokyo Imperial Palace this afternoon having lunch and a private audience with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. Over the next few days, Victoria will have a number of engagements related to sustainable fishing practices. The Crown Princess looked stunning in the … Continue reading →

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Sayōnara Japan! King Felipe and Queen Letizia Finish State Visit

  April 7, 2017 at 3:02 pm by

On the final day of their state visit to Japan, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain travelled on a Shinkansen with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko to the city of Shizuoka. Here they visited the Shizuoka Prefecture Earthquake Disaster Prevention Centre to see technologies that are being used to improve the detection and response to earthquakes. The monarchs were shown the Seismic Effects Experimentation Area, witnessing a demonstration of a chair mechanised … Continue reading →

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Spanish Monarchs Begin State Visit to Japan

  April 5, 2017 at 8:13 pm by

The King and Queen of Spain officially began their state visit to Japan on Wednesday, with a traditional welcoming at the Tokyo Imperial Palace by Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe were also present at the welcoming. In the afternoon, King Felipe and Queen Letizia visited the National Museum of Science and Innovation to see projects that have been … Continue reading →

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Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko Pay Their Respects To Late Thai King

  March 5, 2017 at 7:52 pm by

After completing their official visit to Vietnam, the Emperor and Empress of Japan have paid a short visit to Thailand, to pay their respects to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko laid a wreath of flowers at the late King’s altar in the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall at the Grand Palace in Bangkok on Sunday, before signing the official condolence book. The late King and the Japanese … Continue reading →

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Emperor and Empress of Japan On Visit To Vietnam

  March 2, 2017 at 8:03 am by

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan began their official visit to Vietnam – the first of a Japanese monarch – this week, with a welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi attended by President Trần Đại Quang on Wednesday. The purpose of the visit is to promote goodwill between Japan and Vietnam. The Imperial Couple also laid a wreath at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the memorial monument to the first President … Continue reading →

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A Rest for the Emperor After Mild Fever

  January 30, 2017 at 4:44 am by

Emperor Akihito of Japan was unable to attend a ritual ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo this morning due to a mild fever. The Imperial Household Agency confirmed that His Imperial Majesty was given a flu shot at the weekend as a measure to prevent pneumonia. However, due to the nature of the inoculation, it may have caused his temperature to rise. The Agency added that there were no … Continue reading →

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Japan’s Emperor and Empress To Visit Vietnam and Thailand

  January 20, 2017 at 6:32 am by

The Emperor and Empress of Japan will be making their first official visit to Vietnam at the end of February, the Japanese Government has announced today. It is expected they will meet with top members of Vietnam’s Government, including President Trần Đại Quang, during the five-day visit, as well visit the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh. On March 5, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko will stop in Thailand before returning to Japan the … Continue reading →

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Imperial Family Attends New Year’s Lectures

  January 11, 2017 at 9:24 pm by

Emperor Akihito has led members of the Imperial Family during the annual Kosho Hajime no Gi (New Year’s Lectures) at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo today. Attending were the Empress, Crown Prince Naruhito, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, Princess Mako and Prince and Princess Hitachi. The family listened to three lectures from professors of the University of Tokyo and the Waseda University, on the topics of French literature, political science and … Continue reading →

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The Royal Year 2016: Top Ten Moments

  December 29, 2016 at 8:00 am by

2016 has come and gone in what seems to be the blink of an eye! Before we welcome 2017 this weekend, let’s take a quick look at our picks for the top 10 moments of the royal 2016… 10. Beatrice Borromeo steals the show at the 2016 Rose Ball The newest member of the Grimaldi-Casiraghi family, Beatrice Borromeo – wife of Pierre Casiraghi – was the stand-out at this year’s Bal de la … Continue reading →

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Emperor Akihito Celebrates 83rd Birthday With Record-Breaking Crowd

  December 23, 2016 at 5:29 am by

Japanese Emperor Akihito today celebrates his 83rd birthday, and as is customary, appeared on the balcony of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo with other members of the Imperial Family to greet well-wishers. 33,000 people crowded into the Palace area to catch a glimpse of the monarch, beating the previous most-attended event in 2009 to mark the Emperor’s 20th anniversary on the throne (just over 30,000 people attended that event). Appearing … Continue reading →

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