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Emperor of Japan
Monarchy

Arms of His Imperial Majesty The Emperor of Japan
Incumbent:
Akihito
Style: His Imperial Majesty
Heir apparent: Naruhito
First monarch: Emperor Jimmu
Formation: 660 BC
Japan

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The Emperor (天皇 tennō?, literally "heavenly sovereign,"[1] formerly often called the Mikado) of Japan is the country's monarch. The Imperial Seal of Japan is a mon or crest used by members of the Japanese Imperial family is the current of Japan, and the 125th Emperor according to Japan's traditional order of succession. Majesty is an English word derived ultimately from the Latin Maiestas, meaning Greatness. An heir apparent is an Heir who (short of a fundamental change in the situation cannot be displaced from inheriting the term is used in contrast to Heir presumptive Education He received bachelor's and Master's degrees in history from Gakushuin University in 1982 and 1988 respectively also known as Kamuyamato Iwarebiko; given name Wakamikenu no Mikoto or Sano no Mikoto, born according to the legendary account in the Kojiki on For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The politics of Japan is in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic Monarchy, where the Prime Minister of Japan is the The politics of Japan is in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic Monarchy, where the Prime Minister of Japan is the The has been the founding legal document of Japan since 1947 The constitution provides for a Parliamentary system of government and guarantees certain fundamental rights is the current of Japan, and the 125th Emperor according to Japan's traditional order of succession. The is a government agency of Japan in charge of the state matters concerning Japan's imperial family and also keeping the Privy Seal and the State Seal Japan no longer officially has the traditional Federal system, and its 47 prefectures, and prefectural and municipal assembly members are popularly elected for The is the usual English-language term used for the Head of government of Japan, although the literal translation of the Japanese name for the office is Prime This is a list of Prime Ministers of Japan, and its predecessor state the Empire of Japan, from when the first Prime Minister (in the modern sense Hirobumi was the 91st Prime Minister of Japan, serving from 2007 to 2008 The is the Executive branch of the Government of Japan. It consists of the Prime Minister and up to fourteen other members called Ministers of State The most influential part of the executive of the Japanese government are the ministries. The is Japan's Bicameral Legislature. It is composed of a Lower house, called the House of Representatives, and an Upper house, called The is the Upper house of the Diet of Japan. The House of Representatives is the Lower house. The is the Lower house of the Diet of Japan. The House of Councillors of Japan is the Upper house. In the judicial system of Japan, the postwar constitution guarantees that "all judges shall be independent in the exercise of their conscience and shall be bound only by The Japanese political system has three types of elections general elections to the House of Representatives held every four years (unless the lower house is dissolved earlier elections Japan held a nationwide election for the House of Representatives, the more powerful Lower house of the National Diet than the Upper house, on Japan held a nationwide election to the House of Representatives, the more powerful Lower house of the National Diet, on July 18, 1993 A general election took place in Japan on October 20, 1996. Incumbent Prime Minister Hashimoto Ryutaro of the coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party Elections to the Shugi-In ( House of Representatives) of the Japanese Diet were held on 25 June 2000. A general election took place in Japan on November 9, 2003. Incumbent Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of the Liberal Elections to the House of Councillors, the upper house of the legislature of Japan, were held on July 11, 2004. For a breakdown of the results by block district with maps see Results of Japan general election 2005 Japan held a nationwide election to The for the upper house of the legislature of Japan were held on July 29 2007. Political parties in Japan lists political parties in Japan. Japan while universally recognized as a Liberal democracy with free and fair elections The, frequently abbreviated to LDP or, is a Centre right, conservative, Political party and the largest party in Japan. The is a liberal Political party in Japan founded in 1998 by the merger of several smaller parties The, New Komeito Party, or NKP is a Centre-right political party in Japan founded by members of the Buddhist organization Soka Gakkai The Japanese Communist Party ( JCP) ( Japanese " 日本共産党 Nihon Kyōsan-tō) is a Political party in Japan. The Social Democratic Party (社会民主党 Shakai Minshu-tō, often abbreviated to 社民党 Shamin-tō; also abbreviated as SDP in English While Japan 's political mainstream can be described as a "one and a half" party system with the LDP being the dominant force there is room for political extremism The prefectures of Japan are the country's 47 sub-national Jurisdictions one "metropolis" (都 to) Tokyo; one " circuit Monetary policy pertains to the regulation availability and cost of credit while fiscal policy deals with government expenditures taxes and debt The primary responsibility for the Japanese foreign policy, as determined by the 1947 constitution, is exercised by the cabinet and subject to the overall supervision Since the surrender after World War II and the return to the international community by the Treaty of San Francisco, Japanese diplomatic policy has been Japan is a Liberal democracy. According to Ministry of Justice (MOJ figures the Japanese Legal Affairs Bureau offices and civil liberties volunteers dealt Information on politics by country is available for every Country, including both De jure and De facto independent An emperor (from the Latin " Imperator " is a (male Monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an Empire or another type of For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. He is the head of the Japanese Imperial Family. The Imperial House of Japan (also referred to as the Imperial Family or kōshitsu, 皇室 comprises those members of the extended family of the reigning Emperor of Under Japan's present constitution, the Emperor is the "symbol of the state and the unity of the people," and is a ceremonial figurehead in a constitutional monarchy (see Politics of Japan). A constitutional monarchy, or a limited monarchy, is a form of Constitutional Government, wherein either an elected or hereditary Monarch is The politics of Japan is in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic Monarchy, where the Prime Minister of Japan is the

The current emperor is His Imperial Majesty the Emperor Akihito, who has been on the Chrysanthemum Throne since his father Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito) died in 1989. is the current of Japan, and the 125th Emperor according to Japan's traditional order of succession. also known as, (April 29 1901 – January 7 1989 was the 124th Emperor of Japan according to the traditional order reigning from December 25 1926 until his death

The role of the emperor of Japan has historically alternated between that of a supreme-rank cleric with largely symbolic powers and that of an actual imperial ruler. A cleric ( Ancient Greek κληρικός - klērikos clergyman (pl An underlying imperial cult (the idea of Arahitogami) regards the emperor as being descended from gods. An Imperial cult is a form of State religion in which an Emperor, or a Dynasty of emperors (or rulers of another title are Worshiped as is a Japanese word meaning a kami who is a human being.This word appears first in Kojiki, but is assumed to have been used before this Book. Until 1945, the Japanese monarchs had always been, officially, the Commander-in-Chief of the forces. However, contrary to Western monarchs, the role had rarely been assumed on the field since the establishment of the first shogunate. An emperor (from the Latin " Imperator " is a (male Monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an Empire or another type of Japanese emperors have nearly always been controlled by external political forces, to varying degrees.

Since the mid-nineteenth century, the Imperial Palace has been called "Kyūjō" (宮城), then Kōkyo (皇居), and located on the former site of Edo Castle in the heart of Tokyo. is the imperial main residence of the Emperor of Japan. It is a large park-like area located in Chiyoda Tokyo close to Tokyo Station and contains various buildings also known as, is a flatland castle that was built in 1457 by Ōta Dōkan. officially, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. Earlier emperors resided in Kyoto for nearly eleven centuries. (IPA /kʲoːto / is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan.

Contents

Role

Unlike most constitutional monarchies, the Emperor is neither sovereign nor even the nominal chief executive. Rather, the Constitution of Japan explicitly vests executive power in the Cabinet and the Prime Minister. The has been the founding legal document of Japan since 1947 The constitution provides for a Parliamentary system of government and guarantees certain fundamental rights The is the Executive branch of the Government of Japan. It consists of the Prime Minister and up to fourteen other members called Ministers of State The is the usual English-language term used for the Head of government of Japan, although the literal translation of the Japanese name for the office is Prime He has no reserve powers related to government. The few duties he performs are efficiently regulated by provisions that are not phrased in regally dignified language, albeit expressed in legally precise terms that can only be exercised by order and consent of the Cabinet and Diet. For example, while he formally appoints the Prime Minister to office, the Constitution requires him to appoint the candidate "designated by the Diet" without being given the avenue to decline appointment. The is Japan's Bicameral Legislature. It is composed of a Lower house, called the House of Representatives, and an Upper house, called This is in marked contrast to his status under the Meiji Constitution, which recognises the emperor as the fount of all sovereign power of the realm and that the exercise of which is limited only by the constitution. The, more commonly known as the Imperial or Meiji Constitution, was the fundamental law of the Empire of Japan from 29 November 1890 until 2 May 1947

History

Although the emperor has been a symbol of continuity with the past, the degree of power exercised by the emperor of Japan has varied considerably throughout Japanese history.

Origin

The earliest emperor recorded in Kojiki and Nihonshoki is Emperor Jimmu. The, sometimes translated as The Chronicles of Japan, is the second oldest book of classical Japanese history. also known as Kamuyamato Iwarebiko; given name Wakamikenu no Mikoto or Sano no Mikoto, born according to the legendary account in the Kojiki on The key to knowing the origin of the Japanese imperial line may lie within the ancient imperial tombs known as kofun. are megalithic Tombs or tumuli in Japan, constructed between early 3rd century and early 7th century. However, since the Meiji Period, the Imperial Household Agency has refused to open the kofun to the public or to archaeologists, citing their desire not to disturb the spirits of the past emperors as justification for their refusal. The, or Meiji era, denotes the 45-year reign of the Meiji Emperor, running in the Gregorian calendar, from 23 October 1868 to 30 July The is a government agency of Japan in charge of the state matters concerning Japan's imperial family and also keeping the Privy Seal and the State Seal are megalithic Tombs or tumuli in Japan, constructed between early 3rd century and early 7th century. But in December 2006, the Imperial Household Agency reversed its position and decided to allow researchers to enter some of the kofun with certain restrictions. are megalithic Tombs or tumuli in Japan, constructed between early 3rd century and early 7th century.

House of Fujiwara, etc.

There have been six non-imperial families who have controlled Japanese emperors: the Soga (530s-645), the Fujiwara (850s-1070), the Taira (for a relatively short period), the Minamoto (and Kamakura bakufu) (1192-1331), the Ashikaga (1336-1565) and the Tokugawa (1603-1867). The was one of the most powerful clans in Yamato Japan and played a major role in the spread of Buddhism in that country The Fujiwara clan (藤原氏 Fujiwara-shi) descending from the Nakatomi clan, was a powerful family of Regents in Japan that monopolized the regent positions For other uses of the word Taira see Taira (disambiguation The was a major Japanese clan in historical Japan was one of the honorary surnames bestowed by the Emperors of Japan of the Heian Period ( 794 – 1185 AD on those of their sons and grandsons who were not The was a prominent Japanese Samurai clan which established the Muromachi shogunate and ruled Japan from roughly 1336 to 1573 The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the, and the, was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the Shoguns of However, every shogun from the Minamoto, Ashikaga and Tokugawa families had to be officially recognised by the emperors, who were still the source of sovereignty, although they could not exercise their powers independently from the Shogunate.

Disputes

The growth of the samurai class from the 10th century gradually weakened the power of the imperial family over the nation, leading to a time of instability. is the term for the military nobility of Pre-industrial Japan. Cloistered emperors have been known to come into conflict with the reigning emperor from time to time; a notable example is the Hōgen Rebellion of 1156, in which former Emperor Sutoku attempted to seize power from the then current Emperor Go-Shirakawa, both of whom were supported by different clans of samurai. The Hōgen Rebellion (保元の乱 was a Japanese Civil war fought in 1156 over Japanese imperial succession and control of the Fujiwara Emperor Sutoku (崇徳天皇 Sutoku-tennō) ( 7 July 1119 &ndash 14 September 1164) was the 75th emperor of Emperor Go-Shirakawa (後白河天皇 Go-Shirakawa-tennō) ( October 18, 1127 &ndash April 26, 1192 Other instances, such as Emperor Go-Toba's 1221 rebellion against the Kamakura shogunate and the 1336 Kemmu Restoration under Emperor Go-Daigo, show the power struggle between the Imperial House and the military governments of Japan. ( August 6, 1180 &ndash March 28, 1239) was the 82nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession The Kamakura shogunate ( Japanese: 鎌倉幕府 Kamakura bakufu) was a feudal military dictatorship in Japan headed by the Shoguns from The was a period of Japanese history that occurred from 1333 to 1336. Emperor Go-Daigo (後醍醐天皇 Go-Daigo-tennō) ( November 26, 1288 &ndash September 19, 1339) was the 96th emperor

Territorial Matters

Up to recent centuries, Japan's territory did not include several remote regions of its modern-day territory. The name Nippon came into use only many centuries after the start of the current imperial line. Centralized government really only began to appear shortly before and during the time of Prince Shotoku. also known as, was a Regent and a politician of the Asuka period in Japan. The emperor was more like a revered embodiment of divine harmony rather than the head of an actual governing administration. In Japan it has always been easy for ambitious lords to hold actual power, as such positions have not been inherently contradictory to the emperor's position. Parliamentary government today continues a similar coexistence with the emperor as have various shoguns, regents, warlords, guardians, etc.

Historically the titles of tennō in Japanese have never included territorial designations as is the case with many European monarchs. The position of emperor is a territory-independent phenomenon - the emperor is the emperor, even if he has followers only in one province (as was the case sometimes with the southern and northern courts).

Shoguns

From 1192 to 1867, sovereignty of the state was exercised by the shoguns, or their shikken regents (1203-1333) , whose authority was conferred by Imperial warrant. is a military rank and historical title in Japan. The Japanese word for "general" it is made up of two Kanji words sho, meaning "commander" The was the regent for the Shogun in the Kamakura shogunate in Japan. When Portuguese and Spanish explorers first contacted Japan (see Nanban period), they gave analogy to the relationship between emperor and shogun to that of the Roman Catholic Pope (godly, but with little political power) and king or Holy Roman emperor (earthly, but with a relatively large amount of political power) though this in itself can be considered inaccurate as, like the Emperor, Roman Catholic Popes have wielded varying degrees of power throughout their history. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The Nanban trade ( Japanese: 南蛮貿易 nanban-bōeki, "Southern barbarian trade" or the Nanban trade period ( Japanese: 南蛮貿易時代 History See also History of the Papacy Catholics recognize the Pope as a successor to Saint Peter, who Jesus named as the "shepherd" and The Holy Roman Emperor (Römischer Kaiser or Römisch-Deutscher Kaiser Romanorum Imperator was the elected monarch ruling over the many varying numbers of states For example, the regent Toyotomi Hideyoshi was recorded by the missionaries as "emperor Taicosama" (from Taiko and the honorific sama). In Japan, Sesshō (摂政 was a title given to a Regent who was named to assist either a child emperor before his Coming of age, or an Japanese, like other languages uses a broad array of Honorifics for addressing or referring to people with respect

Meiji restoration

Main article: Meiji restoration

The Meiji restoration was in fact a kind of revolution, with the domains of Satsuma and Chōshū uniting to topple the Tokugawa Shogunate. The, also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, or Renewal, was a chain of events that led to enormous changes in Japan 's political and social structure Emperor Meiji's father, Emperor Komei, had begun to assert himself politically after Commodore Matthew Perry's ships visited Edo. Matthew Calbraith Perry ( April 10, 1794 &ndash March 4, 1858) was the Commodore of the U By the early 1860s, the dynamic between the imperial court and the Shogunate had changed drastically. Ironically, Komei had asserted himself against the Shogunate because he and the other nobles were upset at the failure of the Shogunate to expel the barbarian interlopers. Disaffected domains and ronin began to rally to the call of "sonno, joi," or "respect the emperor, expel the barbarians. " Satsuma and Chōshū used this turmoil to move against their historic enemy, and won an important military victory outside of Kyoto against Tokugawa forces. In 1868 an imperial "restoration" was declared, and the Shogunate was stripped of its powers. The next several years would see significant unrest and turmoil, along with sporadic rebellion.

Addressing and naming

There are two Japanese words equivalent to the English word "emperor": tennō (天皇, lit. "heaven ruler"), which is used exclusively to refer to an emperor of Japan, and kōtei (皇帝, the title used by Chinese emperors), which is used primarily to describe non-Japanese emperors. Sumeramikoto (lit. "heavenly ruler above the clouds") was also used in Old Japanese. Old Japanese is the old stage of the Japanese language. The stage in and before Nara period is called. The term tennō was used by the emperors up until the Middle Ages; then, following a period of disuse, it was used again from the 19th century. [2] In English, the term mikado (御門 or 帝 or みかど), which literally refers to "the Gate" (i. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States e. the gate of the imperial place) was once used (cf. The Mikado, a 19th century operetta), but this term is now obsolete. The Mikado, or The Town of Titipu, is a Comic opera in two acts with music by Arthur Sullivan and Libretto by W Operetta is a genre of light Opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter [3]

Traditionally, the Japanese considered it disrespectful to call a person of noble rank by his given name. This convention has largely died out along with the noble class itself, although it is still observed for the imperial family. Since Emperor Meiji, it has been customary to have one era per emperor and to rename each emperor after his death using the name of the era over which he presided, plus the word Tennō. The Japanese era calendar scheme is a common Calendar scheme used in Japan, which identifies a year by the combination of the and the year number within the era Prior to Emperor Meiji, the names of the eras were changed more frequently, and the posthumous names of the emperors were chosen in a different manner. The (3 November 1852 — 30 July 1912 or Meiji the Great was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession reigning from 3 February The Japanese era calendar scheme is a common Calendar scheme used in Japan, which identifies a year by the combination of the and the year number within the era

Outside of Japan, beginning with Hirohito (Emperor Shōwa), the emperors are often referred to by their given names, both whilst alive and posthumously. also known as, (April 29 1901 – January 7 1989 was the 124th Emperor of Japan according to the traditional order reigning from December 25 1926 until his death For example, the previous emperor is usually called Hirohito in English, although he was never referred to as Hirohito in Japan and was renamed Shōwa Tennō after his death, which is the only name that Japanese speakers currently use when referring to him. also known as, (April 29 1901 – January 7 1989 was the 124th Emperor of Japan according to the traditional order reigning from December 25 1926 until his death

The current emperor on the throne is typically referred to by the title Tennō Heika (天皇陛下, lit. "His Majesty the Emperor") or Kinjō Heika (今上陛下, lit. is the current of Japan, and the 125th Emperor according to Japan's traditional order of succession. "his current majesty") when speaking Japanese. Other terms used to refer to the emperor in Japanese include Heika and Okami, but these are much less typical than Tennō Heika or Kinjō Heika in ordinary conversation. The current emperor will be renamed "Heisei Tennō" after his death and will then be referred to exclusively by that name in Japanese. Non-Japanese speakers typically refer to him now as Akihito, or Emperor Akihito, and will likely continue to do so after his death.

Origin of the title

The ruler of Japan was known as either 大和大王/大君 (Yamato-ōkimi, Grand King of Yamato), 倭王/倭国王 (Wa-ō/Wakoku-ō, King of Wa, used externally), or 治天下大王 (ame-no-shita shiroshimesu ōkimi or sumera no mikoto, Grand King who rules all under heaven, used internally) in Japanese and Chinese sources prior to the 7th century. was a province of Japan, located in Kinai, corresponding to present-day Nara Prefecture in Honshū. The oldest documented use of the word "tennō" is on a wooden slat, or mokkan, that was unearthed in Asuka-mura, Nara Prefecture in 1998 and dated back to the reign of Emperor Temmu and Empress Jitō. This article is about the village of. For articles related to the capital sites and ruins of, see Asuka Yamato. (c 631 - October 1 686) was the 40th Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession (645 &ndash December 22 702 was the 41st imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession

Marriage traditions

The current Empress Michiko
The current Empress Michiko
The current Princess Masako
The current Princess Masako

Throughout history, contrary to any sort of harem practice of not recognizing a chief wife and just keeping an assortment of female chattel, Japanese emperors and noblemen appointed the position of chief wife. Michiko Empress of Japan, (born October 20, 1934) formerly and later the Crown Princess of Japan ( April 10, 1959 to January Childhood She was born, the eldest of Hisashi Owada, a senior Diplomat. HAREM is the first evaluation contest of Named entity recognition (NER for Portuguese and its call for participation was announced in September 2004

The Japanese imperial dynasty consistently practiced official polygamy, a practice that only ended in the Taisho period (1912-1926). The term polygamy (a Greek word meaning "the practice of multiple marriage" is used in related ways in Social anthropology, Sociobiology, and The, or Taishō era, is a period in the History of Japan dating from July 30, 1912 to December 25, 1926, coinciding with the reign Besides the empress, the emperor could take, and nearly always took, several secondary consorts ("concubines") of various hierarchical degrees. Concubinage is the state of a woman or youth in an ongoing quasi-matrimonial relationship with a man of higher social status Concubines were allowed also to other dynasts (shinno, o). After a decision decreed by Emperor Ichijo, some emperors even had two empresses simultaneously (kogo and chugu are the two separate titles for that situation). Emperor Ichijō (一条天皇 Ichijō-tennō) ( July 15, 980 - July 25, 1011) was the 66th emperor of Japan In Japan, Empress may refer to either or. Ruling Empresses There were eight female imperial reigns (six female emperors including two who reigned twice in With the help of all this polygamy, the imperial clan thus was capable of producing more offspring. (Sons by secondary consorts were usually recognized as imperial princes, too, and could be recognized as heir to the throne if the empress did not give birth to an heir. )

Of the eight female tennō (reigning empress) of Japan, none married or gave birth after ascending the throne. Some of them, being widows, had produced children prior to their reigns.

In the succession, children of the empress were preferred over sons of secondary consorts. Thus it was significant which quarters had preferential opportunities in providing chief wives to imperial princes, i. e. supplying future empresses.

Apparently the oldest tradition of official marriages within the imperial dynasty were marriages between dynasty members, even half-siblings or uncle and niece. Such marriages were deemed to preserve better the imperial blood or were aimed at producing children symbolic of a reconciliation between two branches of the imperial dynasty. Daughters of others than imperials remained concubines, until Emperor Shōmu--in what was specifically reported as the first elevation of its kind--elevated his Fujiwara consort to chief wife. Emperor Shōmu (聖武天皇 Shōmu Tennō) (701 – June 4, 756) was the 45th Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional The Fujiwara clan (藤原氏 Fujiwara-shi) descending from the Nakatomi clan, was a powerful family of Regents in Japan that monopolized the regent positions

Japanese monarchs have been, as much as others elsewhere, dependent on making alliances with powerful chiefs and other monarchs. Many such alliances were sealed by marriages. The specific feature in Japan has been the fact that these marriages have been soon incorporated as elements of tradition which controlled the marriages of later generations, though the original practical alliance had lost its real meaning. A repeated pattern has been an imperial son-in-law under the influence of his powerful non-imperial father-in-law.

Beginning from the 7th and 8th centuries, emperors primarily took women of the Fujiwara clan as their highest wives - the most probable mothers of future monarchs. The Fujiwara clan (藤原氏 Fujiwara-shi) descending from the Nakatomi clan, was a powerful family of Regents in Japan that monopolized the regent positions This was cloaked as a tradition of marriage between heirs of two kamis, Shinto gods: descendants of Amaterasu with descendants of the family kami of the Fujiwara. is the native religion of Japan and was once its State religion. or is in Japanese mythology a sun goddess and perhaps the most important Shinto. (Originally, the Fujiwara were descended from relatively minor nobility, thus their kami is an unremarkable one in the Japanese myth world. ) To produce imperial children, heirs of the nation, with two-side descent from the two kamis, was regarded as desirable - or at least it suited powerful Fujiwara lords, who thus received preference in the imperial marriage market. The reality behind such marriages was an alliance between an imperial prince and a Fujiwara lord, his father-in-law or grandfather, the latter with his resources supporting the prince to the throne and most often controlling the government. These arrangements created the tradition of regents (Sessho and Kampaku), with these positions allowed to be held only by a Fujiwara sekke lord. In Japan, Sesshō (摂政 was a title given to a Regent who was named to assist either a child emperor before his Coming of age, or an In Japan, Sesshō (摂政 was a title given to a Regent who was named to assist either a child emperor before his Coming of age, or an

Earlier, the emperors had married women from families of the government-holding Soga lords, and women of the imperial clan itself, i. The was one of the most powerful clans in Yamato Japan and played a major role in the spread of Buddhism in that country e. various-degree cousins and often even their own sisters (half-sisters). Several imperials of the 5th and 6th centuries were children of a couple of half-siblings. These marriages often were alliance or succession devices: the Soga lord ensured the domination of a prince, to be put as puppet to the throne; or a prince ensured the combination of two imperial descents, to strengthen his own and his children's claim to the throne. Marriages were also a means to seal a reconciliation between two imperial branches.

After a couple of centuries, emperors could no longer take anyone from outside such families as primary wife, no matter what the expediency of such a marriage and power or wealth brought by such might have been. Only very rarely was a prince without a mother of descent from such families allowed to ascend the throne. The earlier necessity and expediency had mutated into a strict tradition that did not allow for current expediency or necessity, but only dictated that daughters of a restricted circle of families were eligible brides, because they had produced eligible brides for centuries. Tradition had become more forceful than law.

Fujiwara women were often Empresses, and concubines came from less exalted noble families. In the last thousand years, sons of an imperial male and a Fujiwara woman have been preferred in the succession.

The five Fujiwara families, Ichijo, Kujo, Nijo, Konoe and Takatsukasa, were the primary source of imperial brides from the 8th century to the 19th century, even more often than daughters of the imperial clan itself. Fujiwara daughters were thus the usual empresses and mothers of emperors.

The acceptable source of imperial wives, brides for the emperor and crown prince, were even legislated into the Meiji-era imperial house laws (1889), which stipulated that daughters of Sekke (the five main branches of the higher Fujiwara) and daughters of the imperial clan itself were primarily acceptable brides. The, or Meiji era, denotes the 45-year reign of the Meiji Emperor, running in the Gregorian calendar, from 23 October 1868 to 30 July

Since that law was repealed in the aftermath of World War II, the present Emperor Akihito became the first crown prince for over a thousand years to have an empress outside the previously eligible circle. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including

Succession

Tokyo Imperial Palace
Tokyo Imperial Palace

The Japanese imperial dynasty bases its position in the expression that it has reigned "since time immemorial". is the imperial main residence of the Emperor of Japan. It is a large park-like area located in Chiyoda Tokyo close to Tokyo Station and contains various buildings Time immemorial is a phrase meaning time extending beyond the reach of Memory, record or Tradition. It is true that its origins are buried under mists of time: there are no records to show an existence of any early emperor who is known to have not been a descendant of other, yet earlier emperors. An early ancestor of the dynasty, Emperor Keitai (flourished in the early 500's CE) however is suspected to have been an homme nouveau, though the sources state that he was a male-line descendant of Emperor Ōjin. "Keitai" is also the Japanese term for mobile/cell phones but is written with different Kanji. or rather Ōjin ōkimi was the 15th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession According to records, the family he started on the throne, however descends also from at least one, probably of several, imperial princesses of the immediate dynasty of his predecessors. The tradition built by those legends has chosen to recognize just the putative male ancestry as valid for legitimizing his succession, not giving any weight to ties through the said princesses. Millennia ago, the Japanese imperial family developed its own peculiar system of hereditary succession. It has been non-primogenitural, more or less agnatic, based mostly on rotation. Today, Japan uses strict agnatic primogeniture - in other words, pure Salic law. Agnatic (or patrilineal descent is established by tracing descent exclusively through males from a founding male ancestor Primogeniture is the Common law right of the Firstborn son to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings Salic law ( Lat Lex Salica) was an important body of traditional Law codified for governing the Salian Franks in the Early Middle Ages It was adopted from Prussia, by which Japan was greatly influenced in the 1870s. Prussia ( Latin: Borussia, Prutenia; Prūsija Prūsija Prusy Old Prussian: Prūsa) was most recently a historic state

Strict agnatic primogeniture is, however, directly contradictory to several old Japanese traditions of imperial succession.

The controlling principles and their interaction were apparently very complex and sophisticated, leading to even idiosyncratic outcomes. Some chief principles apparent in the succession have been:

Historically, the succession to Japan's Chrysanthemum Throne has always passed to descendants in male line from the imperial lineage. Generally they have been males, though of the over one hundred monarchs there have been nine women (one pre-historical and eight historical) as Emperor on eleven occasions. See the male line of the Yamato dynasty.

Over a thousand years ago, a tradition started that an emperor should ascend relatively young. A dynast who has passed one's toddler years, was regarded suitable and old enough. Reaching the age of legal majority was not a requirement. Thus, a multitude of Japanese emperors have ascended as children, as young as 6 or 8 years old. The high-priestly duties were deemed possible for a walking child. A reign of around ten years was regarded a sufficient service. Being a child was apparently a fine property, to endure tedious duties and to tolerate subjugation to political powerfuls, as well as sometimes to cloak the real powerful members of the imperial dynasty. Almost all Japanese empresses and dozens of emperors abdicated, and lived the rest of their lives in pampered retirement, and/or influencing behind the curtains. Several emperors abdicated/reached their entitled retirement while still in their teens. These traditions show in Japanese folklore, theater, literature and other forms of culture, where the emperor is usually described or depicted as an adolescent.

Before the Meiji Restoration, Japan had eleven reigns of female tennō, or reigning empresses, all of them daughters of the male line of the Imperial House. The, also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, or Renewal, was a chain of events that led to enormous changes in Japan 's political and social structure The Japanese imperial succession controversy refers to desires to change the Laws of succession to the Japanese Imperial Throne which is currently limited to males of the imperial None ascended purely as a wife or as a widow of an emperor. Imperial daughters and granddaughters, however, usually ascended the throne as a sort of a "stop gap" measure - if a suitable male was not available or some imperial branches were in rivalry so that a compromise was needed. Over half of Japanese empresses and many emperors abdicated once a suitable male descendant was considered to be old enough to rule (just past toddlerhood, in some cases). Four empresses, Empress Suiko, Empress Kōgyoku (also Empress Saimei) and Empress Jitō, as well as the mythical empress Jingu kogo, were widows of deceased emperors and princesses of the blood imperial in their own right. was the 33rd tenno of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession and the first of eight women to ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne. Empress Kōgyoku (皇極天皇 Kōgyoku-tennō) also Empress Saimei (斉明天皇 Saimei-tennō) (594&ndash August 24, 661) was the (645 &ndash December 22 702 was the 41st imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession One, Empress Gemmei, was the widow of a crown prince and a princess of the blood imperial. (661 &ndash December 29 721 was the 43rd imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession The other four, Empress Genshō, Empress Kōken (also Empress Shōtoku), Empress Meishō and Empress Go-Sakuramachi, were unwed daughters of previous emperors. Empress Genshō (元正天皇 Genshō-tennō) (680 &ndash May 22, 748) was the 44th imperial ruler of Japan, according to the traditional Empress Shōtoku (称徳天皇 Shōtoku-tennō) (718 &ndash August 28, 770) was both the 46th and the 48th imperial ruler Empress Meishō (明正天皇 Meishō-tennō) ( January 9, 1624 – December 4, 1696) was the 109th Monarch of Empress Go-Sakuramachi (後桜町天皇 Go-Sakuramachi-tennō) ( September 23, 1740 &ndash December 24, 1813) was the 117th None of these empresses married or gave birth after ascending the throne.

Article 2 of the 1889 Meiji Constitution (the Constitution of the Empire of Japan) stated, "The Imperial Throne shall be succeeded to by imperial male descendants, according to the provisions of the Imperial House Law. The, more commonly known as the Imperial or Meiji Constitution, was the fundamental law of the Empire of Japan from 29 November 1890 until 2 May 1947 " The 1889 Imperial Household Law fixed the succession on male descendants of the imperial line, and specifically excluded female descendants from the succession. In the event of a complete failure of the main line, the throne would pass to the nearest collateral branch, again in the male line. If the empress did not give birth to an heir, the emperor could take a concubine, and the son he had by that concubine would be recognized as heir to the throne. This law, which was promulgated on the same day as the Meiji Constitution, enjoyed co-equal status with that constitution. The, more commonly known as the Imperial or Meiji Constitution, was the fundamental law of the Empire of Japan from 29 November 1890 until 2 May 1947

Article 2 of the Constitution of Japan, promulgated in 1947 by influence of the US occupation administration and still in force, provides that "The Imperial Throne shall be dynastic and succeeded to in accordance with the Imperial Household Law passed by the Diet. The has been the founding legal document of Japan since 1947 The constitution provides for a Parliamentary system of government and guarantees certain fundamental rights " The Imperial Household Law of 16 January 1947, enacted by the ninety-second and last session of the Imperial Diet, retained the exclusion on female dynasts found in the 1889 law. is a statute in Japanese law that governs the line of imperial succession the membership of the imperial family, and several other matters pertaining to the administration of the Imperial Events 27 BC - The title Augustus is bestowed upon Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian by the Roman Senate. Year 1947 ( MCMXLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The government of Prime Minister Yoshida Shigeru hastily cobbled together the legislation to bring the Imperial Household in compliance with the American-written Constitution of Japan that went into effect in May 1947. KCVO September 22, 1878 &ndash October 20, 1967, was a Japanese Diplomat and politician who served as Prime Minister The has been the founding legal document of Japan since 1947 The constitution provides for a Parliamentary system of government and guarantees certain fundamental rights In an effort to control the size of the imperial family, the law stipulates that only legitimate male descendants in the male line can be dynasts; that imperial princes and princesses lose their status as Imperial Family members if they marry outside the Imperial Family; and that the Emperor and other members of the Imperial Family may not adopt children. It also prevented branches, other than the branch descending from Taisho, from being imperial princes any longer.

Current status

Succession is now regulated by laws passed by the Japanese Diet. The is Japan's Bicameral Legislature. It is composed of a Lower house, called the House of Representatives, and an Upper house, called The current law excludes women from the succession. A change to this law had been considered until Princess Kiko gave birth to a son. Early life Princess Kiko is the eldest daughter of Kawashima Tatsuhiko Professor of Geology at Gakushuin University, and his wife Kazuyo

Until the birth of a son to Prince Akishino on September 6, 2006, there was a potential succession crisis, since Prince Akishino was the only male child to be born into the imperial family since 1965. Early life and education The prince was born 30 November 1965 at the Aoyama Detached Palace in Tokyo Events 3114 BC - According to the Proleptic Julian calendar the current era in the Maya Long Count Calendar started Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Following the birth of Princess Aiko, there was some public debate about amending the current Imperial Household Law to allow women to succeed to the throne. born December 1, 2001, is the first child of Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince Naruhito, heir apparent to the Japanese throne and Crown Princess This creates a logistical challenge as well as political: any change in the law would most likely mean a revision to allow the succession of the first born rather than the first-born son; however, the current emperor is not the first born--he has elder sisters. 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. is a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2001 to 2006

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. Events 1147 - The Portuguese, under Afonso I, and Crusaders from England and Flanders conquer Lisbon after a Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 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. Events 250 - Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. This article is about the government position For other uses see Prime Minister (disambiguation. is a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2001 to 2006 However, shortly after the announcement that Princess Kiko was pregnant with her third child, Koizumi suspended such plans. Early life Princess Kiko is the eldest daughter of Kawashima Tatsuhiko Professor of Geology at Gakushuin University, and his wife Kazuyo Her son, Prince Hisahito, is the third in line to the throne under the current law of succession. On January 3, 2007, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced that he would drop the proposal to alter the Imperial Household Law. Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. This article is about the government position For other uses see Prime Minister (disambiguation. is a statute in Japanese law that governs the line of imperial succession the membership of the imperial family, and several other matters pertaining to the administration of the Imperial [2]

Royal's role Controversy

As a member of Japan's imperial family, Prince Tomohito, said about the modern role of royalty, "If you ask me what the imperial family is all about, and I think and think and think about it, the very final conclusion is that our meaning lies in our simply existing," the prince said. Education Prince Tomohito studied and graduated from the Department of Political Studies in the Faculty of Law of Gakushuin University in 1968 The royals, he said, could fulfill their duties simply by "waking up in the morning, eating breakfast, eating lunch, eating dinner, then going to sleep, repeating that 365 days a year. " [4]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ the etymology is unknown. There have been several controversies regarding the role and the status of the Emperor of Japan. is a military rank and historical title in Japan. The Japanese word for "general" it is made up of two Kanji words sho, meaning "commander" is a military rank and historical title in Japan. The Japanese word for "general" it is made up of two Kanji words sho, meaning "commander" The Insei system (院政 or cloistered rule, was a specific form of government in Japan, in which the Emperor abdicated but kept exerting power and influence The written history of Japan begins with brief references in the 1st century AD Twenty-Four Histories, a collection of Chinese historical texts WikipediaPage size suggests not to divide this as it's a list The Imperial House of Japan (also referred to as the Imperial Family or kōshitsu, 皇室 comprises those members of the extended family of the reigning Emperor of The Japanese imperial succession controversy refers to desires to change the Laws of succession to the Japanese Imperial Throne which is currently limited to males of the imperial Japanese nationalism refers to the Japanese version of Nationalism, and encompasses a broad range of ideas and sentiments entertained by the Japanese people The, also known as the Three Sacred Treasures, consist of the Sword, Kusanagi (草薙劍 the jewel or necklace of jewels Tenno Beach, or Emperor Beach, is located on the southeast side of the Izu peninsula, Japan Opinion is hopelessly divided on the truth of etymology, 1. apotheosize Polaris (ancient Chinese mythicalja:天皇大帝), 2. Polaris (α UMi / α Ursae Minoris / Alpha Ursae Minoris commonly North(ern Star or Pole Star, and sometimes Lodestar Emperor Gaozong of Tang's appenllation 3. Background and life as Prince of Jin Li Zhi was born in 628 He was the ninth son of his father Emperor Taizong, and the third son of his mother Emperor Taizong's wife variations of "天王 (literally heavenly king)" (see 天皇)
  2. ^ Screech, (2006). Secret Memoirs of the Shoguns: Isaac Titsingh and Japan, 1779-1822, p. 232 n4.
  3. ^ Asakawa, Kan'ichi. (1903). The Early Institutional Life of Japan, Tokyo: Shueisha [New York: Paragon Book Reprint Corp. is a major publisher in Japan, headquartered in Tokyo. The company was founded in 1925 as the entertainment-related publishing division of Japanese publisher Shogakukan , 1963], p. 25 n. 1. ["We purposely avoid, in spite of its wide usage in foreign literature, the misleading term Mikado. If it be not for the natural curiosity of the races, which always seeks something novel and loves to call foreign things by foreign names, it is hard to understand why this obsolete and ambiguous word should so sedulously be retained. It originally meant not only the Sovereign, but also his house, the court, and even the State, and its use in historical writings causes many difficulties which it is unnecessary to discuss here in detail. The native Japanese employ the term neither in speech nor in writing. It might as well be dismissed with great advantage from sober literature as it has been for the official documents. "]
  4. ^ A Japanese royal known for talking up a storm, IHT, October 20, 2007 [1]

References

External links

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