NEWSWORTHY
First joint survey planned for Daisen Kofun, Japan's largest ancient tomb
The Imperial Household Agency said Monday it will jointly excavate Japan's largest ancient mounded tomb, together with a local government, for the first time. The agency had restricted surveys of Daisen Kofun, which was first built in the fifth century and is officially designated as ...
Katsura Imperial Villa to allow more visitors, charge ¥1,000 from November
The Katsura Imperial Villa, or Katsura-Rikyu, located in Kyoto and originally built as a holiday home for the Imperial family, will welcome more visitors from Nov. 1 at a charge of ¥1,000 for those aged 18 or older, the Imperial Household Agency said Tuesday. The ...
Emperor Akihito resumes official duties after bout of nausea
Emperor Akihito, who had been resting for the last few days after suffering nausea and other symptoms, resumed his official duties in earnest Thursday by attending a ceremony to welcome new ambassadors, the Imperial Household Agency said. The Emperor, 84, who has spent much of ...
Princess Mako's marriage to be postponed over 'lack of preparation,' Imperial Household Agency says
The Imperial Household Agency said Tuesday that the formal engagement and marriage of Princess Mako — the eldest granddaughter of Emperor Akihito — and her fiance, Kei Komuro, will be postponed until 2020 due to "lack of preparation." The couple, both 26, were supposed to ...
Princess's engagement announcement postponed because of deadly rains in Kyushu
The plan to announce the engagement of Princess Mako, the eldest granddaughter of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, has been postponed in light of the deadly rains in Kyushu, sources close to the matter said. The Imperial Household Agency said last month that Princess Mako, ...
Princess Mako's engagement to be officially announced on July 8
The Imperial Household Agency said Monday it will officially announce the engagement of Princess Mako, the first grandchild of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, to a university classmate on July 8. Princess Mako, 25, and her fiance-to-be, Kei Komuro, 25, will hold a news conference ...
The Imperial family and public vs. LDP
NHK has become the go-to media outlet for scoops on the Imperial family. In July, the public broadcaster was the first to break the news that the Emperor wanted to step down and, last month, it was the first to report Princess Mako's intention ...
Emperor's second research paper on Imperial Palace 'tanuki' published by museum
The Imperial Household Agency announced Thursday that Emperor Akihito's research paper on tanuki, or raccoon dogs living on the Imperial Palace grounds has been published in a research report by the National Museum of Nature and Science. The report, co-authored with agency officials, was the ...
Emperor likely to issue video message Monday amid reports of desire to abdicate
It will be only the Emperor's second video message, following one released five days after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011.
Pictures of World War II Imperial shelter released to public for first time in 50 years
The Imperial Household Agency on Saturday released the first images in half a century of an air-raid shelter where Emperor Hirohito and his ministers made some of Japan's most momentous decisions during World War II. Photos and video taken by agency staffers show the shelter ...
Imperial Household Agency loosens up on access to Osaka burial mound
As part of measured steps toward greater openness, a department of the Imperial Household Agency on Friday guided academics and reporters around a hitherto off-limits megalithic burial mound near Osaka Bay. Dating from the late fifth century, Tannowa Nisanzai Kofun is an earth mound surrounded ...
