For the Japanese general, see Prince Komatsu Akihito. Akihito 明仁 125th Emperor of Japan Reign 7 January 1989 – present (&000000000000002200000022 years, &000000000000005400000054 days) Enthronement 12 November 1990 Predecessor Hirohito Heir apparent Naruhito, Crown Prince of Japan Prime Ministers See list Noboru Takeshita Sōsuke Uno Toshiki Kaifu Kiichi Miyazawa Morihiro Hosokawa Tsutomu Hata Tomiichi Murayama Ryūtarō Hashimoto Keizō Obuchi Yoshirō Mori Junichirō Koizumi Shinzō Abe Yasuo Fukuda Tarō Asō Yukio Hatoyama Naoto Kan Spouse Empress Michiko Issue Naruhito, Prince Hiro Fumihito, Prince Aya Sayako, Princess Nori House Imperial House of Japan Father Emperor Hirohito Mother Empress Kōjun Born 23 December 1933 (1933-12-23) (age 77) Tokyo, Empire of Japan Occupation Emperor, ichthyologist Religion Shinto Akihito (明仁?, born 23 December 1933) is the current Emperor (天皇, tennō?) of Japan, and the 125th Emperor according to Japan's traditional order of succession. He acceded to the throne in 1989, and is the 17th most senior monarch or lifelong leader. His title is customarily translated into English as "Emperor". Contents 1 Name 2 Biography 3 Marriage and children 4 Official functions 5 Ichthyological research 6 Awards 6.1 National 6.2 International 7 Ancestors 7.1 Patrilineal descent 8 See also 9 References 10 External links Name In Japan, the Emperor is never referred to by his given name, but rather is referred to as "His Imperial Majesty the Emperor" which may be shortened to "His Imperial Majesty" (陛下, heika?). In writing, the emperor is also referred to formally as "The Reigning Emperor" (今上天皇, kinjō tennō?). The Era of Akihito's reign bears the name "Heisei" (平成), and according to custom he will be renamed "Emperor Heisei" (平成天皇; see "posthumous name") by order of the cabinet after his death. At the same time, the name of the next era under his successor will also be established.1 Biography Personal standard of the Emperor Akihito is the eldest son and the fifth child of Emperor Hirohito (the Showa Emperor) and Empress Kōjun. Titled Prince Tsugu (継宮, Tsugu-no-miya?) as a child, he was raised and educated by his private tutors and then attended the elementary and secondary departments of the Peers' School (Gakushuin) from 1940 to 1952.2 Unlike his precedents in the Imperial Family, he did not receive a commission as an Army officer, at the request from his father, Hirohito.

During the American firebombing raids on Tokyo in March 1945, he and his younger brother, HIH Prince Masahito, were evacuated from the city. During the American occupation of Japan following World War II, Prince Akihito was tutored in English and Western manners by Elizabeth Gray Vining. He briefly studied at the Department of Political Science at Gakushuin University in Tokyo, though he never received a degree. Although he was Heir-Apparent to the Chrysanthemum Throne from the moment of his birth, his formal Investiture as Crown Prince (立太子礼, Rittaishi-no-rei?) was held at the Tokyo Imperial Palace on 10 November 1952. In June 1953, Crown Prince Akihito represented Japan at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in London.2 Then-Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko made official visits to thirty-seven countries. As an Imperial prince, Akihito compared the role of Japanese royalty to that of a robot; and he expressed the hope that he would like to help in bringing the Imperial family closer to the people of Japan.3 After the death of Emperor Hirohito on 7 January 1989, the crown prince received the succession (senso).4 Emperor Akihito formally acceded to the throne (sokui)4 on 12 November 1990.2 In 1998, during a state visit to the United Kingdom, he was invested with The Most Noble Order of the Garter. On 23 December 2001, during his annual birthday meeting with reporters, the Emperor, in response to a reporter's question about tensions with Korea, remarked that he felt a kinship with Koreans and went on to explain that in the Shoku Nihongi the mother of Emperor Kammu (736–806) is related to Muryeong of Korea, King of Baekje.5 Emperor Akihito underwent surgery for prostate cancer in January 2003.6 Since succeeding to the throne, Emperor Akihito has made an effort to bring the Imperial Family closer to the Japanese people. The Emperor and Empress of Japan have made official visits to eighteen countries, as well as all forty-seven Prefectures of Japan.2 Marriage and children Imperial House of Japan HIM The Emperor HIM The Empress HIH The Crown Prince HIH The Crown Princess HIH Princess Toshi HIH The Prince Akishino HIH The Princess Akishino HIH Princess Mako of Akishino HIH Princess Kako of Akishino HIH Prince Hisahito of Akishino HIH The Prince Hitachi HIH The Princess Hitachi HIH The Prince Mikasa HIH The Princess Mikasa HIH Prince Tomohito of Mikasa HIH Princess Tomohito of Mikasa HIH Princess Akiko of Mikasa HIH Princess Yōko of Mikasa HIH The Prince Katsura HIH The Princess Takamado HIH Princess Tsuguko of Takamado HIH Princess Noriko of Takamado HIH Princess Ayako of Takamado The newly-married Crown Prince and Crown Princess on Japanese traditional attire, with the Prince wearing a sokutai, the Princess a jūnihitoe .

On 10 April 1959, he married Miss Michiko Shōda (born 24 October 1934), the eldest daughter of Mr. Hidesaburo Shōda, the president and later honorary chairman of Nisshin Flour Milling Company.27 The new Crown Princess was the first commoner to marry into the imperial family. The Emperor and the Empress have three children: HIH The Crown Prince Naruhito (b. 23 February 1960, titled Hiro-no-miya or Prince Hiro), HIH The Prince Akishino (Fumihito, b. 30 November 1965, titled Aya-no-miya or Prince Aya) and Sayako Kuroda, formerly HIH The Princess Sayako (titled Nori-no-miya or Princess Nori, b. 18 April 1969).2 Official functions Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan. The Emperor of Japan, at Chowaden Reception Hall, giving a New Year's address to the people of Japan in 2010. Despite being strictly constrained by his constitutional position, he also issued several wide-ranging statements of remorse to Asian countries, for their suffering under Japanese occupation, beginning with an expression of remorse to China made in April 1989, three months after the death of his father, Emperor Hirohito. In June 2005, the Emperor visited the US territory of Saipan, the site of a battle in World War II from 15 June to 9 July 1944 (Battle of Saipan). Accompanied by Empress Michiko, he offered prayers and flowers at several memorials, honoring not only the Japanese who died, but also American soldiers, Korean laborers, and local islanders. It was the first trip by a Japanese monarch to a World War II battlefield abroad. The Saipan journey was received with high praise by the Japanese people, as were the Emperor's visits to war memorials in Tokyo, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Okinawa in 1995. On 6 September 2006, the Emperor celebrated the birth of his first grandson, Prince Hisahito, the third child of the Emperor's younger son. Prince Hisahito is the first male heir born to the Japanese imperial family in 41 years (since his father Prince Akishino) and could avert a possible succession crisis as the Emperor's elder son, the Crown Prince, has only one daughter, Princess Aiko. Under Japan's current male-only succession law, Princess Aiko is not eligible for the throne. The birth of Prince Hisahito could mean that proposed changes to the law to allow Aiko to ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne will not go through after being temporarily shelved following the announcement of Princess Kiko's third pregnancy in February 2006. Ichthyological research

In extension of his father's interest in marine biology, the Emperor is a published ichthyological researcher, and has specialized studies within the taxonomy of the family Gobiidae.8 He has written papers for scholarly journals, namely Gene and the Japanese Journal of Ichthyology.9 He has also written papers about the history of science during the Edo and Meiji eras, which were published in Science10 and Nature.11 In 2005, a newly described goby was named Exyrias akihito in his honour. Awards The Crown Prince and Princess on their wedding day with the Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun. The Emperor and Crown Prince wearing the Order of the Chrysanthemum and the Empress and Crown Princess wearing the Order of the Precious Crown. National Collar and Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum Grand Cordon of The Order of the Rising Sun with the Paulownia Blossoms (renamed Grand Cordon of The Order of the Paulownia Flowers from 2003) Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure Order of Culture The Golden Medal of Merit of Japanese Red Cross The Golden Medal of Hononary Member of Japanese Red Cross International Country Awards  Afghanistan Order of the Supreme Sun  Austria Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria Grand Star  Bahrain Order of al-Khalifa Collar  Belgium Order of Leopold Grand Cordon  Botswana Presidential Order  Brazil Order of the Southern Cross Grand Collar  Cameroon Order of Valour Grand Cordon  Chile Order of the Merit of Chile Grand Collar  Colombia Order of the Cross of Boyaca Grand Collar  Côte d'Ivoire Order of the Ivory Coast Grand Cordon  Czech Republic Order of the White Lion 1st Class (Civil Division) with Collar Chain  Denmark Order of the Elephant Knight Grand Cross  Egypt Order of the Nile Grand Collar  Estonia Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana The Collar of the Cross12  Ethiopia Order of Solomon Grand Collar  Finland Order of the White Rose Grand Cross with Collar  France Légion d'honneur Grand Cross  Germany Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Grand Cross, Special Class  Greece Order of the Redeemer Grand Cross  Hungary Order of Merit of Hungary Grand Cross  Iceland Order of the Falcon Grand Cross with Collar  Indonesia Star of Adipurna 1st Class  Italy Order of Merit of the Republic Grand Cross with Cordon  Jordan Order of Hussein ibn' Ali Collar  Kazakhstan Order of the Golden Eagle  Kenya Order of the Golden Heart  Kuwait Order of Mubarak the Great Collar  Latvia Order of the Three Stars Grand Cross with Collar  Liberia Order of the Star of Africa Knight Grand Band Order of the Pioneers of the Republic Knight Grand Band  Lithuania Order of Vytautas the Great the Great Grand Cross with Collar13  Luxembourg Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau Knight  Malawi Order of the Lion Grand Commander  Mali National Order Grand Cordon  Mexico Order of the Aztec Eagle Grand Collar  Morocco Order of Muhammad Grand Collar  Nepal Order of Ojaswi Rajanya  Netherlands Order of the Netherlands Lion Knight Grand Cross  Nigeria Order of the Federal Republic Grand Cordon  Norway Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav Grand Cross with Collar  Oman Order of Oman Superior Class  Pakistan Nishan-e-Pakistan 1st Class  Panama Order of Manuel Amador Guerrero Gold Collar  Peru Order of the Sun Grand Cross in Brilliants  Philippines Philippine Legion of Honor Chief Commander14  Poland Order of the White Eagle  Portugal Riband of the Three Orders  Qatar Collar of Independence  Saudi Arabia Badr Chain  Senegal Order of the Lion Grand Cordon  South Africa Order of Good Hope Grand Cross in Gold  Spain Order of the Golden Fleece Knight  Sweden Royal Order of the Seraphim Knight  Thailand The Most Auspicious Order of the Rajamitrabhorn The Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri  The Gambia Order of the Republic of Gambia Grand Commander  Ukraine Order of Prince Yaroslavl the Wise First Class  United Arab Emirates Collar of the Federation  United Kingdom Stranger 984th Knight of Order of the Garter Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal  Serbia Order of the Yugoslav Star  Zaire Order of the Leopard Grand Cordon

Other Awards The Royal Society King Charles II Medal Ancestors Akihito's ancestors in three generations                                     16. Osahito, Emperor KOōmei               8. Mutsuhito, Emperor Meiji                       17. Lady Yoshiko Nakayama               4. Yoshihito, Emperor Taishō                             18. Count Takamitsu Yanagihara               9. Lady Naruko Yanagihara                       19. Lady Utano Hasegawa               2. Hirohito, Emperor Shōwa                                   20. Prince Kujō Hisatada, Regent of Japan               10. Prince Kujō Michitaka of the Fujiwara Clan                       21. Lady Tsuneko Karahashi               5. Princess Sadako Kugō                             22. Yorioki Noma               11. Lady Ikuko Noma                       1. Akihito, 125th Emperor of Japan                                         24. Prince Fushimi Kuniye, 20th and 23rd of the miyake of Fushimi               12. Asahiko, 1st Imperial Prince Kuni                       25. Lady Nobuko Toriikōji               6. Kuniyoshi, 2nd Imperial Prince Kuni                             26. Sir Toshimasu Izumitei, Custodian of Shimogamo Shrine               13. Lady Makiko Izumi                       3. Princess Nagako of Kuni                                   28. Prince Shimazu Hisamitsu, 1st Prince of Tamazato-Shimazu               14. Prince Shimazu Tadayoshi, 29th Daimyo of Satsuma, Osumi and Hyuga                       29. Lady Chimoko Shimazu of Echizen-Shimazu               7. Princess Chikako Shimazu                             15. Lady Sumako Yamazaki                     Ancestry in Genealogics.org Patrilineal descent Ancestors of Akihito

Akihito's patriline is the line from which he is descended father to son. Patrilineal descent is the principle behind membership in royal houses, as it can be traced back through the generations, which means that Akihito is a member of the Imperial House of Japan. Imperial House of Japan Emperor Keitai, ca. 450–534 Emperor Kimmei, 509–571 Emperor Bidatsu, 538–585 Prince Oshisaka, ca. 556–??? Emperor Jomei, 593–641 Emperor Tenji, 626–671 Prince Shiki, ???–716 Emperor Kōnin, 709–786 Emperor Kammu, 737–806 Emperor Saga, 786–842 Emperor Ninmyō, 810–850 Emperor Kōkō, 830–867 Emperor Uda, 867–931 Emperor Daigo, 885–930 Emperor Murakami, 926–967 Emperor En'yū, 959–991 Emperor Ichijō, 980–1011 Emperor Go-Suzaku, 1009–1045 Emperor Go-Sanjō, 1034–1073 Emperor Shirakawa, 1053–1129 Emperor Horikawa, 1079–1107 Emperor Toba, 1103–1156 Emperor Go-Shirakawa, 1127–1192 Emperor Takakura, 1161–1181 Emperor Go-Toba, 1180–1239 Emperor Tsuchimikado, 1196–1231 Emperor Go-Saga, 1220–1272 Emperor Go-Fukakusa, 1243–1304 Emperor Fushimi, 1265–1317 Emperor Go-Fushimi, 1288–1336 Emperor Kōgon, 1313–1364 Emperor Sukō, 1334–1398 Prince Yoshihito Fushimi, 1351–1416 Prince Sadafusa Fushimi, 1372–1456 Emperor Go-Hanazono, 1419–1471 Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado, 1442–1500 Emperor Go-Kashiwabara, 1464–1526 Emperor Go-Nara, 1495–1557 Emperor Ōgimachi, 1517–1593 Prince Masahito, 1552–1586 Emperor Go-Yōzei, 1572–1617 Emperor Go-Mizunoo, 1596–1680 Emperor Reigen, 1654–1732 Emperor Higashiyama, 1675–1710 Prince Naohito Kanin, 1704–1753 Prince Sukehito Kanin, 1733–1794 Emperor Kōkaku, 1771–1840 Emperor Ninkō, 1800–1846 Emperor Kōmei, 1831–1867 Emperor Meiji, 1852–1912 Emperor Taishō, 1879–1926 Emperor Hirohito, 1901–1989 Emperor Akihito, b. 1933 See also The Emperor's Birthday Imperial Household Agency Imperial Household of Japan Japanese era name List of Japanese Emperors List of longest reigning current monarchs References Japanese Imperial kamon — a stylized chrysanthemum blossom ^ "National Day of Japan to be celebrated". Embassy of Japan in Pakistan. 2007-12-07. http://www.pk.emb-japan.go.jp/PRESS/Press%202007/JPNEMPAK%2007-041,%20NATIONAL%20DAY%20OF%20JAPAN%20TO%20BE%20CELEBRATED.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-28.  ^ a b c d e f "Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress". Imperial Household Agency. 2002. Archived from the original on 2007-12-01. http://web.archive.org/web/20071201092521/http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e03/ed03-01.html. Retrieved 2007-12-28.  ^ "Those Apprentice Kings and Queens Who May -- One Day -- Ascend a Throne," New York Times. 14 November 1971. ^ a b Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki, p. 44. ^ "Press Conference on the Occasion of His Majesty's Birthday". Imperial Household Agency. Archived from the original on 2008-05-25. http://web.archive.org/web/20080525113304/http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/epress/epress-01-12.html. Retrieved 2008-07-07.  ^ "Akihito has successful cancer operation". BBC News (British Broadcasting Corporation). 2003-01-18. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2671271.stm. Retrieved 2007-12-28.  ^ Fukada, Takahiro, "Emperor — poise under public spotlight", Japan Times, November 24, 2009, p. 3. ^ Hamilton, Alan. "Palace small talk problem solved: royal guest is a goby fish fanatic," The Times (London). 30 May 2007 ^ PubMed Search Results ^ Akihito (Oct 1992). "Early cultivators of science in Japan". Science 258 (5082): 578–80. doi:10.1126/science.1411568. PMID 1411568. http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=1411568.  ^ His Majesty The Emperor of Japan (Jul 2007). "Linnaeus and taxonomy in Japan". Nature 448 (7150): 139–140. doi:10.1038/448139a. PMID 17632886.  ^ "Akihito". Bearers of decorations. president.ee. http://www.president.ee/en/estonia/decorations/bearers.php?id=751. Retrieved 18 January 2011.  ^ Decree 1K-974 ^ OPS.gov.ph External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Emperor Akihito The Japanese Imperial Household Agency Homepage, press conferences, extensive biography, official duties and public activities. Akihito House of Yamato Born: 23 December 1933 Regnal titles Preceded by Emperor Shōwa Hirohito Emperor of Japan 7 January 1989 – present Incumbent Heir: Crown Prince Naruhito v · d · eMonarchs of Japan (List) Legendary period

Jimmu · Suizei · Annei · Itoku · Kōshō · Kōan · Kōrei · Kōgen · Kaika · Sujin · Suinin · Keikō · Seimu · Chūai · Jingū♀ Kofun period Ōjin · Nintoku · Richū · Hanzei · Ingyō · Ankō · Yūryaku · Seinei · Kenzō · Ninken · Buretsu · Keitai · Ankan · Senka Asuka period (552-710) Kinmei · Bidatsu · Yōmei · Sushun · Suiko♀ · Jomei · Kōgyoku♀ · Kōtoku · Saimei♀ · Tenji · Kōbun · Tenmu · Jitō♀ · Monmu · Genmei♀ Nara period (710-794) Genmei♀ · Genshō♀ · Shōmu · Kōken♀ · Junnin · Shōtoku♀ · Kōnin · Kammu Heian period (794-1185) Kammu · Heizei · Saga · Junna · Ninmyō · Montoku · Seiwa · Yōzei · Kōkō · Uda · Daigo · Suzaku · Murakami · Reizei · En'yū · Kazan · Ichijō · Sanjō · Go-Ichijō · Go-Suzaku · Go-Reizei · Go-Sanjō · Shirakawa · Horikawa · Toba · Sutoku · Konoe · Go-Shirakawa · Nijō · Rokujō · Takakura · Antoku · Go-Toba Kamakura period (1185-1333) Tsuchimikado · Juntoku · Chūkyō · Go-Horikawa · Shijō · Go-Saga · Go-Fukakusa · Kameyama · Go-Uda · Fushimi · Go-Fushimi · Go-Nijō · Hanazono · Go-Daigo Northern Court (1333-1392) Kōgon · Kōmyō · Sukō · Go-Kōgon · Go-En'yū · Go-Komatsu Muromachi period (1333-1573) Go-Murakami · Chōkei · Go-Kameyama · Go-Komatsu  · Shōkō · Go-Hanazono · Go-Tsuchimikado · Go-Kashiwabara · Go-Nara · Ōgimachi Momoyama period (1573-1603) Ōgimachi · Go-Yōzei Edo period (1603-1868) Go-Yōzei · Go-Mizunoo · Meishō♀ · Go-Kōmyō · Go-Sai · Reigen · Higashiyama · Nakamikado · Sakuramachi · Momozono · Go-Sakuramachi♀ · Go-Momozono · Kōkaku · Ninkō · Kōmei · Meiji Prewar period (1868-1945)

Meiji · Taishō · Shōwa Postwar period (1945-present) Shōwa · Akihito (current) ♀ - Empresses Persondata Name Alternative names Short description Date of birth 23 December 1933 Place of birth Tokyo, Empire of Japan Date of death Place of death

Meiji · Taishō · Shōwa Postwar period (1945-present) Shōwa · Akihito (current) ♀ - Empresses Persondata Name Alternative names Short description Date of birth 23 December 1933 Place of birth Tokyo, Empire of Japan Date of death Place of death

Meiji · Taishō · Shōwa Postwar period (1945-present) Shōwa · Akihito (current) ♀ - Empresses Persondata Name Alternative names Short description Date of birth 23 December 1933 Place of birth Tokyo, Empire of Japan Date of death Place of death