Hail the Emperor!

Original Posting Date: Thursday January 3rd 2008

As mentioned, I have been to Tokyo and on this occasion Helmut (my Sempai, he's already been studying 1 1/2 years here) and I visited His Majesty Emperor Akihito for his New Year's salutation.
Today I report only about that, a complete review of my trip to Tokyo next time.

The outer facilities of the emperor's palace are being made accessible to the public twice a year(the inner never), once on 23.12. for the birthday of the current incumbent emperor, as well as on the 2nd of January for the celebration of the new year. On both days the imperial family appears on the balcony (protected, behind a glass wall) and His Majesty gives a short speech at a time, whereas the one his birthday lasts longer. I couldn't be in Tokyo on the 23rd because of time restrictions so I marched on 2.1. to the palace. On both days countless Japanese visit the palace, because of which the imperial family appears numeral times throughout the day, to live up to the demand. At the entrance of the palace children hand out little Japanese flags made out of paper to every visitor, with which the people wave enthusiastic as soon as the Tenno shows himself.


The incumbent Tenno (天皇 approx.: celestial sovereign, lord) is considered modern and open to new, he is also the first emperor to marry a common woman (nobility was dissolved after the war, however, her family also wasn't part of nobility before the war) and he is also the first emperor, who has studied at an university. Concerning non-noble marriage: Men of the imperial family are in principle permitted to marry common women without ramifications to their status, however it wasn't kindly looked upon). Female members of the family may marry men of "the commpon people" but they loose their rang as member of the Imperial House and have to relinquish all their privilieges with it. Also, women cannot directly become empress though they can in stead of another member e.g. for being under age, take over the governance affairs and act as regent but only until the accession to the throne of the actual emperor. Before the birth of the most recent heir this law was intensly debatted, whereas the populace of Japan to all intents and purposes would have agreed with a revision but the imperial court office objected to it. The court office is subordinate to the government (not the emperor) and is in charge of matters concerning the imperial dynasty. This institution is the real backwardly instrument, for its members are often ultraconservative and heavily insist on old customs and traditions, which sometimes estranges the emperor from the people.


Here's a picture of the office, it's situated on the palace grounds in Tokyo.




Although it is partly understandable if one looks at the long history of the family. It provides the emperor now since ca. the 5th century A.D. (the Japanese tradition states since the 6th century B.C. although this is not historically documented) and in that it is the oldest still "reigning" dynasty of the world. Though whereas half of the time he didn't held any real governmental power but rather only a symbolic position, admittedly he was always "the emperor" to the people.

Today as well, more precisely: Since World War II has the emperor no political power at all anymore and is the "Symbol of the state and the unity of the people". For the Japanese He plainly is Japan, a moral instance and the expression of their long and rich culture. Personally I think it is a shame that we in Austria don't have an emperor anymore, naturally without any governmental power, but as a symbol of our long and proud, sometimes even glorious history, in my opinion it would definitely be a good thing (however, if possible, not to take the scandalous English Royals as example but other families).


Here are some photos from the palace and His Majesty, as well as two clips, one from the advancement into the palace (in the background traditionell Shamisen-music is being heard) and the other from the speech.
Both clips are by courtesy of Helmut.


The famous, so many times used on postcards etc., bridges in the palace.




The square before the balcony was crowded, this is only a small part.




A guardsman




The imperial family (only part of it, it consists of many more members)




His Majesties: Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko




Interesting detail: The emperor speaks in the humble style. In this form of the Japanese language ones own things are being, by using special grammar and vocabulary, only humbly mentioned. One is "demeaning" onself to show respect to others.






Three patriots (he he)




The remaining photos are, well, you already know where.



Interesting (and funny) facts/opinions about Japan:

As mentioned in an earlier issue, this year is the year Heisei 20 according to the Japanese calendar. This is being caused through the fact, that with the accession to the throne of a new emperor a new age begins, whereas the year 1 runs from the accession to the throne until the 31st December, since apart from these years Japan employs the Gregorian calendar (year 1 has a special labelling since it does not correspond to the normal calendar). However this kind of calculation also exists only since the Meiji-restoration (1868), before new ages were began even without change in throne ruler. The new emperor decides on a name of his era, which also serves as motto of his regnancy, consisting of 2 Kanji, which are being chosen from a determined row. At the moment it is Heisei (平成 approx.: Peace everywhere). The incumbent emperor ascended the thron in 1989 whereby now 2008, according to this calculation of times, the year 20 is. The predecessing epoch was Showa (of erstwhile emperor Hirohito, 1926-1989), therewith the birthyear of the author of these lines lies, according to our calculation in 1983, in Japanese times in the year Showa 58.

An interesting fact is the point that an emperor, after his death, takes on the name of his era and subsequently is also being referenced by that. For example if one means emperor Hirohito, the name Showa is used as labelling, which many times can lead to confusion even among Japanese themselves. A popular fauxpas to foreigners, acquainted with Japan to a certain degree, is to name the incumbent emperor by his era, which is wrong though, since it is a posthumous name. The only thing left is to ask for forgiving for the slip-up afterwards.


Note by the editorial department: Next Wednesday too there won't be an issue, since I'll set off to my ski trip to Nagano tomorrow and will not be coming back until Thursday.