Δευτέρα 29 Απριλίου 2019

HEISEI ERA comes to an End... A flashback to Japanese Imperial history

Japan's Heisei Period is coming to an end. Tomorrow, Tuesday, April 30 (2019), Emperor Akihito will conclude his 30-year-reign, paving the way for his elder son, Crown Prince Naruhito to ascend the Chrysanthemum throne. It will be the first Japanese Imperial Transition through abdication in ~202 years. So let's take a look back to its history & find out more about the last (& oldest continuous) Imperial monarchy!

A historical flashback:

Announcement of Heisei-Era name (7 January 1989)
Heisei period began on 8 January 1989, the day following Akihito's accession as the 125th Emperor of Japan. He suceeded the throne on the death of his father, Emperor Hirohito (posthumously known as the Shōwa Emperor). The latter's reign (Shōwa period) lasted for 62 years, and oversaw the country's involvement on WWII (on the Axis' side), surrender to USA & painful reconstruction.

At the beginning of the period of Shōwa (which is translated as: ~'enlightened peace/Radiant Japan'), Japanese monarchs were still revered as Gods. According the old legend, the nation's first sovereign, Emperor Jimmy descended from Amaterasu-ōmikami, Goddess of the sun & universe (of the ancient Shinto religion, customary in Japan). He is reported to have created the current dynasty in ~ 660 BC.
Historians prove that at least 1,500 years of the dynasty's continuous rule can be confirmed.
The legendary creation of Japan

In the 2nd millenium AD, numerous eras (called "gengo") in Japan have changed, and tens of Tennō (or "Heavenly Sovereigns") reigned over the nation. Some of them were centralists in power, while others reigned just as figureheads, leaving influential 'Shoguns' to control the empire partially. Periods were not accorded to one Emperor & often were renamed after natural disasters as a sign of renewal.

By the late 1860s, however, everything changed. Under the influence of Europe & with the help of local shoguns, then-Emperor Mutsuhito (posthumously known as 'Meiji'), brought Japan to a rapid westernisation. Under his reign (& particularly the 'Meiji restoration', which lasted until the late 19th century), the empire, organised in a centuries-old feudal system, faced industrialization, with its capital transfered from Kyoto to Tokyo (which soon became a modern Metropolis) & its national expansion through imperialist wars & conquers.

Promuglation of Japan's constitution under Meiji Emperor
The Emperor's role became supreme & (with the new constitution in 1889) central in political, religious & military arena. He was an absolute monarch, with people praying for him, and being ready to die in his name (at wars). Considered as semi-divine, the Imperial family never appeared to the public, lived an estranged life at the palace & followed strict courtesy rules the old tradition dictated.

Hirohito, Emperor Shōwa
This would go-on until the country's defeat in 1945, at the end of World War II. Having left the legacy of a nationalist power, that expanded over China & Korea from 1910, occupied SoustEastern Asia in the war, was an ally of Nazi Germany & tortured its war prisoners; Japan was found in a state of national humble & destruction of its glorious legacy by someone superior. Finally, its monarchy was saved, but it lost its semi-divine role & former prestige, with the Emperor remaining just the 'symbol of the state' (according to the new constitution of 1947). A renowation followed for both the country & the Imperial family.



Heisei Era (平成):

Akihito, a (western-style-educated) teenager during Japan's defeat, was an offspring of nationalist Japan, who saw its destructive results & aspired to bring about change from his very youth. He was the Crown-Prince & later the Sovereign who came along with numerous conservative boundaries & redefined the role of the Imperial family in modern Japan, by overcoming a lot of them.

He married of love, to commoner Michiko Shoda in 1959, breaking with the Imperial Tradition, dictating the heir to the throne to enter a marriage only with members of royalty or aristocracy. Their wedding, broadcasted across Japan to millions of watchers, improved the fame & quality of TV in the country. They grew-up their children alone, in a simple way, without imperial tutors, required before.

Both before their accession & during their 30-year-reign, Akihito & Michiko showed the concern about the ordinary people, reaching them from (as much as possible) a human, not superior, side. In the first period of Japan's history without a war, a time of rapid digitalization, which included a political turmoil, economic deadlines & many natural disasters, Their Majesties played the role of not only a unifying state (& religious) symbol, but also actively engaged in supporting marginalized people. Either victims of one of (numerous) environmental tragedies, or just people with disabilities or from excluded areas, a lot of them - settled in temporary shelters, received a visit from the Emperor & Empress, causually dressed & kneeling to speak them, which in other times was unimagible.
Emperor Akihito with Queen Elizabeth II of UK, in 1998
Heisei, the Period of "achieving peace", has been indeed a peaceful one. However, the generation born in its tenure, faces significant challenges in their everyday lives, becoming cynnical to the unsteady politics, being anxious due to their eliminated income, 'overshadowed' by the increasing number of elderly & pressured by a strict conservative tradition. Furthermore, current political hardline, trying to reinspire the national indentity of Japan through a self-confident approach, criticized by neibhoring countries as ignorant (or even praisful) to its pre-WWII past (& crimes).

Emperor Akihito's other self-mission was to remind the horrors of war (& learn about them younger generations, who never lived through it), so to avoid their repeatment in future in any cause. Having visited some of the countries, harmed by Japan's imperialist past, he was keen in expressing personal regret due to his nation's actions (so close to his family' past). Neverthenless, he stopped short of apologising. As just a 'symbol of his state' he couldn't officially put on behalf its political position.
Their Majesties at the annual, August 15 commemmoration
Though in every opportunity he (and Empress Michiko) payed tributes (& mourned) the dead of past wars (from all sides), being extremely pleasure that their era was the first in Japanese history without a war. On the other side, their tributes may have been overestimated, such as some places of certain violence & agression of the past (like Pearl Harbor, or South Korea) never received a formal visit by the Emperor. However, on the scale of which his constitutional place allows, we couldn't say he didn't try enough.

Akihito even made controversy while following his pacifist stance. Though he never went to Korea, he once argued (using historical facts) that his family line is actually related to the former. It was something traditionalist elites, convinced to Imperial family's blood purity couldn't accept. Such as they couldn't accept (in the past) his marriage to a Catholic-raised bride (which Michiko was), and the kneeling in front of his (suffering) subjects (she reportedly encouraged him to do). While Akihito's no single visit to Gakushuin shrine (enshrining war-criminals) was commented by its chief priest as an attempt to destroy it, remarks after which he lost his position last year.
Female-majority' Imperial family attend New Year's Rece


The outgoing Emperor tried to change the Imperial Household's role, making it more up to time. But still, he didn't win over the pressuring tradition, keeping generations & generations of Japanese "bonded". He 'failed' to come over with strict legislation, due to which female members of the Imperial Household (including his own daughter) are forced to loose their status upon marriage to a commoner.

Prince Hisahito of Akishino
His success (on the other side) in making a historic first marriage with commoners is still paying a harsh price, as his daughter-in-law (& future Imperial consort) still struggles with a stress-related (depressional) illness due to the pressure she received to deliver a male heir (though unsuccessfully).
Japan follows a salic (male-only) law of succession, which suggestions of changing were cut short after his only grandson (Prince Hisahito of Akishino) became the first male member of the Imperial family, to be born in more than 40 years (in 2006). He will become the second (& last young) member in line to Chrysanthemum throne (after his father), following the Imperial Transition.

Akihito's wife, Michiko, suffered from similar problems while a Crown Princess (this time, due to her origin from a commoner Catholic family) & having collapsed & even loosing her voice sometimes.



Transition from Heisei to - 'Reiwa' (令和)
Akihito addressing the nation (8 August 2016)

Even to pursue his abdication, Akihito was forced to wait six years of no results (after informing his personal staff about the desire), before foisting it to Japan's media & then making an extraordinary address to the nation (on August 8, 2016). The Emperor, who has survived a prostate cancer treatment & bypass (open) heart surgery in the past, hinted his old age & gradually declining fitness level, as signs that could limit his offerings in future, in an accurate speech, the third ever made by an Emperor to his people (after the announcement of defeat in WWII - 1945, & consolation of Fukushima disaster's survivors - in 2011). According to the Imperial Household Agency law (that is enshrined into Japanese government & can't act independently), Emperors should reign until their deaths.

Meeting of the Imperial Council on deciding the abdication date
The abovementioned law had to be amended in a panel, discussing the possibility of only one exception for months. It was finally reached, with a bill passed by the parliament on 9 June 2017, allowing only Akihito to abdicate the Chrysanthemum throne. On December 1 the same year it was set for 30 April 2019, so to give the Emperor the opportunity to celebrate his 30 years of reign before retiring. The last Emperor of Japan to abdicate & become a Jōkō (/'Emperor Emeritus'), was Emperor Kokkaku in May 1817 (long before constitution & gengo periods limited to the reign of a Tennō).

The new gengo name was announced as late as possible, last April 1, by the Chief Cabinet minister Yoshihide Suga, after a secret procession of decision by specialists in anchient Chinese & Japanese literature (which ancient poems are usually taken from). Naruhito's reign was named 'Reiwa' (or peaceful/beautiful harmony/order). Previously the new era's names were announced after the past Emperor's death (being decided the last moment), with the deceased sovereign renamed after His era.
Visit to Kashikodokoro sanctuary within the Imperial gardens

When the months-long Imperial farewell (including final visits, public appearances & celebrations) began, it was joined by a series of Shinto rituals (as the Emperor is still considered a Chief symbol of Japanese national religion). His Majesty (ocassionally with his wife of 60 years, the Empress-consort & future Jōkōgō/Empress Emerita, Michiko), visited two Holy shrines (palace's Kashikodokoro & Ise Grand Shrine in Mia Perfecture) dedicated to the legendary Sun-Goddess (Amaterasu), and the tombs/mausoleums of Emperor Jimmu & (his father) Emperor Hirohito, "to report his abdication".
Visit to the Ise Grand Shrine - April 18 (2019)

Each visit included a solemn procession to the sanctuary/grave, offering of sacred gifts, & a silent, deep bow. To the palace sanctuary Akihito was dressed to a traditional, centuries-old court Kimono, while to the other places, he wore western suits. During his visit to Mia Perfecture's grand shrine, his escort also carried two of his sacred imperial regalia (a sword & a jewel), both packed. The main part of Imperial transition will be the handing over of those jewels to the new Emperor. The third one, a mirror is permanently placed inside a palace sanctuary, though prayers will be offered to it through a representative. When Naruhito ascends the throne, he will repeat these rituals more than once.

Emperor & Empress to be: Naruhito & Masako (April 2019)

Empress Michiko with her daughter-in-law (& successor)
Upon the Imperial Abdication tomorrow, Emperor Akihito & Empress Michiko will largely be estranged from the public life, spending their time engaging with their interests (ichthyological research - marine biology for the Emperor & english literature & composition for the Empress), reflecting their contributions, playing tennis & taking morning walks in their private gardens.

They won't appear even at their elder son's succession process, however, they will support him privately. The latter, an Oxford-educated keen sportsman, violist, with a degree in history (of river Thames' transportation in 18th century), concerned in water concervation & ready to continue his father's passifist legacy, will face the challenge to contain Japanese monarchy in the face of time, and to form it a new profile, similar to his own, which his entire reign as the 126th Emperor depends from.
The Chrysanthemum throne

See also some previous, relative publications:

Videos, related to the topic:





& further, additional links of information:
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