Tag - emperor-akihito

 
 

EMPEROR AKIHITO

Emperor Emeritus Akihito takes a walk with Empress Emerita Michiko in the garden at their Sento Imperial Residence in Tokyo on Dec. 8.
JAPAN
Dec 23, 2025
Emperor Emeritus Akihito turns 92
With this year marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Emperor Emeritus Akihito reflected on the war, including remembering his evacuation to the countryside.
People enjoy the autumn leaves while walking along a street at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Saturday.
JAPAN
Nov 29, 2025
Imperial Palace street opened to public for autumn season
Until Dec. 7, visitors can enter the 750-meter street from the Sakashita gate and exit through the Inui gate between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Ahead of his 90th birthday, Prince Hitachi poses for a photo with Princess Hanako and their dog, Fukuhime, on Nov. 5 at their residence in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward.
JAPAN
Nov 28, 2025
Prince Hitachi, uncle of Emperor Naruhito, turns 90
According to the Imperial Household Agency, the prince spends his days with his wife, Princess Hanako, at their residence in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward.
Empress Emerita Michiko poses at the Sento Imperial Residence in Tokyo earlier this month prior to her 91st birthday on Monday.
JAPAN
Oct 20, 2025
Empress Emerita Michiko turns 91
She spends her days caring for her husband, Emperor Emeritus Akihito, and looking after her own health.
Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko strolled through a cabbage field in Ohinata settlement in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, on Saturday.
JAPAN
Aug 24, 2025
Emperor emeritus and empress emerita visit postwar settlement
The former Emperor and former Empress have frequently visited the settlement, developed by people who returned to Japan from Manchuria in northeastern China after World War II.
Emperor Emeritus Akihito is accompanied by Empress Emerita Michiko as he leaves the University of Tokyo Hospital on Friday.
JAPAN
Jul 18, 2025
Emperor emeritus diagnosed with another heart disorder
In 2022, the emperor emeritus was diagnosed with right heart failure caused by tricuspid valve insufficiency.
Emperor Emeritus Akihito is accompanied by Empress Emerita Michiko as he travels to the University of Tokyo Hospital on Monday.
JAPAN / Society
Jul 14, 2025
Japan’s Emperor Emeritus admitted to hospital to begin new heart treatment
Dosage for the new treatment will be decided after the 91-year-old former emperor undergoes an electrocardiogram.
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako greet upon their arrival at Hiroshima Airport on Thursday.
JAPAN
Jun 19, 2025
Japan’s emperor and empress arrive in Hiroshima
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako traveled to the city to commemorate the victims of the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing.
Emperor Emeritus Akihito, 91, rides in a car with Empress Emerita Michiko, 90, after he was discharged from the University of Tokyo Hospital on Saturday following an examination for suspected myocardial ischemia.
JAPAN
May 11, 2025
Emperor emeritus diagnosed with silent myocardial ischemia
Emperor Emeritus Akihito, 91, was diagnosed with the condition where blood flow from the coronary arteries to the heart muscle is reduced due to excessive exercise.
Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko stroll in the garden of Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park in the city of Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, on May 28, 2024.
JAPAN
May 6, 2025
Emperor emeritus is hospitalized for a heart exam
In July 2022, the emperor emeritus was diagnosed with right heart failure caused by tricuspid valve insufficiency.
Emperor Emeritus Akihito with Empress Emerita Michiko during a public appearance at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Jan. 2
JAPAN
May 5, 2025
Emperor emeritus to be hospitalized for heart tests
The former emperor has been diagnosed with a high probability of myocardial ischemia, which occurs when blood flow to the heart is insufficient.
Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko at the Akasaka Estate in Tokyo prior to the wake of Princess Yuriko on Nov. 24. The emperor emeritus was deeply sorrowful over the death of his aunt, aides said.
JAPAN
Dec 23, 2024
Emperor Emeritus Akihito turns 91
The emperor emeritus spends his days caring for Empress Emerita Michiko who broke her right thigh bone in October.
Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko stroll around a cabbage field in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, in August. Empress Emerita Michiko underwent surgery for a broken bone on Tuesday.
JAPAN
Oct 8, 2024
Japan’s Empress Emerita Michiko has surgery after breaking thighbone
Empress Emerita Michiko, turning 90 on Oct. 20, was hospitalized for surgery for the first time since 2019, when she was found to have breast cancer.
Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko visit Ohinata in Nagano Prefecture on Friday.
JAPAN
Aug 23, 2024
Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita visit settlement in Karuizawa
The former emperor has been a frequent visitor to the settlement, which was developed by people who returned to Japan from Manchuria in northeastern China after the war.
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark waves to onlookers on Sept. 1, 2023. Europe's longest-serving monarch said on Sunday that she would abdicate on Jan. 14 and pass the baton to her son Crown Prince Frederik.
WORLD / Politics
Jan 2, 2024
From Edward VIII to Emperor Akihito: Famous abdications
From love to failing health, people have relinquished the throne for a variety of reasons.
JAPAN
Oct 20, 2023
Empress Emerita Michiko turns 89
The former empress enjoys observing seasonal insects and flowers at her residence.
JAPAN
Sep 9, 2022
Queen Elizabeth II and her friendly ties with three emperors
Over the course of her 70 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II established close ties with the imperial family, spanning all or part of the reigns of three emperors.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 17, 2022
Princess Aiko offers condolences to quake victims in first solo conference
Princess Aiko, 20, the only child of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, gave her first solo news conference on Thursday.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 6, 2020
Japan’s fragile monarchy
Whereby there are presently only two viable heirs to Japan’s imperial throne, it’s easy to understand the fragility of the imperial line.
JAPAN
Nov 16, 2019
Public funding of religious Daijosai ceremony draws flak
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.

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