Akihito

The 125th Emperor according to the Imperial Lineage (reigned 1989-2019). His reign is displayed in the Heisei era. Born on December 23, 1933 as the first son of Emperor Showa Hirohito. His mother was Nagako (Empress Kojun). His childhood name was Tsugunomiya. In 1940 (Showa 15), he entered Gakushuin Elementary School. After World War II, he was educated by Shinzo Koizumi and also had the American Elizabeth G. Vining (1902-1999) as his private tutor, where he received English education. In 1952, he held his coming of age ceremony and investiture ceremony as the Crown Prince. Since 1953, he has attended the coronation ceremony of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and made goodwill visits to various countries as the Emperor's representative. In April 1959, he married Michiko, the eldest daughter of Shoda Hidesaburo (1903-1999), president of Nissin Flour Mills. In 1960, Prince Hiro Naruhito (who became Crown Prince in 1989), in 1965 Prince Aya Fumihito (who married in 1990 and became Prince Akishino), and in 1969 Princess Nori Sayako (who left the imperial family in 2005 after marriage) were born. From the 1970s onwards, he was given more opportunities to act on behalf of the Emperor in matters of state and other "public acts," and he energetically performed overseas visits, local inspections, etc. In January 1989 (Heisei 1), he succeeded to the throne upon the death of Hirohito. Together with Empress Michiko, he worked to establish the postwar imperial system, and promoted the image of an "open imperial family" by allowing his second son, Prince Aya, and Crown Prince Hiro to marry women who were not from the former imperial family or the nobility. He actively visited Southeast Asia, China, Okinawa, and other places, and showed a strong interest in dealing with the postwar period, something that Emperor Showa was unable to do. He also declared his intention to abide by the Japanese Constitution, and sought a new image of the emperor that was different from the era when he was a supreme commander and living god.

[Yuji Odabe]

On April 30, 2019, he abdicated of his own accord and became the emperor emeritus.

[Editorial Department]

"The Path to the Emperor: The Showa History of His Majesty Akihito" by Shinya Yoshida (1991, Yomiuri Shimbun) " The Path: Records of the Tenth Anniversary of His Majesty the Emperor's Accession to the Throne" edited by the Imperial Household Agency (1999, Japan Broadcasting Publishing Association)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

皇統譜にいう125代天皇（在位1989～2019）。その在位が平成で表示される。昭和8年12月23日昭和天皇裕仁(ひろひと)の第1皇子として生まれる。母は良子(ながこ)（香淳(こうじゅん)皇后）。幼名は継宮(つぐのみや)。1940年（昭和15）学習院初等科に入学。第二次世界大戦後、小泉信三から教育をうけ、また、アメリカのエリザベス・バイニングElizabeth G. Vining（1902―1999）を家庭教師とし、英語教育などを受ける。1952年成年式と立太子礼をあげる。1953年以降、イギリス女王エリザベス2世戴冠(たいかん)式参列をはじめ、天皇の名代として諸外国を親善訪問する。1959年4月、日清(にっしん)製粉社長正田英三郎(しょうだひでさぶろう)（1903―1999）の長女美智子(みちこ)と結婚。1960年浩宮徳仁(ひろのみやなるひと)（1989年、皇太子となる）、1965年礼宮文仁(あやのみやふみひと)（1990年、結婚して秋篠宮(あきしののみや)となる）、1969年紀宮清子(のりのみやさやこ)（2005年、結婚により皇籍を離脱）が誕生。1970年代以降、天皇の国事行為をはじめ「公的行為」代行の機会が増し、外国訪問、地方視察などを精力的にこなした。1989年（平成1）1月裕仁の死去により皇位を継承した。美智子皇后とともに戦後天皇制の定着に努め、次男礼宮、皇太子の浩宮に旧皇族、華族出身ではない女性との結婚を認めるなど、「開かれた皇室」のイメージづくりを進め、東南アジア、中国、沖縄などを積極的に訪問し、昭和天皇がなしえなかった戦後処理に強い関心を示している。また、日本国憲法の遵守を明言し、大元帥であり現人神(あらひとがみ)であった時代とは違う天皇像を模索した。

［小田部雄次］

　2019年4月30日、自らの意向により譲位し、上皇となった。

［編集部］

『吉田伸弥著『天皇への道――明仁陛下の昭和史』（1991・読売新聞社）』▽『宮内庁編『道――天皇陛下御即位十年記念記録集』（1999・日本放送出版協会）』

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