Changes

[[File:Taisho enthronement.jpg|thumb|right|Each emperor was [[wikt:confirm|confirmed]] in [[Ceremony|ceremonies]].  This was used for [[Emperor Taishō]] in 1912.]]

[[File:Crown Prince Naruhito cropped 3 Crown Prince Naruhito and Prince William 20150227.jpg|thumb|The current emperor of Japan [[Naruhito]] since 2019.|alt=]]The '''Emperor of Japan''' or the {{nihongo|'''Emperor'''|天皇|[[tennō]]|literally "heavenly sovereign"}}<ref>Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&pg=PA960&dq= "Tennō"] in ''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 960.</ref> is the [[Head of state]] of Japan, The monarch is the symbol of the [[Japan]]ese [[nation]] and the [[unity]] of its people.<ref>Nussbaum, [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&pg=PA176&dq= "Emperors"] at p. 176.</ref>  

The {{nihongo|'''Emperor'''|天皇|[[tennō]]|literally "heavenly sovereign"}}<ref>Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). [http://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&pg=PA960&dq= "Tennō"] in ''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 960.</ref> is a symbol of the [[Japan]]ese [[nation]] and the [[unity]] of its people.<ref>Nussbaum, [http://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&pg=PA176&dq= "Emperors"] at p. 176.</ref>

 

The emperor is the head of the [[Imperial House of Japan]]. He is a [[ceremony|ceremonial]] [[conceptual metaphor|figurehead]].<ref>Nussbaum, [http://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&pg=PA133&dq= "Constitutions"] at p. 133-134.</ref>

In the Japanese [[constitutional monarchy]], the emperor does not have any political power.<ref>Many countries that now have democracy decide to keep their historical king or emperor as a way to celebrate their history and culture.</ref> In world [[politics]], he is the only current emperor.

In the Japanese [[constitutional monarchy]], the emperor does not have any political power.<ref>Many countries that now have democracy decide to keep their historical king or emperor as a way to celebrate their history and culture.</ref> In world [[politics]], he is the only current emperor.

The current emperor is His Imperial Majesty the [[Akihito|Emperor Akihito]]. He has been on the [[Chrysanthemum Throne]] since his father [[Hirohito|Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito)]] died in 1989.

The current emperor is his Majesty [[Naruhito, Crown Prince of Japan|emperor Naruhito]]. He has been on the [[Chrysanthemum Throne]] since his father [[Akihito]] abdicated in 2019.

The amount of power belonging to the emperor of Japan has changed a lot throughout Japanese history. The Emperor of Japan has sometimes been a [[Shinto|cleric]] with mostly [[symbol]]ic powers and sometimes an actual ruler. Some believe that the emperor is [[wikt:simple:progeny|descended]] from gods. Until 1945, the Japanese [[monarch]]s were always the leaders of the [[military]].

The amount of power belonging to the emperor of Japan has changed a lot throughout Japanese history. The Emperor of Japan has sometimes been a [[Shinto|cleric]] with mostly [[symbol]]ic powers and sometimes an actual ruler. Some believe that the emperor is [[wikt:simple:progeny|descended]] from gods.  

Since the mid-[[1800s]], the Imperial Palace has been located on the former site of [[Edo Castle]] （江戸城）in the heart of [[Tokyo]]. Earlier emperors lived in [[Kyoto]] for nearly eleven centuries.

Since the mid-[[1800s]], the Imperial Palace has been located on the former site of [[Edo Castle]] （江戸城）in the heart of [[Tokyo]]. Earlier emperors lived in [[Kyoto]] for nearly eleven centuries.

==Succession of Emperor==

==Succession of Emperor==

{{Main|Line of succession to the Japanese throne}}

{{Main|Line of succession to the Japanese throne}}

[[Succession]] is now controlled by [[law]]s passed by the [[Diet of Japan|Japanese Diet]]. The current law does not let females take the throne. A change to this law was considered until Princess [[Princess Akishino|Kiko]] gave birth to a son.

[[Succession]] is now controlled by [[law]]s passed by the [[Diet of Japan|Japanese Diet]]. The current law does not let females take the throne. A change to this law was considered until Princess [[Kiko, Princess Akishino|Kiko]] gave birth to a son.

Until the birth of a son to [[Prince Akishino]] on [[September 6]], [[2006]], there was a potential succession problem. No [[male]] child had been born into the imperial family since Prince Akishino in 1965. Following the birth of [[Aiko, Princess Toshi|Princess Aiko]], some felt they needed to change the current Imperial Household Law to allow women to succeed to the throne. In January 2005 Prime Minister [[Junichiro Koizumi]] created a group of [[judge]]s, [[university]] [[professor]]s, and [[civil servant]]s to study the problem.

Until the birth of a son to [[Prince Akishino]] on [[September 6]], [[2006]], there was a potential succession problem. No [[male]] child had been born into the imperial family since Prince Akishino in 1965. Following the birth of [[Aiko, Princess Toshi|Princess Aiko]], some felt they needed to change the current Imperial Household Law to allow women to succeed to the throne. In January 2005 Prime Minister [[Junichiro Koizumi]] created a group of [[judge]]s, [[university]] [[professor]]s, and [[civil servant]]s to study the problem.

On [[October 25]], [[2005]] they recommended changing the law to allow females of the male line of imperial descent to ascend the Japanese throne. On [[January 20]], [[2006]], [[Prime Minister]] [[Junichiro Koizumi]] made an [[announcement]] that they would change the law to allow women to ascend the throne. However, after finding out  that [[Princess Akishino|Princess Kiko]] was pregnant with her third child, Koizumi decided to wait. Her son, [[Prince Hisahito of Akishino|Prince Hisahito]], is the third in line to the throne under the current law of succession.

On [[October 25]], [[2005]] they recommended changing the law to allow females of the male line of imperial descent to ascend the Japanese throne. On [[January 20]], [[2006]], [[Prime Minister]] [[Junichiro Koizumi]] made an [[announcement]] that they would change the law to allow women to ascend the throne. However, after finding out  that [[Kiko, Princess Akishino|Princess Kiko]] was pregnant with her third child, Koizumi decided to wait. Her son, [[Prince Hisahito of Akishino|Prince Hisahito]], is the third in line to the throne under the current law of succession.

==Addressing and Naming==

==Addressing and Naming==

==Related pages==

==Related pages==

*[[History of Japan]]

* [[History of Japan]]

*[[Japanese Imperial family tree]]

* [[Japanese Imperial family tree]]

==References==

==References==

== Other websites ==

== Other websites ==

*[http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/eindex.html The Imperial Household Agency]

* [http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/eindex.html The Imperial Household Agency]

*[http://www.friesian.com/sangoku.htm#japan List of the Emperors], accompanied with the regents and shoguns during their reign and a genealogical tree of the imperial family

* [http://www.friesian.com/sangoku.htm#japan List of the Emperors], accompanied with the regents and shoguns during their reign and a genealogical tree of the imperial family

*[http://www.heraldica.org/topics/royalty/japan.htm The Emperor of Japan], explanation of the title of emperor in the context of western terminology

* [http://www.heraldica.org/topics/royalty/japan.htm The Emperor of Japan], explanation of the title of emperor in the context of western terminology

{{Japanese Imperial Family}}{{Imperial House of Japan family tree}}{{Monarchs of Japan}}

{{Japanese Imperial Family}}{{Imperial House of Japan family tree}}{{Monarchs of Japan}}

[[Category:Emperors of Japan| ]]

[[Category:Emperors of Japan| ]]