by Richard Lloyd Evans

Created on: February 11, 2011   Last Updated: February 12, 2011

The monarchal head of Japan is His Imperial Majesty the Emperor Akihito, the only current reigning monarch titled as “Emperor.” The 125th Emperor of Japan, Akihito holds a reputation for trying to become closer to the people of Japan than previous Emperors.

Akihito was born of his father the previous Emperor Showa (commonly known as Hirohito) and the Empress Kojun on 23 December 1933 and named Prince Tsugu, the eldest son and fifth child. In his early years he attended the Gakushuin (Peers School) from 1940 to 1952. In March 1945 he and his younger brother, Prince Masahito, were evacuated from Tokyo to avoid the American bombings of the city. Later, during the American occupation of Japan Emperor Akahito continued his studies, including private tutoring in English.

He undertook additional studies at the Gakushuin University in Tokyo, experiencing a specialized curriculum heavy in science and marine biology. He did not complete an official degree.

Akihito was officially proclaimed heir to the Chrysanthemum Throne in 1952 with the official investiture on 10 November of that year. Akihito then became an official representative of Japan, attending special events and making numerous visits to foreign countries, often attending state funerals and weddings as Emperor Showa’s personal representative.

On 10 April 1959 the future Emperor married Michiko Shoda, the daughter of a wealthy businessman and the first commoner to marry into the Japanese Royal Family. They have produced two sons, Crown Prince Naruhito and Prince Akishino, and one daughter, Sayako Muroda, who was formerly titled a Princess before she married.

His father, Emperor Showa, died on 7 January 1989 and investiture ceremonies and celebrations lasted throughout 1989 and 1990 with Akihito’s formal investiture on 12 November 1990.

Previous Japanese Emperors were remote figures and had been proclaimed living gods. This changed under then Emperor Hirohito at the defeat of Japan by the Allied forces during World War Two. Although Hirohito became a constitutional monarch, he was still remote from the average Japanese people. The new Emperor and his Empress have been much more public. During his reign Akihito has visited 17 different countries.

He became the first Japanese ruler to visit a World War Two battlefield when he visited Saipan in June 2005. There he attended memorial services for Japanese and American soldiers, as well as Korean laborers and local islanders who died during the Battle of Saipan (1944).

The Emperor also holds a deep interest in marine biology and has sponsored and conducted research. He has written several articles on marine biology for several academic magazines, including the Japanese Journal of Ichthyology.

Akihito reportedly underwent successful prostate surgery in January 2003.

According to the Imperial Household Agency, under Japanese Imperial Family custom, Akihito’s name will be officially changed at his death to Emperor Heisei, just as his father Hirohito’s name was officially changed to Emperor Showa.

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