NEWSWORTHY
National Feb 6, 2018
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 ...
National Jul 7, 2017
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, ...
National Jun 20, 2017
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 ...
National / Media | MEDIA MIX Jun 10, 2017
The Imperial family and public vs. LDP
by Philip Brasor
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 ...
National Jun 10, 2017
Imperial Household Agency mulls expansion in staff for abdication
The Imperial Household Agency is considering asking for more personnel to deal with the extra work expected for the abdication of Emperor Akihito. After passing on the Chrysanthemum Throne to Crown Prince Naruhito, Emperor Akihito is set to become joko, a title used for retired ...
National Oct 7, 2016
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 ...
National Aug 4, 2016
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.
National / History Aug 1, 2015
Pictures of World War II Imperial shelter released to public for first time in 50 years
by Atsushi Kodera
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 ...
National Dec 5, 2014
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 ...
Editorials Sep 11, 2014
The Imperial Household Agency has made public a 61-volume, 12,000-page record of the life of Emperor Hirohito, who reigned from 1926 to 1989. The compilation took more than 24 years, but the record does not include what the emperor said about Japan's war in ...
National / Media | NET NEWS WATCH May 28, 2014
A high school girl in Tochigi Prefecture uploaded to her Twitter account a photo of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, who visited the prefecture on a personal trip, sparking debate on whether or not she should have done it. Many praised the photo for capturing ...