Princess Aiko turns 18 as she enjoys final year of high school
Princess Aiko, the only child of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, turned 18 on Sunday, enjoying her last year in high school as she prepares to move on for further studies at university starting next spring. The cello-loving princess, currently a third-year student at Gakushuin ...
In Japan, Pope Francis urges rethink of reliance on nuclear energy
Meeting survivors of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster that triggered the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear crisis, Pope Francis has a poignant message.
Pope Francis on Monday met with victims of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeastern Japan, a day after railing against the destructive power of nuclear weapons in the atomic bomb-hit cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. The gathering in Tokyo was set because ...
Japan's emperor and empress mark end of enthronement ceremonies at Ise shrine
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako visited the Grand Shrines of Ise in Mie Prefecture on Friday to mark the completion of two major rites signifying the emperor's enthronement. The couple offered prayers at the Geku outer shrine dedicated to the goddess of clothing, food and ...
Emperor departs for Grand Shrines of Ise to mark end of enthronement rites
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako left Tokyo on Thursday for the Grand Shrines of Ise for a ceremony marking the completion of two major rites signifying the emperor's enthronement. After ascending to the Chrysanthemum Throne on May 1 following his father's abdication, the 59-year-old emperor ...
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako are considering a trip late next month to areas of Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures that were hit hard by Typhoon Hagibis and subsequent heavy rain, the Imperial Household Agency said Tuesday. If realized, it will be the imperial couple's first ...
Conservative LDP group submits proposal to let some ex-imperial family members back into fold
With just three potential heirs to the throne, the LDP group called for enabling unmarried male members of former branches to join the imperial family.
The first round of Daikyo-no-Gi grand banquets for Emperor Naruhito and guests who attended the Daijosai grand thanksgiving ceremony took place at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Saturday. The day's banquet, held after Daijosai was performed by the emperor from Thursday evening to early ...
The government’s decision to finance the Daijosai ceremony with state funds draws criticism from experts, who claim the move was taken with undue speed in order to avoid reigniting controversy over the Constitution.
Emperor Naruhito performs centuries-old nighttime Daijosai ceremony as key succession rite
Emperor Naruhito performed from Thursday evening a centuries-old Shinto thanksgiving ceremony known as the Daijosai, the last of the major succession rituals following his enthronement in May. The state-funded rite has stirred controversy for its religious aspects. The Yukiden Kyosen no Gi event started at ...
Clandestine Japanese enthronement rite embodies tradition but is marked by controversy
The Daijosai, the most secretive and controversial part of the ceremonies, is a Shinto rite that begins on Thursday and involves the new emperor praying for peace and a rich harvest.
Some in Japanese government calling for women to head their own imperial family branches
The government is set to start talks on female members of the imperial family being allowed to maintain their royal status after marriage, by heading their own family branches, according to sources with knowledge of the matter. The proposal is seen as serving to defer ...
