The photograph above is an emperor and an empress in Japan as of 2010. Emperor's name is Akihito and 76 years old now, and Empress's name is Michiko and 75 years old now. They are very friends, and loved very much by Japanese citizen. Moreover, they are popular from the foreign country.

It is said that imperial household in Japan continues at 125 generations. Such imperial household is only Japan in the world. I introduce emperor's family in Japan today.

First of all, I explain emperor's position.

The status of the emperor is stated in the Japanese Constitution as "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people". He carries out affairs of the state such as appointing the prime minister designated by the Diet and the convocation of the Diet as approved and advised by the Cabinet. His status is similar to that of the Queen of England. According to Japan's oldest history book, written in the 8th century, the first emperor, Jimmu, was a descendant of Amaterasu, the Goddess of the sun, and is said to have ascended to the Imperial Throne in 660 BC.

Genealogy of the Imperial Family

The present emperor Akihito was born in 1933 and married Michiko Shoda in 1959. Their marriage was very much applauded by the Japanese people because she was the first commoner's daughter in modern history to join the imperial family. He became emperor in January, 1989 when his farther Emperor Showa (Hirohito) died. They have two sons and a daughter. Their oldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito was born 1960 and married Masako Owada in 1993. Masako was diplomat who graduated from Harvard University. Their marriage was broadcast all over the world, and many people were surprised that Masako would give up her career as a diplomat to enter such a totally different environment. They have a daughter, Princess Aiko, who was born in 2001. Their second son, Prince Fumihito was born in 1965, married Kiko Kawashima in 1990, and they have two daughters and a son, Prince Hisahito born in 2006, the only male grandson of the emperor. The emperor's daughter, Sayako, was born in 1969. She had to give up her status as a member of the imperial family when she married in 2005. They don't have suffrage or eligibility to run for public office and are not included in the census register. The Imperial Palace is guarded by 300 imperial policemen. There are also about 1,050 Imperial Household Agents working for them in the palace.

They are Emperor Showa (Hirohito) and Empress Kojun (Nagako), and Hirohito died in 1989, and Nagako died in 2000. Hirohito lived in the age of World War II. He takes the responsibility of the war at that time, but Japanese citizen forgave him, and loved him.

A lot of natural damages such as earthquakes and floods are in Japan, and, a lot of victims are born at that time. Emperor often visits the stricken district, and encourages the victim. Emperor is not a god and he is one human. However, because he is mysterious, courage is given to people by him.

A lot of Japanese citizens visit, and bless the emperor on the New Year's Day and their birthdays etc. Emperor's family is very loved.

Akihito is an emperor at the 125th generation. He gives courage to a lot of people though he is an elderly person now. If he is seen, the Japanese becomes calm and relax, and it is mysterious. Moreover, Michiko keeps supporting Akihito all time. Her services are very large, she is widely recognized very much.

Recentry, there is few people who denys emperor's family in Japan. Of course, because Japan is democracy, all the opinions and thought are permitted. Because I don't know the religion and the history in detailed, so I don't know the meaning of the academic emperor, but, at least, the emperor gives people love and courage, is loved by the Japanese and the foreigner too. I think that the emperor's existence improves the impression of Japan, therefore, they are great for the Japanese. I wish their happiness and long life.

Thank you.

*He is Present Prime Minister in Japan, Yukio Hatoyama.

How is your Happy New Year for 2010! I wish you happiness, health and success this year, and the world would be good this year. Especially, economy all over the world was bad last year excluding a part of country. Economy is important as well as the environment.

There was a change of regime power in Japan last year. However, a new political power only makes a new problem with US. The rumor of the Prime Minister(Hatoyama) alternation has spread already though a present Prime Minister assumed the position last September. The Prime Minister in Japan changes every year in these years and the foreign country is amazed very much. However, some political scientists say that the head of state changes because the country is steady. Certainly, a long-term head of state exists in a part of country, and those countries are mostly unstable. But I don't know what is good. Anyway, probably, the Prime Minister will change again in this year.

(The Past Prime Minister in Japan)
*The head of state in Japan is a Prime Minister. It is not an emperor.
Nov 1982 - Nov 1987 / Nakasone (1806 days)
Nov 1987 - Jun 1989 / Takeshita (576 days)
Jun 1989 - Aug 1989 / Uno (69 days)
Aug 1989 - Nov 1991 / Kaifu (818 days)
Nov 1991 - Aug 1993 / Miyazawa (644 days)
Aug 1993 - Apr 1994 / Hosokawa (263 days)
Apr 1994 - Jun 1994 / Hata (64 days)
Jun 1994 - Jan 1996 / Tomiyama (561 days)
Jan 1996 - Jul 1998 / Hashimoto (932 days)
Jul 1998 - Apr 2000 / Obuchi (616 days)
Apr 2000 - Apr 2001 / Mori (297 days)
Apr 2001 - Sep 2006 / Koizumi (1980 days)
Sep 2006 - Sep 2007 / Abe (366 days)
Sep 2007 - Sep 2008 / Fukuda (365 days)
Sep 2008 - Sep 2009 / Aso (358 days)
Sep 2009 - / Hatoyama

You know that the assumption period of the Prime Minister in Japan is short excluding part. Therefore, there are a lot of politicians who do not want to become Prime Ministers in Japan.

Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet

"Nippon" or "Nihon" literally means the place where the sun rises. It is said that when Imperial Prince Shotoku sent an official letter to a Chinese emperor of the Sui dynasty in the 7th century, he mentioned it was from the Imperial Prince of the sun-rising country to the emperor of the sun-sinking country. It is said that this was the first time Japan was designated the sun-rising country.

The Japanese national flag is called Hinomaru in Japanese, which literally means ths sun circle. The design of the flag is very simple with a red circle symbolizing the rising sun on a white background. It is said that flags with this design were originally used in shrines and, from the 16th century onwards, people started to use it for identification on Japanese ships. It was on 1999 that Hinomaru became the national flag by law.

(Interesting Story)
A red color means the color of the sun in Japan. The color of the sun that children in Japan draw is red. The color of the sun that children in Europe and America draw is yellow. The color used by the race is different.
A red color means blood in Europe and America. Therefore, the national flag of Japan had been called blood in old times. However, it is a misunderstanding.