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In an interview marking his 46th birthday, Japan’s Prince Akishino made some controversial remarks about the age limits of Emperors.
 View more images of Prince Akishino & family here He said having a retirement age for monarchs is “one idea” and “discussions should be held including at what age to draw the line.”
“When you pass a certain age, it gradually becomes difficult for people to do various things,” said Akishino, who’s father, Emperor Akihito, will turn 78 in late December.
Under the 1947 Imperial House Law, a male who is a descendant of an Emperor would ascend to the Chrysanthemum throne upon the Emperor’s death.
Akishino’s comments have led many to wonder if there is a crisis going on within the imperial family. According to the Daily Yomiuri, many of the Prince’s comments reflected the beliefs held by many among members of the royals and senior officials of the Imperial Household Agency.
These remarks come just days after it was announced there will be dynastic changes to the family, particularly allowing princesses to maintain their titles after marrying commoners.
Sources: Inside Japan Tours, Daily Yomiuri
 Click here for original article Tuesday saw the eldest grandchild of the Emperor and Empress of Japan take part in a duck hunt in Chiba prefecture.
20 year old Princess Mako joined her parents, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, in showing ambassadors from 11 countries this traditional Japanese event. It was among her first royal duties as an adult member of the imperial family.
The way duck hunting goes is the person catches a wild duck with their own hands and then sets it free.
Although Princess Mako is slowly being added to the schedule for imperial duties, she won’t be full time royal until she completes her studies at the International Christian I University in April 2012.
Source: 47news.jp
 Click here for more photos This past Thursday saw the Emperor of Japan be discharged from the University of Tokyo hospital, nearly three weeks after he was admitted for fever, cold and symptoms of bronchitis.
77 year old Emperor Akihito thanked the doctors, nurses and staff who took care of him before being driven to the Palace with Empress Michiko.
His Majesty will not return to royal duties any time soon. He will be resting for about a week.
Grand Steward Shingo Haketa said the Imperial Household Agency “should consider (the emperor’s) health more than ever, but there also are important duties and finding the right balance will be another issue.”
During Akihito’s hospitalization, his son and heir, Crown Prince Naruhito often stood in for him for engagements.
Source: Mainichi Daily
Japan is considering allowing female members of its Imperial family to maintain their status after they marry commoners.
 See more photos of the Imperial Family here The Imperial Household Agency told the government Friday that it is “an urgent matter” to consider this change, mainly because it will help secure the succession to the Chrysanthemum Throne.
Currently, when a Japanese princess marries a commoner, she immediately loses her title and becomes a commoner herself.
But with this proposal, a female member of the family could keep her status and also provide heirs to the throne.
The reason why this issue is arising in the Imperial family is that of the 23 members, four of the seven males are in their sixties or older. As for the female members, eight of them unmarried. Those eight include Princess Aiko, the nine year old daughter of Crown Prince Naruhito, and Princesses Mako and Kako, the daughters of Prince Akishino.
According to Japan’s top government spokesman Osamu Fujimura, the chief of the Imperial Household Agency, Shingo Haketa, briefed Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda in October about the situation and the future of the family. There is concern that as the male members age and the female members marry and possibly lose their status, the imperial family will be smaller and be unable to carry out all of their duties.
Despite this consideration, there is still no talk about allowing women to becoming reigning Empresses. That was thrown out after Prince Akishino’s wife, Princess Kiko, delivered a son, Prince Hisahito, in September 2006.
However, if the government allows Japanese princesses to stay within the family and create their own branches, there is a possibility that someday, women will be allowed to inherit the throne.
Sources: Mainichi, Yomiuri
Yesterday began the first visit to Japan of any kind by a Bhutanese King. The state visit is meant to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Japanese-Bhutan diplomatic ties.
 Click here to see more photos at Daylife.com King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and his new wife, Queen Jetsun Pema, arrived in Tokyo and quickly met with Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and his wife. The two expressed their condolences over the devastating March 11th earthquake and tsunami. Meanwhile the Prime Minister congratulated them on their wedding last month. The King and Noda then discussed ways to tighten their countries relations.
On Wednesday, the couple met with members of the Imperial family. They were greeted at the palace by Crown Prince Naruhito and took part in a welcoming ceremony.
Naruhito is standing in for his father, Emperor Akihito, who is still being hospitalized with a bad cough.
In the evening, the King and Queen will be guests of honor at a state banquet at the palace.
During their itinerary, the Bhutanese royals will go to local schools, visit the ancient Japanese capital of Kyoto to learn about the country’s culture, and also tour the areas devastated by the earthquake and tsunami.
In addition, King Jigme will receive a honorary doctorate in economics from Keio University and will give a speech to Parliament.
King Jigme and Queen Jetsun are the first state guests to Japan since the devastation earlier this year.
Bhutan, which focuses on limiting the effects of outside influences in the country, has diplomatic ties to only 25 countries plus the European Union.
Sources: Mainichi Daily News, Mofa.go.jp
 See more photos of the Japanese Imperial family here The Emperor of Japan is still being treated at the University of Tokyo Hospital, where he was admitted Sunday for bronchitis.
Akihito is said to now be suffering from a fever as well. Empress Michiko has visited him twice so far, canceling making an appearance at a piano recital Monday.
It is believed the stress of this year’s earthquake and tsunami weakened the Emperor and made him vulnerable to illness.
Stepping in for him is his eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito. The 51 year old heir was seen presiding over the annual autumn decorations awards on Monday. Next week, he will make a visit to the Yamanashi Prefecture on behalf of his father and mother.
Emperor Akihito is 77 years old, and will turn 78 next month.
Source: Mainichi Daily Times
 Click here for recent photos The Imperial Household Agency of Japan announced Sunday that Emperor Akihito will be hospitalized at the University of Tokyo Hospital.
He was photographed being driven to the hospital with wife Empress Michiko.
The Emperor, age 77, “will be hospitalized from tonight because he has had a persistent fever and begun to show more concerning symptoms of bronchitis,” a spokesman said.
The hospital is the same one where his granddaughter, 9 year old Princess Aiko, was discharged from Saturday. Aiko was treated at the University of Tokyo for pneumonia.
Akihito inherited the Chrysanthemum Throne in 1989 and has been operated for prostate cancer in 2003. This year it was announced he will be taking medication for a slight heart condition.
Source: News.com.au
 To see more photos of Prince Hisahito, click here At the Akasaka imperial estate Thursday, Japan’s future emperor took part in the Chakko-no-gi ceremony which marked his transition from infancy to childhood.
Prince Hisahito, who turned 5 years old last month, dressed in traditional Japanese attire as he went through the ancient ceremony. During the Chakko-no-gi, prayers are offered for good health and growth while the participant is dressed in a kosode (short-sleeved silk jacket) and hakama (culottes).
His parents – Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko – and his two older sisters, Princesses Mako and Kako, were present for the event.
Sources: MSNBC, Japan Probe
 Click here to see more photos at Daylife.com Japan’s Princess Aiko is currently being hospitalized, according to the Imperial Household Agency.
The IHA released a statement Tuesday saying the 9 year old daughter of Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako is suffering from a high fever.
She “was hospitalised Monday for examinations and treatment… as the fever and symptoms such as a cough are continuing,” the statement claimed.
Princess Aiko is the only child of the Crown Princely couple and made headlines worldwide last year when she missed school days due to anxiety from rowdy boys.
Source: AFP
 Click here to see more photos of Princess Mako The eldest grandchild of the Emperor and Empress of Japan celebrates her 20th birthday Sunday. Princess Mako, daughter of Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, gave a press conference where she said she will try to act like an adult.
“I would like to try to conduct myself appropriately as an adult. I would like to take part in various events, including official ones,” the Princess told reporters.
Mako discussed the 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan back in March. She talked about her experience volunteering in the Iwate prefecture and the city of Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture, areas hit hard by the disaster.
“Although I thought I had understood the situation after the disaster from media reports, I realized that there are some things you cannot understand until you actually go there.”
The Princess, who is a sophomore at the International Christian University in Tokyo, told reporters she is still thinking about her goals and her future, and will give those much thought during her time in college.
By turning 20, Princess Mako becomes the 19th adult member of the Japanese Imperial Family.
Source: Mainichi Daily
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