Imperial House of Japan facts for kids
The Imperial House of Japan, also known as the Imperial family, is made up of the family members of the reigning Emperor of Japan. The Emperor is the head of this family and the symbol of Japan. This family has a very long history, going back many centuries.
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History of Japan's Imperial Family
In 1947, after World War II, the rules for who could be part of the Imperial family changed. Membership was limited to male descendants of Emperor Taishō. Women who married someone outside the Imperial family were no longer considered members.
At that time, eleven branches of the Imperial House were removed.
The Imperial Household Law (皇室典範, Kōshitsu Tempan) is a special law that explains who is an official member of the Imperial family (皇族). This includes:
- The Empress (皇后, kōgō)
- The grand empress dowager (太皇太后, tai-kōtaigō) (the great-grandmother of the current Emperor)
- The empress dowager (皇太后, kōtaigō) (the grandmother of the current Emperor)
- The Emperor's sons and grandsons born in the male line (called 親王 (shinnō)) and their wives (called 親王妃 (shinnōhi)).
- The Emperor's unmarried daughters and unmarried granddaughters born in the male line (called 内親王 (naishinnō)).
- The Emperor's other male descendants in the male line (called 王 (ō)) and their wives (called 王妃 (ōhi)).
- The Emperor's other unmarried female descendants in the male line (called 女王 (Joō)).
Meet the Current Imperial Family Members
There are currently 18 members of the Imperial Family.
- The Emperor was born in Tokyo on February 23, 1960. He is the eldest son of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. He became the heir to the throne when his father became Emperor. Naruhito became Emperor himself on May 1, 2019. He married Masako Owada on June 10, 1993.
- The Empress was born on December 9, 1963. Her father, Hisashi Owada, was a diplomat. The Emperor and Empress have one daughter:
- The Princess Toshi (born December 1, 2001)
- The Emperor Emeritus was born at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on December 23, 1933. He is the elder son of the Shōwa Emperor and Empress Kōjun. He married Michiko Shōda on April 10, 1959. Emperor Akihito became Emperor on January 7, 1989, and later stepped down from the throne.
- The Empress Emerita, whose maiden name was Michiko Shōda, was born in Tokyo on October 24, 1934. Her father, Hidesaburo Shōda, was a businessman.
- The Prince Akishino, the Emperor's second son, was born on November 11, 1965. As a child, he was known as Prince Aya. When he married Kiko Kawashima on June 29, 1990, he received the title Prince Akishino and started a new branch of the Imperial family.
- The Princess Akishino was born on September 11, 1966. Her father, Tatsuhiko Kawashima, was a university professor. Prince and Princess Akishino have two daughters and one son:
- Princess Mako of Akishino (born October 23, 1991)
- Princess Kako of Akishino (born December 29, 1994)
- Prince Hisahito of Akishino (born September 6, 2006)
- The Prince Hitachi was born on November 28, 1935. He is the second son of the Emperor Shōwa and Empress Kojun. His childhood name was Prince Yoshi. He started a new branch of the Imperial family, becoming Prince Hitachi, on October 1, 1964, the day after his wedding.
- The Princess Hitachi was born on July 19, 1940. Her father was Count Yoshitaka Tsugaru. Prince and Princess Hitachi do not have children.
- The Princess Mikasa is the widow of Prince Mikasa (born December 2, 1915, died October 27, 2016). Prince Mikasa was the fourth son of Emperor Taishō and Empress Teimei, and a younger brother of Emperor Shōwa. Princess Mikasa was born on June 6, 1923. She married Prince Mikasa on October 22, 1941. They had two daughters and three sons.
- Princess Tomohito of Mikasa is the widow of Prince Tomohito of Mikasa (born January 5, 1946, died June 6, 2012). He was the eldest son of Prince and Princess Mikasa and a first cousin of Emperor Akihito. Princess Tomohito was born on April 9, 1955. She has two daughters with the late Prince Tomohito of Mikasa:
- Princess Akiko of Mikasa (born December 20, 1981)
- Princess Yōko of Mikasa (born October 25, 1983)
- The Princess Takamado is the widow of Prince Takamado (born December 29, 1954, died November 21, 2002). He was the third son of Prince and Princess Mikasa and a first cousin of Emperor Akihito. Princess Takamado was born on July 10, 1953. She married the prince on December 6, 1981. He started a new branch of the Imperial family, becoming Prince Takamado, on December 1, 1981. Princess Takamado has three daughters:
- Princess Tsuguko of Takamado (born March 6, 1986)
Imperial Family Branches
- Akishino-no-miya
- Hitachi-no-miya
- Mikasa-no-miya
- Takamado-no-miya
Living Former Imperial Family Members
Some people who were once part of the Imperial family are now considered "former members." This usually happens when a female member marries someone who is not part of the Imperial family.
The living former imperial princesses are:
- Atsuko Ikeda, born March 7, 1931. She is the fourth daughter of Emperor Shōwa and an elder sister of Emperor Akihito.
- Takako Shimazu, born March 2, 1939. She is the fifth daughter and youngest child of Emperor Shōwa and a younger sister of Emperor Akihito.
- Yasuko Konoe, born April 26, 1944. She is the eldest daughter of Prince and Princess Mikasa.
- Masako Sen, born October 23, 1951. She is the second daughter of Prince and Princess Mikasa.
- Sayako Kuroda, born April 18, 1969. She is the only daughter of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.
- Noriko Senge, born July 22, 1988. She is the second daughter of Prince and Princess Takamado.
- Ayako Moriya, born September 15, 1990. She is the third daughter of Prince and Princess Takamado.
How the Japanese Throne is Passed Down
The Constitution of Japan states that the Imperial Throne is passed down according to the Imperial Household Law. This law says that only males in the Japanese order of succession can inherit the throne. This means that only male members of the Imperial family can become Emperor.
Related pages
- JapanZone, The Imperial Family
Images for kids
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Members of the Imperial Family show themselves to the general public during celebrations for the new emperor's enthronement. Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko are not present (May 4, 2019).
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The Japanese Imperial Family tree as of February 2022
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Emperor Hirohito and members of the Kyū-Miyake (Cadet Royal Families)
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Panorama of the Tokyo Imperial Palace
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Princess Mako (left) forewent a one-off million-dollar payment given to imperial women upon leaving the Imperial Family
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Imperial official vehicle, Toyota Century Royal "Empress 1".
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Emperor Hirohito as head of the Imperial General Headquarters on April 29, 1943
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See also
In Spanish: Familia imperial japonesa para niños
