The Imperial Household

[Prisma]

After criticism of spouse name tags at the spring garden party, full names will be printed for all guests going forward, starting with the autumn garden party on October 30.

Full names on IDs at imperial garden party, and BBQ is back! | The Asahi Shimbun

Proper name tags for all is the new rule at imperial garden parties following criticism that the first names of spouses of dignitaries and others of note were omitted at the last function held in spring.

[...]

The criticism was all over X after this year’s spring garden party where spouses were identified as “Husband of (wife’s full name)” or “Wife of (husband’s full name).”

Starting with this autumn garden party, the full names of spouses will be written on the nametags, the agency said.

The agency also said their full names will be written in the address of the invitation card.

[...]

The agency noted that overcrowding was not an issue and that it had decided to comply with numerous requests to serve jingiskan barbecue and yakitori from the agency’s ranch.

 

[Somebody]

It's interesting that the household's initial way to deal with criticism about differences in how wives vs husbands were treated was to also give the husbands of invited guests a name tag that no longer displayed their name but -like their female counterparts had had for some time- started to refer to them only by their marital relationship. Only after even more criticism, they are now abandoning that practice altogether.

 

[Prisma]

At a regular press conference on September 11th, Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Agency Nishimura Yasuhiko said he's also troubled by the misinformation regarding Prince Hisahito's university plans. In response to Crown Princess Kiko's birthday statement mentioning her distress at online criticism, Nishimura said "We will take action as necessary."

The IHA press club requested videos include audio but Nishimura replied, "I would like you to understand that each of the subjects has their own thoughts," suggesting that the audio could not be released due to the wishes of the Emperor, Empress and Imperial Family.

The agency is considering sharing activities of the Akishino and other Imperial families on its Instagram. The FY2025 budget request earmarks 34 million yen for the Public Relations Office and 3 additional staff. Since launching in April, 宮内庁/ Imperial Household Agency (@kunaicho_jp) • Instagram photos and videos limited content to Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako or information about palaces, educational / nature tours, culture, etc. Other Imperial family members only appeared when they attended events with Their Majesties.

Sources: TBS, Jiji, NTV, FNN

 

[Prisma]

Imperial Household Agency requested about 254 million yen for disaster prevention maintenance on aging Imperial facilities in the supplementary budget for this fiscal year. Costs include:

• 88 million yen for repairs to nearly 30-year old transformer equipment at Toshimagaoka Cemetery
• 72 million yen to replace drainage pipes on the approach to Imperial tombs in Kyoto
• 73 million yen for cracked southern wall at Katsura Imperial Villa in Kyoto

The overall supplementary budget, which totals approximately 13.9 trillion yen in the general account, was approved by the Cabinet on November 29.

Sources: Asahi, Jiji

 

[Prisma]

On December 12th, the Imperial Household Agency provided results of its Instagram strategy since launch in April through September.

• 142 posts
• over 1.8 million followers
• unfortunately, followers in "young people" group (age 13-34) is 17% with most followers age 35+
• most "liked" content were photos of Emperor Naruhito's family during a retreat at Goryo Bokujo (Imperial Stock Farm) in Tochigi Prefecture, which garnered 691,000 results.
• number of followers exceeded 1 million about three weeks after the account was launched
• Exceeded 1.5 million followers immediately after posting a photo of the Emperor and his family resting in June
• Posts announcing five years since the Emperor's accession to the throne (May) and the Emperor and Empress's visit to the UK (June) also received many responses, with the total number of "likes" exceeding 19 million.

Sources: NTV, Sankei

Behind-the-scenes photos of Japanese Imperial Family embraced by many on Instagram - The Mainichi

TOKYO -- Behind-the-scenes photos of the Japanese Imperial Family tend to get many

mainichi.jp

...While the agency evaluates that the account "has reached the younger generation to some extent," and "is acting as a means to deliver information to a wide range of people," it aims to further devise ways to reach younger audiences...

The age distribution of followers was as follows: 1.4% were aged 13 to 17, 5.7% were 18 to 24, 10.2% were 25 to 34, 16.3% were 35 to 44, 28.0% were 45 to 54, 26.7% were 55 to 64, and 11.7% were 65 and older...

Maiko Fujiwara, the head of the PR office, commented, "We want to pursue the goal of having many people view our content, and strive to achieve that. Since unfollowing can also be done with the push of a button, we want to continue delivering information that attracts a variety of people."

 

[Prisma]

At a regular press conference on December 12th, Grand Steward Yasuhiko Nishimura said "I regret that we did not have a sufficient opportunity to hear their views," regarding Crown Prince Akishino's comments about getting thoughts from Imperial family members (the princesses) that would be affected by a proposal to retain Imperial status after marriage.

Crown Prince Akishino touched on the subject at a press conference on November 25 ahead of his 59th birthday. Nishimura said the prince's remarks were "exactly right, and it's something we as staff of the Imperial Household Agency must keep in mind." He hasn't had a chance to hear enough from members of the Imperial Family, and expressed his intention to "continue to hear various opinions in the future."

Sources: Sankei, Asahi

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Japan Crown Prince Akishino Turns 59, Says Necessary for Female Imperial Members’ Opinions About Proposed Change to System to Be Heard - The Japan News

... “Some in the Imperial Household Agency who are in responsible positions need to learn the [female Imperial members’] opinions about this,” ...

“The members of the Imperial family are real life people. The people in suitable positions in the Imperial Household Agency need to know how [change to the system] would affect the members and how they think about it.” He also said he had not discussed the matter with his second daughter, Princess Kako...

Crown prince says imperial family also ‘real live humans’ | The Asahi Shimbun

[...] In the news conference, Fumihito was asked if he felt the Diet members discussing the matter should hear directly from imperial family members since they would be directly affected by any legal revisions.

He refrained from commenting, citing the fact the subject was directly related to the imperial household system...

As such, he said “those within the Imperial Household Agency holding important posts and who provide support for the daily lives and work (of imperial family members) would have to understand what situation the members would be placed in (due to any changes) as well as what their views are on possible changes...”

... His latest statement was seen as reflecting his concerns about the impact any change to the Imperial House Law will have on the lives of younger members of the imperial family.

 

[Somebody]

Not sure what to think about this. He publicly state that the household needs to discuss this issue with the princesses because any change will significantly impact their lives but he himself claims to not even have talked about it with his own daughter?!

 

[Prisma]

After 16 years, the Imperial Household Agency website (https://kunaicho.go.jp) will be revamped soon.

Besides a new design, the website will be mobile responsive. Work will be carried out in 2 stages with the first stage launching sometime in February. The second stage will see further improvements to the introduction of Imperial family events. The Imperial Household Agency's website has not undergone a major overhaul since 2009, and has been criticized for being difficult to use.

Source: TBS

 

[Blog Real]

It has been launched on the issue of succession with two proposed options, but it remains unclear when Japan's Imperial Family succession system will be overhauled.

Uncertainty about the future of the Chrysanthemum Throne lies in the dwindling number of female members due to marriages to commoners and the advancing age of other royals.

As matters stand, Prince Hisahito is the sole heir to the throne.

Two options proposed by an expert panel in 2021 are being discussed in earnest by the Diet: allowing female members to retain their imperial status following marriage; and enabling male and patrilineal former members to formally rejoin the royal family via adoption.

It remains unclear when Japan’s royal house system will be revamped.

More information: EXPLAINER: Shadow cast on succession issue with multiple options proposed | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis