The Birthday of Emperor Akihito is celebrated on December 23 every year in Japan. It aims to celebrate the life and reign of Emperor Akihito, the 125th emperor of Japan, whose reign lasted from January 7, 1989, to April 30, 2019. Akihito ascended the throne after his father, Emperor Hirohito passed away. The duration of his reign is known as the ‘Heisei’ era, which translates to ‘become peace’ — an expression of striving for peace across the world. Emperor Akihito ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne at the tail-end of the Japanese economic miracle. The yen was at an all-time high, and money was flowing into the economy. It was also during his reign that Japan experienced its ‘Lost Decade,’ a period of great economic difficulty after Japan’s bubble economy burst.
History of Birthday of Emperor Akihito
Akihito was born on December 23, 1933, in Tokyo as the eldest son of Emperor Hirohito and Empress Nagako. During the Allied occupation of Japan, Akihito was tutored in English. He was the heir-apparent to the throne from the moment he was born; however, he was only officially appointed as the crown prince in 1952. He was married to Michiko Shoda in 1959 and had three children with her — Naruhito, Fumihto, and Sayako. Akihito ascended the Chrysanthemum throne on January 7, 1989.
Only three months after the death of Emperor Hirohito, Akihito began issuing statements of remorse to several Asian countries for the suffering they experienced under Japanese occupation, beginning with China. He also made attempts to bring the imperial family closer to the Japanese people.
On July 13, 2016, it was first reported that Akihito was planning to abdicate the throne. This marked a massive milestone in the Japanese imperial family as the last time the family had witnessed an abdication was in 1817. The one-off bill allowing the abdication was passed on June 8, 2017, and the throne was passed on to Akihito’s oldest son, the current emperor Naruhito on April 30, 2019.
Birthday of Emperor Akihito timeline
Prince Akihito is born.
Akihito is appointed as the Japanese crown prince.
Akihito ascends to the throne.
Akihito abdicates the Chrysanthemum throne.
Birthday of Emperor Akihito FAQs
How old is Akihito?
He is 88 years old.
How old was Akihito when he became emperor?
Akihito was 56 when he became the emperor of Japan.
Who was the first emperor of Japan?
Jimmu Tennō was the first emperor of Japan.
How to Observe Birthday of Emperor Akihito
Learn about Emperor Akihito’s reign
You can celebrate the day by reading about Emperor Akihito’s long and eventful reign. You never know what you might discover.
Read about Japanese imperialism
Akihito spent considerable time issuing statements of remorse to countries Japan had colonized. Learn about Japanese imperialism to understand why.
Visit Japan
Though there may be little to no official festivities, visit Japan to understand the legacy of Akihito’s reign. Not only will the history be interesting, culturally it is a beautiful country.
5 Interesting Facts About Japan
It is illegal to make clones
It is illegal to experiment with cloning human beings in Japan!
Illegal to gamble
It is also illegal to gamble in Japan.
Professional people pushers
The city of Tokyo hires workers to push people inside trains during rush hours.
Power naps at work
Taking power naps during the workday is an encouraged practice in Japan.
Waistline monitoring
As per law, the waistlines of Japanese citizens between the ages of 40 and 74 are measured by the government annually.
Why Birthday of Emperor Akihito is Important
It honors an important figure in Japanese history
Emperor Akihito is an important figure in modern Japanese history. This day honors him and his legacy.
It’s a reminder of the post-war Japanese legacy
Japan has an interesting post-war history. The Birthday of Emperor Akihito is a reminder of that.
It’s a reminder of imperial existence
The Birthday of Emperor Akihito is a reminder that monarchies continue to exist worldwide. They are not relics of the past as one may think them to be.
Birthday of Emperor Akihito dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | December 23 | Monday |
| 2025 | December 23 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | December 23 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | December 23 | Thursday |
| 2028 | December 23 | Saturday |
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