Japan's 'revolutionary' Emperor Akihito to abdicate, leaving imposing legacy for his son

According to Japan’s traditional calendar system, Akihito’s reign is known as the Heisei (achieving peace) era. When Naruhito ascends the Chrysanthemum Throne, it will mark the beginning of an era called Reiwa (beautiful harmony).

Crown Prince Naruhito next in line for the throne:

I think "beautiful harmony" is a weird translation for reiwa, since "rei" means "order"令. It's nowhere near the words used in Japanese for "beautiful," such as 美 (mi) or even the rei of "kirei" 綺麗. Wikipedia has this to say about the translation:

[quote] The Japanese Foreign Ministry provided an English-language interpretation of Reiwa as "beautiful harmony", to dispel reports that "Rei" (令) translated as "command" or "order". However, the Foreign Ministry also noted that "beautiful harmony" is neither an official translation nor legally binding.

That said, I don't think the translation matters, since it's just a name, like the previous reign names of Heisei and Showa. No one bothers to translate reign names into English. They all sound dumb when translated.

Missouri is the Showa state.

Is the new empress still a loon? Unable to adjust to the strictness of imperial household life?

His wife refused to be buried next to him

Whose wife?

R6 = Prince Hendrik of Denmark

The current emperor has asked not to be buried, but only to be cremated. The empress has requested the same thing.

Are you seeing this mother?

[quote]Is the new empress still a loon? Unable to adjust to the strictness of imperial household life?

It's not like the British monarchs. The Imperial Household Agency controls EVERY aspect of their lives. Japan's rigid social structures are much rigid for her than other women. They literally just trot her out to perform ceremonial functions. her retirement from the public eye is a reflection of how close to the edge she has to be for them to go along with it. They're probably afraid she's close to a full-blown public meltdown.

Also, while the current Empress was a commoner before marrying Akihito, she was from a very wealthy family. While Akihito's Empress mother was always opposed to Michiko marrying her son and regularly told her so to her face and treated her like crap, she's apparently been much nastier to Naruhito's wife, Masako. There are stories and rumors of Masako being berated for not providing a male heir, ignoring biology, of course, that it's the male who determines gender of the baby.

If you read between the lines of the "fairy tale" propaganda, it sounds like she was heavily pressured and guilted into a marriage she never really wanted.

If you're thinking Kate or Markel or even Camilla, poor little rich girl, I think that's a mischaracterization of both how bad it is for her and why she agreed to the marriage.

Akihito is a cute old man.

We need vox pops. Someone LINE the D-BOYS and ask what they think. Zukki Hiroki will comment no matter how stupidly.

Quitter

R11 good points, Masako has probably had very bad years. She will hopefully be more relaxed as Empress when Michiko isn’t able to attack her. If the stories are true there is lots of weird going on behind Michiko’s smiling public image. I feel sorry for Masako. I remember how smiling and happy she looked prior to her wedding and then deep long depression.

Good lord, that's an impressive head of octogenarian hair.

[quote] YOU IDIOT YOU GOT THE WRONG ONE!

So like, what can the royal family actually do on their own. I know I wouldn't let some old bitch try making me feel bad because her son weak male sperm couldn't find an egg fast enough. Let my ass be Emperess after that mess, payback is a bitch. I wouldn't care how old the former Empress is.

[quote]So like, what can the royal family actually do on their own. I know I wouldn't let some old bitch try making me feel bad because her son weak male sperm couldn't find an egg fast enough. Let my ass be Emperess after that mess, payback is a bitch. I wouldn't care how old the former Empress is.

Since the imperial family is purely ceremonial and has no political authority it is a good point.

What the Empress Michiko has is strong Japanese social tradition that has been ingrained into people since early childhood. She is the sitting Empress and the mother of her husband, both of which would require that she be afforded courtesy and respect in Japanese culture. Also, I can't imagine that the Imperial Household Agency that is steeped in tradition of both the imperial family and Japanese society as a whole would countenance any rude behavior toward the Empress.

Michiko isn't Masako's main problem. It is like the other poster said, the Imperial Household Agency. The Japanese imperial family can't be compared to the British or some other continental group. Their lives are completely controlled by bureaucrats with ties to the far right that go back decades.