kids encyclopedia robot

Emperor of Japan facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Emperor of Japan
天皇
Imperial
Flag of the Japanese Emperor
Incumbent
Naruhito and Masako visit Bogor Palace 48 (cropped).jpg
Naruhito
since 1 May 2019
Details
Style His Majesty (陛下)
Heir presumptive Fumihito
First monarch Emperor Jimmu (mythical)
Emperor Kinmei (historical)
Formation 11 February 660 BC, 2683 years ago (mythical)
Residence Tokyo Imperial Palace (official residence)
Taisho enthronement
Each emperor was confirmed in ceremonies. This was used for Emperor Taishō in 1912.

The Emperor (天皇, tennō, literally "heavenly sovereign") is a symbol of the Japanese nation and the unity of its people.

The emperor is the head of the Imperial House of Japan. He is a ceremonial figurehead.

In the Japanese constitutional monarchy, the emperor does not have any political power. Naruhito is the current emperor of Japan. He acceded to the Chrysanthemum Throne upon the abdication of his father, Emperor Akihito, on 1 May 2019. He is the only remaining monarch and head of state in the world who holds the title of Emperor.

The amount of power belonging to the emperor of Japan has changed a lot throughout Japanese history. The Emperor of Japan has sometimes been a cleric with mostly symbolic powers and sometimes an actual ruler. Some believe that the emperor is descended from gods. Until 1945, the Japanese monarchs were always the leaders of the military.

Since the mid-1800s, the Imperial Palace has been located on the former site of Edo Castle (江戸城)in the heart of Tokyo. Earlier emperors lived in Kyoto for nearly eleven centuries.

Origin

The earliest monarch listed as an emperor who is believed by historians to have existed in history was Emperor Ojin.

The imperial dynasty that rules Japan today began as a local kingship in Central Japan in the 500s. It slowly increased its power over its neighbors. This led to a more centralized state made up of almost all of the central areas of what is now Japan. The remote areas were outside its borders.

Current role of Emperor

The emperor's role is defined in Chapter I of the 1947 Constitution of Japan.

  • Article 1 defines the emperor as the symbol of state and the unity of the people
  • Article 3 says the Emperor must have the approval of the cabinet in matters of state.
  • Article 4 states that the emperor shall not have powers related to government.
  • Article 6 gives the emperor the power to appoint the prime minister and the chief judge of the supreme court.
  • Article 7 gives the emperor power to do things common of a head of state.

The emperor of Japan has no reserve powers.

While the emperor does serve as head of state, many people question if the emperor is a true monarch in a political sense. Efforts in the 1950s by conservative powers to change the constitution to actually name the emperor as head of state were rejected. Regardless, the emperor does do all the diplomatic functions of a head of state and is recognized as one by foreign powers.

Cultural role

Ceremony of the Utakai Hajime around 1950
Utakai Hajime poetry competition, chaired by Emperor Shōwa and Empress Kōjun (1950)

The Tennō is regarded as the foremost Shintō priest in terms of religion. This sacred duty dates back to the Niiname-sai (新嘗祭, "tasting of new rice") imperial harvest festival. In this ritual, the emperor presents newly gathered rice to the gods. The celebration is known as Daijōsai (大嘗祭, "Great Tasting") and takes place in the first year after the emperor's accession to the throne. The historical text Nihonshoki, written in the year 720, has the first mention of this ceremony, whose beginnings are believed to date back even further. The event evolved through time to become the Day of Thanksgiving for Labour, a recognized official holiday today.

The office of the emperor is also cultural bearer and steward of tradition and culture. For example, the Utakai Hajime is the annual poetry reading competition convened by the emperor. The emperor is supported in this function by the empress and other members of the imperial family, who have honorary patronages of many associations and organisations. They travel extensively throughout the year within the country to uphold these roles.

In sports, the Emperor's Cup (天皇賜杯, Tennō shihai) is given to a number of competitions such as football, judo, volleyball, and the top division yūshō winner of a sumo tournament.

Succession of Emperor

Musashiryo -01
Entrance of the Musashi Imperial Graveyard in Hachiōji, Tokyo

Succession is now regulated by laws passed by the National Diet. The current law excludes women from the succession. A change to this law had been considered until Princess Kiko gave birth to Prince Hisahito.

Until the birth of Hisahito, son of Prince Akishino, on September 6, 2006, there was a potential succession problem, since Prince Akishino was the only male child to be born into the imperial family since 1965. Following the birth of Princess Aiko, there was public debate about amending the current Imperial Household Law to allow women to succeed to the throne. In January 2005, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi appointed a special panel composed of judges, university professors, and civil servants to study changes to the Imperial Household Law and to make recommendations to the government.

The panel dealing with the succession issue recommended on October 25, 2005, amending the law to allow females of the male line of imperial descent to ascend the Japanese throne. On January 20, 2006, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi devoted part of his annual keynote speech to the controversy, pledging to submit a bill allowing women to ascend the throne to ensure that the succession continues in the future in a stable manner. Shortly after the announcement that Princess Kiko was pregnant with her third child, Koizumi suspended such plans. Her son, Prince Hisahito, is the third in line to the throne under the current law of succession. On January 3, 2007, Prime Minister Shinzō Abe announced that he would drop the proposal to alter the Imperial Household Law.

Another proposed plan is to allow unmarried men from the abolished collateral branches of the imperial family to rejoin through adoption or marriage. This would be an emergency measure to ensure stable succession. It does not revise the Imperial Household Law. This does not restore the royalty of the 11 collateral branches of the Imperial House that were abolished in October 1947.

Crown Prince Akishino was formally declared first in line to the chrysanthemum throne on November 8, 2020.

Addressing and Naming

Naming the emperors of Japan is difficult because of differences between Japan and the Western world. The Japanese use "{name} tennō" (for the past emperors) or "Kinjō Heika" (今上陛下) for the current one). Problems occur because emperors are named "{name} tennō" after their death.

Some Japanese once thought it was rude to call a person of noble rank by their given names. This belief is not commonly followed today, but still used for the imperial family. The current emperor on the throne is almost always referred to simply as Tennō Heika (天皇陛下, lit. "His Majesty the Emperor") or formally as Kinjō Heika (今上陛下).

In English, the recent emperors are called by their personal names.

For example, the previous emperor is usually called Hirohito in English, but after his death he was renamed Shōwa Tennō and is now only called by this name in Japanese. However, when he was in power, he was never called Hirohito or Shōwa Tennō in Japanese. Rather, he was simply called Tennō Heika (meaning "His Majesty the Emperor").

Related pages

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Emperador de Japón para niños

kids search engine
Emperor of Japan Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.