Akihito Japan. Emperor Akihito is a Living God who took a commoner as his wife. Solving government issues

Good day, friends! It was always interesting to read that Japanese emperors are direct descendants of God. Today I would like to talk about the origin of this myth and what role the Emperor of Japan played in this or that segment of the development of the Japanese state. This topic is very large and complex, so without pretending to present the material academically, I will try to briefly and clearly talk about the title of the Japanese emperor.

Today, the head of the Japanese state is the only monarch in the world who has the title of emperor. The Imperial House of Japan is the oldest hereditary monarchy, whose origins go back to the divine Emperor Jimmu.

Emperor Jimmu was the first ruler of Japan (02/11/660 BC - 04/09/585 BC), according to the “Record of Ancient Acts” he was the great-great-grandson of the Sun Goddess Amaterasu. His mausoleum is located in the city of Kashihara, in Nara Prefecture (the first capital of the Japanese state). According to legend, the goddess Amaterasu, having inherited the Earth, sent her grandson Niningi no Mikoto to rule the Japanese Islands, giving him three sacred things to help him: a sword, a necklace of precious stones and a bronze mirror. Prince Ninigo descended from heaven to Mount Takatiko on the island of Kyushu and settled there, marrying Sakuya-Bima, the daughter of a mountain god, they had children and then grandchildren. At the end of time, Jimmu, having received sacred regalia symbolizing courage (sword), prosperity (gems) and wisdom (mirror), from his grandfather Ninigo set out to conquer central Japan. This is how the first emperor of Japan began his reign.

The next legendary figure in the series of rulers of Japan was Emperor Sujin (02/17/97 BC - 01/09/29 BC), between the reigns of Jimmu and Sujin there were eight more “insert” rulers. Historians agree that the figure of Sujin (Mimaki - posthumous name) was real, he was the founder of the Yamato dynasty, he was also called the first ruler of the new country.

In ancient times (VI-VII centuries), emperors, having subjugated local rulers, created a centralized state, developing a state legal framework, at the same time the title Tenno (天皇), which means “heavenly sovereign,” appeared. The legitimacy of Tenno power was based on the celestial origin of the monarch.

Starting from the 10th century, the power of the Emperor began to gradually decrease and from the 12th century, when the alternative rule of the samurai shogunate appeared, the power and power of the Japanese emperors gradually faded away. From this time until the Meiji era (1868), emperors lost their influence and became a figurehead at court. For some time they continued to be the main administrators of state ceremonies and rituals, and in the 15th-16th centuries they were completely removed from governing the country.

By 1867, Japan was already in its 265th year of rule of the Tokugawa shogunate; its 15th ruler, Shogun Keiki (Tokugawa Yoshinobu), on November 9, 1867 transferred full state power to the 122nd Emperor of Japan, Mutsuhito. The transfer of power took place in difficult political conditions. Representatives of the shogunate hoped that after accepting the resignation they would continue to play a significant role in governing the country, but the Imperial Court gave secret instructions to punish and destroy the shogunate.

From that time on, the Emperor became the real head of state, the Meiji era, the era of fundamental changes in the development of Japan. The country, from a backward agrarian country, closed from everyone, began to transform into a rapidly developing industrial state.

The status of the Emperor was enshrined in the Constitution of the Great Japanese Empire of 1890, the emperor became the bearer of the highest political and religious power in the country. Since that time, it has been established that the title of Emperor can only be passed on through the male line (until 1890 in Japan there were 10 female empresses)

The Emperor had real power and could control the activities of all government bodies, he could approve laws, assemble or dissolve Parliament, was the head of the executive branch and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Japan, and was the guarantor of the Constitution.

The situation changed radically after the end of World War II, the original religion of the Japanese, Shinto, was abolished. In 1946, Emperor Hirohito of Japan addressed his people for the first time with a New Year's speech. In his speech, the emperor told the people about the upcoming changes, that Japan would develop as a democratic country, but in general his speech boiled down to the fact that the emperor was renouncing his divine origin. This speech is called the "declaration of humanity."

The bond between Us and Our people has always been based on mutual trust and affection... It does not stem from the false concept that the emperor is a deity and the Japanese are superior to all other peoples and should rule the world.

With these words, the last monarchy on Earth, whose head was officially a deity, disappeared.

In May 1947, a new Constitution was adopted, according to which the Emperor of Japan is symbol The Japanese state and the unity of the Japanese nation. From this time on, the emperor has no right to interfere in state affairs and his role in governing the country is nominal. Those minor actions that the emperor can perform must be agreed upon with the Cabinet of Ministers of Japan. The exercise of all powers can be carried out by the emperor only “with the advice and approval of the Cabinet of Ministers.” All property of the imperial family belongs to the state, and their expenses are approved by parliament when drawing up the state budget.

In conclusion, a few points from the institution of emperorship:

• In Japan, it is not customary to call the ruling emperor by name; the emperor is called “Tenno Heika”, which means “His Majesty the Emperor” or simply “Heika” - His Majesty
• The throne is passed on only through the male line, to the eldest son
• Each emperor rules under his own motto, the period of such reign is called an era or era, you can read more
• The name of the era becomes the posthumous name of the emperor. After his death, the emperor is called only by his posthumous name; other options are considered disrespectful
• Birthdays of the reigning emperor are a national holiday. This day is one of the rare occasions when the emperor comes out to greet the Japanese people in his palace.
• The birthdays of departed emperors are also national holidays, but sometimes with different names. So the birthday of Emperor Meiji on November 3 is a national holiday - Culture Day. Emperor Showa's birthday is April 29, previously on this day there was a national holiday - Green Day.

I will list a few names of emperors who have ruled in the foreseeable past.

Akihito is the current Emperor of Japan and also the only current holder of this title on the planet. In terms of the scale of media exposure, his figure can be compared with Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.

Akihito was born on December 23, 1933 and became the fifth child in the family of the then reigning Emperor Hirohito. Like other members of the imperial family, he received an excellent education. In addition to the private school, a teacher, originally from America, took an active part in the development of the young man. With her help, Akihito learned the peculiarities of Western culture and studied English, which he speaks as well as Japanese.

At the age of 19, the prince began studying at Gakushuin University, where he chose a course in politics and economics. Almost immediately after this, an official statement was made that Akihito had become crown prince and at some point his father's title would pass to him.

In 1953, the prince left his native country for the first time to travel around America and Europe. The trip took a little over a year and allowed Akihito to experience first-hand how other countries live. Interestingly, during his visit to Great Britain, the future emperor attended the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

In 1956, Akihito completed his university studies and received a diploma. As often happens with representatives of ruling families, the young man began searching for a bride. His choice fell on a girl named Michiko Shode.

Michiko became the first wife of a member of the imperial family who could not boast of aristocratic origins. Her father was involved in the flour milling industry and rose through the ranks to become the director of a large enterprise, but the family was not classified as noble.

Thus, Akihito decided to break centuries-old traditions and asked the administration of the imperial court to approve his choice. After a short meeting, the prince was allowed to marry Michiko, and in the spring of 1959 a magnificent wedding took place.

Akihito can be considered the founder of a new way of life in the imperial family. Despite the fact that the prince often traveled around Japan and made visits to other countries, he decided to abandon governesses and raised children with his wife (the couple had two sons and a daughter).

Over the course of several decades, the heir to the throne built his reputation. He achieved that he was spoken of exclusively in positive terms, not only in the press, but also in society. This is not surprising, because the prince was regularly interested in the fate of people and sought to make their lives a little better.

In the fall of 1988, Akihito's father became ill and he took over most of the government's responsibilities. A year later, Hirohito died and the rightful heir was officially crowned. From this moment on, Akihito’s full-fledged activity in the role of the ruling emperor of Japan begins.

During the audience, the Emperor stated that he would do everything possible to ensure that Japan prospered and that the current constitution was strictly observed in all aspects by every official and ordinary citizen.

As you know, the imperial family is in many ways only a symbol of statehood, and the main administration is carried out . Thanks to this, the emperor has free time, which he spends on studying historical works, biology and ichthyology. Akihito also loves to play tennis, because it was thanks to this game that he met the woman who became his wife.

In the summer of 2016, news appeared in a number of media outlets that Akihito was ready to resign as emperor and retire, leaving the title to his eldest son, Prince Naruhito. However, the imperial court almost immediately issued a press release in which it refuted this information, noting that Akihito, despite his venerable age, is ready to continue to fulfill the duties assigned to him.

Emperor Akihito of Japan became the first Japanese monarch whose reign began under the country's new constitution in 1947, which recognized him as a symbol of the nation rather than a special one of divine origin. On Monday, he spoke of his concerns that it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to fulfill his role sufficiently, but he avoided directly stating his intention to leave the throne because, according to the country's constitution, he is not supposed to make political statements.

With his accession to the throne in January 1989, the Heisei era began - the era of Peace, which continues to this day. In documents, on forms, on product expiration dates, you can see “H28” or simply the number “28” everywhere, which means the 28th year of his reign, that is, 2016. During his years on the throne, Akihito often committed acts, the story of which begins with the words “first among Japanese emperors.”

Meeting on the tennis court: Michiko

Not the first, but the most famous of such actions was his marriage to a girl who was not exactly from the people (she belonged to one of the richest families in Japan), but also not a person of imperial blood, as had been done for centuries until now. The Crown Prince saw the beautiful Michiko on the tennis court and fell in love. Breaking the tradition of marrying only a person with royal blood flowing in her veins caused a stir among the courtiers, in the imperial family and the Imperial Household Administration.

© REUTERS / Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

The candidacy of the future empress is traditionally approved by the Council of the Imperial Household, which includes representatives of the imperial family, the prime minister, the heads of both chambers and the chairman of the Supreme Court. Things allegedly got to the point that the obstinate prince - the future Emperor Akihito - threatened not to marry anyone at all, which would mean a serious crisis for the Chrysanthemum Throne - the oldest and most continuous dynasty in the world, which dates back to the legendary Emperor Jimmu - 660 BC.

© REUTERS / Kim Kyung-Hoon

Michiko, having become the wife of the future emperor, gained popular love thanks to her beauty, romantic marriage history, ability to dress tastefully and behave with dignity within the unusual framework of royal etiquette and strict regulations of the imperial house. In the 1960s, the so-called “Michiko effect” was noted - a fashion for everything that had to do with the young wife of the crown prince: any item of clothing, accessories, hairstyle instantly became trendy during her appearances.

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko have three children and four grandchildren: three girls and the only boy, third in line to the throne, Prince Hisahito.

Man and descendant of the goddess

Despite the fact that the first article of the Japanese constitution talks about the status of the emperor as a symbol of the unity of the people, deep down the majority of Japanese, regardless of their beliefs and views on the need for the monarchy as an institution, still remember that the current emperor is the 125th account in the dynasty that goes back to Emperor Jimmu, and he was a descendant (great-great-grandson) of the sun goddess Amaterasu. That is, no one mentions the divine origin of the emperor out loud anymore, but this thesis is preserved behind the scenes by default.

© REUTERS/Issei Kato

Already as a teenager, Akihito “blew up” the rules of imperial life when, in high school, he ran away from security and spent several hours with friends on the Ginza shopping street, walking, looking at shop windows, and going into cafes. This event was so egregious and did not fit into the life of the “correct” heir to the throne that it was called the “Ginza Incident.”

The work of a symbol of the nation

Perhaps it is precisely due to the fact that everyone understands what divine relatives the emperor has that all manifestations of his “humanity” cause constant delight and tenderness among his subjects. For example, his walks along the ocean coast near the imperial dacha in Hayama near Tokyo, during which he often approaches people and talks to them. Another example of his “humane” attitude towards his subjects was a conversation with refugees after a natural disaster, during which His Imperial Majesty squatted down to meet the eyes and talk at the same level with a woman sitting in a wheelchair, rather than looking down at her .

The life of the emperor is filled with representative and ritual events in which he is obliged to take part. On average, he must attend 410 such events per year. The emperor rests for about 40 days a year, including weekends, of which he has an average of eight per month. Thus, he must participate, attend, or speak at an average of three events per day. As the emperor himself noted during one of his speeches on the occasion of his birthday, he increasingly feels his age. At the same time, despite attempts to reduce his work schedule, this is not very successful due to the monarch’s sense of responsibility and the desire to fully fulfill the mission entrusted to him.

Akihito became the first Japanese emperor to address the nation after a natural disaster. This happened in March 2011, when the Great East Japan Earthquake hit the country, followed by a tsunami, killing more than 18,000 people.

More than 80% of Japanese people believe that the emperor is doing an excellent job as a symbol of the nation. For the vast majority of Japanese, even those who hold leftist views and believe that the institution of monarchy in Japan has outlived its usefulness, the emperor evokes constant respect.

© REUTERS/Itsuo Inouye/Pool

“I am far from mystical and one can argue about divine origin, whether the legendary Emperor Jimmu is a myth or not, and who is the goddess Amaterasu related to His Majesty, but every time the filming falls on a cloudy or rainy day, it is enough for the emperor to appear, and together the sun comes out with him,” testifies a cameraman from the largest Japanese television company, who, as part of his duty, often travels to film the royal couple.

First again

In July, news spread throughout the country that the emperor had consulted with his entourage and would like to transfer the throne to the crown prince during his lifetime and retire. The current Law on the Imperial Household does not provide for the possibility of transferring the title during the lifetime of the current emperor. At the same time, there are precedents when, instead of an emperor who was in poor health, his functions were performed by a regent - this was the case at the beginning of the last century, when instead of Emperor Taisho, his functions were performed as regent by his son, the future Emperor Showa (Hirohito), the father of the current emperor.

© REUTERS/Issei Kato

If Emperor Akihito really decides to transfer the throne to his son, Crown Prince Naruhito, during his lifetime, the country will be faced with the need to understand the legislative framework and develop a mechanism of succession. All this, according to preliminary calculations, may take from several months to several years. If this happens, the Heisei era will end, and Emperor Akihito, who gave the country almost three decades of the era of the Establishment of Peace, will retire and again, this time - for the last time in the status of emperor - will commit an act that will be the first in the modern history of Japan.

Emperor Akihito is the one hundred and twenty-fifth member of the dynasty. In 2016, the imperial family will turn 2,776 years old.

Crown Prince

Prince Qigunomiya was born on December 23. The traditions of the country are such that the child was immediately taken from his parents, and he was raised by tutors. He only met with his parents a few times a month. Conversations were not allowed. They looked at each other, and then the boy was taken away. Such strict regulations exist in Japan.

Prince's childhood

When the child turned seven years old, he was sent to a closed elite school at Gakushiyun University. The young prince studied English, Western traditions and culture with the help of an American teacher. Among children's entertainments, he was only allowed to communicate with fish, and children's games were not for him, a descendant of the gods. His fascination with fish later reflected in his deep knowledge of ichthyology, on which an adult wrote several serious works.

Imperial family

The emperors of Japan are considered the descendants of the great deity who illuminates the heavens - Amaterasu. Their position on the throne is so secure that they do not need a surname. Divine origin led to the fact that representatives of the imperial dynasty never had rivals on the throne. Today, there are no more emperors in any country except Japan. Only Japonia retained its titles. Emperors Akihito and Hirohito are representatives of a dynasty that has not been interrupted since 660 BC. True, the reigns of the first sixteen emperors are based only on legends. Emperor Akihito has three attributes of power - a mirror, a sword and a jasper seal. They are passed on by a father to his son when the prince takes office. Emperor Akihito received them in 1989.

Emperor's power

Since the 12th century, emperors have had only formal power. Japan is now a constitutional monarchy, and Akihito, the Emperor of Japan, has no real powers. According to the constitution, it is only a symbol of the country, like the coat of arms, flag and anthem. Japanese Emperor Akihito also serves as a symbol for the unification of the nation. “Peace and tranquility” is the motto of his reign. This is the translation of his name, Heisei, which he will be called after his death.

Family life

Prince Tsigunomiya married in 1959, breaking thousands of years of tradition, to a girl, Michiko Shoda, who did not belong to aristocratic society.

She was the daughter of a very wealthy and influential businessman, an intelligent person, whose family members were awarded the Order of Merit in the Field of Culture. The girl received an excellent both Japanese and Western education. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in English Literature. She speaks fluent English, plays the piano, was actively involved in sports in her youth and met the prince on the court. Members of the imperial family did not approve of the proposed marriage, but society supported the young people. The wedding was traditional and broadcast on television.

Parenting

The future Emperor Akihito again violated established traditions and began to raise their children, three of them (two princes and a princess), on their own. It got to the point that the Crown Princess started breastfeeding them without giving them to wet nurses. They managed to do everything: take care of the children and carry out protocol activities. Suffice it to say that from 1959 to 1989 they visited 37 foreign countries.

Today they have a large friendly family, which is presented in the photo above.

What does the emperor do?

Emperor Akihito has an inner need to be closer to his people. After 1989, he and his wife visited all forty-seven as well as 18 foreign countries.

He issued several sweeping statements of repentance to Asian countries for their suffering during the Japanese occupation. In the United States, the imperial family visited the territory of Saipan, where the battle took place during World War II, and laid flowers at the memorial of not only Japanese but also American soldiers. This found lively support among the Japanese people, as did visits to war memorials in Tokyo, Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Okinawa. The emperor’s address to them in 2011 in connection with the tragedy in Fukushima was very important in the life of the country’s residents. He didn't stop there. A month after heart surgery, he attended events held in memory of earthquake victims. Residents of the country praised this as a feat on his part.

Birthday

This is a national holiday when His Imperial Majesty, together with his wife and children, approaches the windows made of bulletproof glass and thanks his people, wishing them well-being and prosperity. On this day, all the streets are decorated with state flags, and tables with writing materials are installed near the palace, on which everyone can leave their congratulations.

In Japan, the emperor is not referred to by name, but only as "His Majesty the Emperor". After his death, he will receive the name Emperor Heisei, which will also be the name of the era of his reign.

Crown Prince Akihito, son of Showa and Kojun, met his bride Michiko Shoda (born 1934) on the tennis court. In the summer of 1957, Akihito was at one of the expensive Japanese resorts. In doubles tennis with his partner, he lost to a 13-year-old boy and a student. The girl amazed him with her energy and really liked him. Akihito was depressed because his younger brother was already married. By this time, Akihito had graduated from university and was an excellent athlete and musician.

The prince fell in love.

But the girl was from the non-royal Shoda family. Her father, Hidesaburo Shoda, was the president of a large flour milling company. Difficulties arose. But not from the side of the emperor and empress, as one might assume, but from the side of the girl’s family. The families of the Japanese intelligentsia did not want to marry their daughters into the imperial family. They didn’t want their daughters to be imprisoned in a “golden cage.” Akihito even wanted to give up the throne. When he met Michiko for the second time in the fall on the tennis courts, he asked for her photo. The photograph was beautifully framed and he sent it to Miss Shoda (Michiko's mother).

In 1958, the prince sent an adviser to the Seda family to offer the prince's hand in marriage. The Shoda family refused. Moreover, relatives urgently sent Michiko on a trip for two months. This meant a final “no” to such a royal proposal.

The prince in love, in turn, stated that, except for Michiko, no one exists for him, and if not her, then he will commit suicide. When the charming Michiko returned to Tokyo, the persuasion continued. Daily telephone conversations with the Shoda family.

And in November 1958, Michiko agreed, saying that she had one suitcase from her dowry. But this did not frighten the prince.

The wedding took place on April 10, 1959. This violated a centuries-old tradition requiring members of the imperial family to choose wives exclusively of aristocratic origin. Despite this, the choice of the Crown Prince was approved by all members of the Imperial Household Council.

Later, both son Akishino and daughter Sayako were born. The relationship in the family of Michiko and Akihito was and is extremely tender.

Michiko plays the piano and harp, and also enjoys embroidery and knitting. In addition, she is interested in literature and flowers. Her remarkable translations into English by Michio Mado made his poems famous throughout the world, and Mado soon became a winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Prize.

In 1989, Emperor Hirohito died and Akihito ascended the throne. Michiko, as the wife of the new Emperor Akihito, received the title of Empress of Japan. It seems to me that they have retained all the original tenderness of their marriage.