Imperial dynasty. The oldest monarchy

Sometimes you can hear a logical question from people who are not too experienced in world politics: “Does Japan have a president? And if there is, then why don’t we know anything about it?”

So, what is the name of the 2016 Japanese President? To find out the answer, you need to understand the political structure of the island state. At first glance, the system seems complex, but in fact it is similar to that used in a number of other countries.

Yes, you won't find a list of Japanese presidents anywhere. Such a position is simply not provided for by the government system of this eastern country. And no wonder: Japan is a monarchy, albeit a constitutional one. The role of the “president” of Japan is now performed by the prime minister, but formally the head of state is the emperor.

Does the Japanese Emperor have power?

Yes and no. The Supreme Ruler performs approximately the same functions as the Queen of Great Britain, that is, he is present at official events and holidays. His task is also to sign documents, laws and agreements that are prepared by the government and the cabinet of ministers.

In a way, the emperor is still the “president” of Japan. For example, he has the power to convene parliament or dissolve the lower house. It depends on him when parliamentary elections will be held. The Supreme Ruler confirms the appointment of the Prime Minister. Also, it is to him that the minister is obliged to submit his resignation. The emperor sends envoys to different countries and receives envoys from other states. In the constitution of the Land of the Rising Sun, the emperor is called “the symbol of the state and the unity of the nation.” He does not have real government functions.

Who has the real power?

The real "president" of Japan can be called the prime minister. He is appointed by the emperor by decision of parliament. This person is responsible for appointing the cabinet and the chief judge.

The Japanese strictly adhere to the constitution, which was adopted in the middle of the 20th century. Since then, not a single amendment has been made to it. According to the current regulations, in order to make changes to the fundamental law of the country, the corresponding decision must be made by 60% of the members of the two chambers of parliament. After this, a national referendum begins, at which the issue is considered. The most painful topic for residents of the Land of the Rising Sun is Article 9 of the Constitution. According to it, the country refuses to maintain an army and fight wars. Sometimes voices are heard in favor of initiating the abolition of the article, but so far they have not led to anything serious.

Principle of decentralization

Japanese officials have quite a lot of power. To revise an existing bill or introduce a new one, they do not need to contact the “President of Japan,” that is, the emperor. It is enough to send the project for consideration to the government, after which it is sent to parliament.

Parliament consists of two houses: representatives (lower) and councilors (upper). The term of service of a member of the House of Representatives is four years (or less in case of dissolution). Councilors are elected for six years. Representatives of different parties are present in the chambers. The largest parties take on leadership functions.

On-site management

Japan consists of 47 prefectures. Such a strong “fragmentation” of a relatively small territory requires a developed system of local self-government. Each village, town, city or prefecture has its own regulatory authorities. Elections are held every four years. The main task of local government representatives is to convene meetings to consider important issues. The Prime Minister can remove the prefect from office. The prefect, in turn, has the right to remove the mayor or village chief. Executive power is exercised by special commissions that are elected at meetings.

Supreme Court

According to the constitution, the state's judicial power is independent. The chief judge is appointed by the emperor (but is chosen by representatives of the cabinet). This body includes another 14 judges who are appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers. Elections are held every 10 years. The task of judges is to decide whether the government's actions are consistent with the constitution and other laws of the country.

Japan has one of the most powerful economies on the planet and is a member of many international organizations. The main partners are the Republic of Korea and the USA. Relations with Russia are relatively tense due to territorial issues (Kuril Islands).

The President of Japan, or to be precise, the Emperor, plays a formal function in the country. He represents the state at any meetings or gatherings where there is no need to resolve strategically important state issues. If we compare the Emperor of Japan with the Queen of Britain, we can immediately say: the latter has more powers. In Japan, all power is concentrated in the hands of the prime minister. The imperial chair is passed down through the male line.

The President of Japan is now 83 years old. He received the title of ruler in 1989 and remains so to this day. His name is Akihito.

Akihito family

The respectable man who became emperor at age 56 had a different name before taking the throne. His name was Prince Tsugunomiya. The President of Japan, whose name is known throughout the world, was born on December 23, 1933. In the family, the boy is the eldest son and fifth child. His father's name was Hirohito, his mother's name was Kojun.

Akihito studied at a special kazoku school. It is intended only for representatives of the aristocratic family; other children cannot study in it. The school was opened at Gakushuin University. The boy spent twelve years within the walls of this educational institution and in 1952 received documents confirming his graduation. Parents wanted to instill in their child a love of knowledge and languages ​​so that he could develop diversified. Therefore, the future president of Japan studied with the famous writer Elizabeth Vining. She gave him knowledge of the English language and told him about Western life and culture.

Further training

Immediately after graduating from school, Akihito entered the university at the department of politics of the same university that contains the specified junior educational institution. In 1952, namely in the second month of autumn, he was officially presented to the people by the Crown Prince.

The following year, the guy traveled to 14 countries around the world, during which he stopped in London. There he attended the coronation of Catherine II and spoke on behalf of his father.

The university was graduated in 1956. Three years later, the President of Japan married the daughter of the ruler of one of the large flour-grinding companies. Thus, he destroyed his family’s tradition of marrying only with a partner of exclusively aristocratic blood. The woman was born into the society of the intelligentsia.

Michiko Sede

Emperor's wife Michiko was born in 1934 on October 20th. Her family is a highly respected group of Japanese intellectuals. At the same time, two of her relatives received the highest state award, which is awarded personally by the emperor for outstanding achievements in science. The woman can play the piano and harp. She also enjoys spending her free time embroidering. She really likes literature and floristry. By translating the poems of one of Japan's poets, Michiko made him famous throughout the world, and the author was soon given an honorary award.

Family life

After the unanimous approval of Akihito's future wife, the marriage process took place. The family was able to slightly improve the requirements for the imperial alliance. The President of Japan was able to get some obligations canceled. For example, the family raised the children themselves, without resorting to the help of nannies and tutors. And even despite the fact that they were constantly required to go to official events, the guys (at that time they had two children - a boy and a girl) never suffered from a lack of attention.

Akihito - Emperor

In September 1988, Akihito's father's health deteriorated noticeably, so he had to take on some responsibilities. He also had the honor of opening the first session of parliament. The Crown Prince received the title of Emperor after the death of his mentor in early January 1989. After his appointment, a new era begins in the life of Japan - Heisei. The names of each emperor are associated with a particular period of time, which receives its name. This makes it easier to remember the name of the president of Japan from one or another period of government.

Akihito's hobbies

The ruler loves biology and ichthyology, just like his late father. Over the course of his entire life, he wrote 25 scientific papers on the topic of “sea gobies.” Akihiro is also interested in history. Among the sports, the emperor singles out tennis (it was there that the ruler and his wife first met) and horse riding.

On August 8 he addressed the nation Emperor of Japan Akihito. He fears that he will not be able to fulfill his duties as a symbol of the state in the future. However, the word “renunciation” was not used in the monarch’s speech. However, Akihito made it clear that he was ready for such a development of events.

“I am worried that it may become difficult for me to fulfill my duties as a ‘symbol of the state’ with my entire being, as I have done so far,” Akihito said.

AiF.ru talks about what is known about Emperor Ajikito.

Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

Biography

Akihito, Prince Tsugunomiya, was born on December 23, 1933 at 06:39 Japanese Standard Time in Tokyo.

Akihito - eldest son and fifth child Emperor Hirohito And Empress Kojun. He attended the Gakushuin University School for the Children of Nobility (kazoku) from 1940 to 1952. Along with the traditional Japanese mentor of the imperial family, S. Koizumi, the prince also had an American teacher - Elizabeth Gray Vining, renowned children's book author, who helped the prince in learning English and Western culture.

In 1952, the prince entered the department of politics, Faculty of Politics and Economics at Gakushuin University, and in November of the same year he was officially declared crown prince.

Travel to North America and Europe

While still a student and crown prince, Akihito made a six-month trip to 14 countries in North America and Western Europe in 1953. The centerpiece of this trip was his visit to London as Emperor Hirohito's representative at the coronation Queen Elizabeth II.

Young Akihito with his father Emperor Showa. 1950 Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

Marriage to Michiko Shode

The university was successfully completed in March 1956, and in April 1959 the Crown Prince married Michiko Shoda, the eldest daughter of Hidesaburo Shoda, the president of a large flour milling company. Thus, centuries-old traditions were violated, requiring members of the imperial family to choose wives from girls exclusively of aristocratic origin.

Michiko Shoda was born in Tokyo on October 20, 1934. Her family are representatives of the highly educated intelligentsia. Two members of this family were awarded the Order of Cultural Merit, the highest academic honor bestowed by the Emperor on outstanding scholars.

The Imperial Household Office, headed by the Prime Minister and composed of representatives of the Imperial Family, the Presidents of the House of Representatives and the House of Councilors of the Diet, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and others, unanimously approved the selection of the Crown Prince.

Akihito and Michiko managed to achieve relative freedom from the rigidity of palace traditions in their family life. Together with his wife, Akihito changed the way of life in the imperial family. Despite their constant busyness with official events, they themselves raised their children, two sons and a daughter, without placing them in the care of nannies and tutors.

After the wedding ceremony. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

While still heir to the throne, Akihito made official visits to 37 countries at the invitation of their governments. Akihito was also the honorary chairman of the XI Pacific Scientific Congress in 1966, the 1967 Universiade in Tokyo, and EXPO 70 in Osaka. During Emperor Hirohito's trips to Europe in 1971 and the United States in 1975, the Crown Prince performed government functions in his father's place.

In September 1988, due to Emperor Hirohito's illness, Crown Prince Akihito assumed a number of government duties, including attending the opening ceremony of the Diet session.

On January 7, 1989, the Crown Prince became Emperor of Japan, inheriting the throne after the death of his father. From this day on, a new period of national chronology began in Japan (corresponding to the period of imperial rule) - Heisei (Japanese: 平成).

In the White House of President Eisenhower and his wife and Washington. 1960 Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

Two days after taking the throne, during the first audience given to members of the public, the emperor promised to strictly fulfill his duties. “I guarantee that I will always stand with my people and support the Constitution,” he said.

Interests

Emperor Akihito is interested in biology and ichthyology (the branch of zoology that deals with the study of fish). 25 of his scientific papers on sea gobies have already been published. In 1986 he was elected an honorary member of the Linnaean Society of London, an international society of biologists. After a trip to the United States, Akihito encouraged the Japanese to breed American bream. The Japanese followed his advice, and as a result, American bream began to displace Japanese fish in Japanese waters. In this regard, in 2007, Akihito publicly apologized to the Japanese people.

In addition, Akihito is interested in history. He prefers tennis as a sport (he met his future wife on the court), and horse riding also brings him joy.

Princess Takako with her older brother Crown Prince Akihito in 1954. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

Children

The imperial couple had three children: Crown Prince Naruhito (February 23, 1960), Prince Akishino (Fumihito) (November 30, 1965), Princess Sayako (April 18, 1969).

Functions of the Emperor of Japan

• confirming, in accordance with the law, the appointments and resignations of government ministers and other officials, as well as the powers and credentials of ambassadors and envoys;
• confirmation of general and private amnesties, mitigation and deferment of sentences, restoration of rights;
• awarding awards;
• confirmation in accordance with the law of ratifications and other diplomatic documents, reception of foreign ambassadors and envoys;
• performance of the ceremony.

In practice, the Emperor has even less powers than the monarch of Great Britain, since he is deprived of even such traditional rights for the head of state as the right of veto, influence on the formation of the government, and supreme command of the armed forces.

Emperor Akihito with Empress Michiko. 2005 year. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

Solving government issues

Day-to-day government affairs in Japan are handled by the Imperial Household Department, which operates under the Office of the Prime Minister. The head of the department is appointed by the Prime Minister with the consent of the Emperor and supervises the work of the staff, whose number in the early 80s. exceeded 1 thousand people.

If a regency is established, the Regent acts on behalf of the Emperor. In addition, the Emperor, in accordance with the law, may entrust other persons with the exercise of his powers. The Emperor has to carry out a number of foreign policy activities not only individually, but also with members of the imperial family.

The monarch is also present at various national holidays and official celebrations. At such events, conversations are held with scientists, artists and other specialists in various fields. The Emperor frequently visits social welfare facilities, industrial establishments, scientific centers, art exhibitions and charity events.

In the very center of Tokyo, in the middle of a picturesque park, stands a beautiful palace. The most mysterious resident of the country lives here - the Emperor of Japan. Today is December 23, and the Kokeso Palace is surrounded on all sides by a crowd of Japanese. This is one of two days a year when they can enter the magnificent chambers and see their emperor. After all, today is his birthday, the Emperor of Japan is 80 years old.

Emperor of Japan

Akihito is the country's 125th emperor. When the boy was very young, according to existing traditions, he was taken from his mother and raised in accordance with the canons of raising a real crown prince. Japanese traditions limit the future emperor's communication with relatives. Meetings with his parents are allowed only a few times a month - at this moment they look at each other almost silently, and then he is again taken to his room by strict tutors.

Emperor of Japan Akihito

Childhood of the Crown Prince

Studying at school did not help the situation. At the age of 7, the future emperor ended up in a special school for the upper classes. But even here he could not be an ordinary boy and play with the guys. After all, children's pranks are not accessible to the Living God! This is how Akihito spent 12 years of his life - all these years he spent most of the time communicating with his fish. The Emperor has not given up this activity even now and is the author of several dozen scientific works on ichthyology. In 1986 he became an honorary member of the international Linnean Society of London.

Traditions of the Imperial Family

The history of the imperial house of Japan is surrounded by many myths, secrets and prejudices - after all, the dynasty has ruled for more than 1.5 thousand years! The most amazing thing is that during all this time the royal family has no surname. Her position on the imperial throne is so strong and unshakable that no surname is needed at all. Every Japanese emperor is considered a descendant of Amaterasu, the most famous Shinto deity. It is divine origin that guarantees the crown prince the absence of any rivals in the struggle for the throne. Therefore, attempts to overthrow the imperial dynasty have never been made in the history of the country in Japan.

Symbols of the Imperial House

The attributes of the emperor's reign are a mirror, a sword and a jasper seal. In Japan, they are believed to represent power and have real sacred power. Three regalia are passed from father to son when the prince takes office. The imperial coat of arms depicts a sign of longevity - a 16-petalled chrysanthemum. The Japanese have a popular legend that wine infused with its petals prolongs life to eight thousand years.

The Emperor can do anything

The emperor was once considered the high priest of Shinto and had absolute, unquestionable authority. But in the 12th century, the samurai took away power, leaving the emperor with only symbolic powers. Now, in accordance with the country's constitution, the emperor has no real powers to govern the state and is only a symbol of the country and the unity of the nation. He is deprived of the right not only to be elected, but even to vote or express his opinion on the political situation in Japan. In fact, the emperor is one of the most powerless citizens and is considered the same ordinary symbol of statehood as a coat of arms, flag or anthem.

Monarch Family

Akihito received the throne in 1989. The motto of his reign is “Peace and Tranquility.” Having suffered as a child, he made a number of significant changes to the age-old traditions of the imperial family, for example, he married a girl from an ordinary family and began to independently raise his children - a daughter and two sons.

The Emperor and his wife visit Fukushima

Duties of the Emperor

Akihito pursues an active public policy, engages in charity work, participates in international meetings and goes on visits abroad. However, the Emperor of Japan is not a public person, and his voice can be heard extremely rarely. One of these moments was the tragic earthquake in 2011, during which the monarch addressed the residents of the country. The voice of the emperor with divine origin emphasized the importance of the event and eliminated the panic that had spread among the Japanese.

Imperial chambers

The domain of the royal castle is divided into two parts. In the eastern half, the Eastern Garden of the Imperial Palace is open to everyone. On the western side are the palace, the luxurious Fukiage Garden and the private quarters of Emperor Akihito, his relatives and a huge crowd of courtiers. The Emperor's Palace is a closed area. You can get here only twice a year: on January 2, the imperial family receives congratulations on the New Year, and on December 23, the emperor celebrates his birthday.

Emperor's Birthday

On this day, everything is planned down to the minute. Akihito approaches the bulletproof window with his wife and children and allows his subjects to express their delight. At this moment, the palace is deafened by incessant greetings and shouts against the backdrop of a sea of ​​flags with the coat of arms of Japan. The emperor pronounces words of gratitude to the people, wishes them prosperity and blesses them for a happy life. The Japanese, in return, traditionally wish the monarch many years of successful reign in order to strengthen Japan's national pride.

Photo: thinkstockphotos.com, flickr.com

SUMERAGI

Imperial dynasty of Japan

This ruling house is considered the most ancient in the world of all existing royal dynasties. Of course, the emperors of Japan did not always have full power. For a long time (1192–1867), the actual rulers of the country were the shoguns (there were three dynasties of shoguns: Minamoto (1192–1333), Ashikaga (1335 (1338)–1573) and Tokugawa (1603–1867)).

Currently, the monarchical system of Japan has ideally adapted to democratic orders: the emperor, although not possessing political power, still occupies the most important place in society, since the Japanese continue to consider the monarch an integral element of their national culture.

If you believe the historical chronicles of the Land of the Rising Sun “Kojiki” (712) and “Nihongi” (720), then the first emperor ascended the throne of Japan back in 660 BC. e. The accession, naturally, did not happen without the intervention of the gods... Chronicles report that the goddess Amaterasu Omikami, who occupies a central place in the Shinto pantheon, decided to give power over Japan to her grandson, Ninigi no Mikoto. The caring grandmother, after giving her descendant the necessary instructions on how to govern the country, presented him with three valuable gifts as a guarantee of peace and tranquility of the new dynasty and the entire state. Amaterasu Omikami presented her grandson with a bronze mirror, a sword and jasper pendants. At the same time, she said: “Illuminate the world as brightly as this mirror. Rule the world with the miraculous swing of these jasper pendants. Subdue those who will not obey you by shaking this divine sword." Thus, Japan found the progenitor of the imperial dynasty.

Ninigi no Mikoto passed on the goddess's gifts to his descendants as the greatest treasure. According to the same chronicles, the title of emperor (tenno) was first accepted by the great-grandson of Ninigi no Mikoto - Jimmu (711–585 BC), with the myth of which the second section of the Kojiki epic begins. The name of this ruler opens a long list of monarchs of the Land of the Rising Sun. Actually, only from the time of Jimmu do we know the officially recorded dates of the reign of representatives of the Japanese imperial dynasty. Jimmu himself was in power from 660–585 BC. e. Naturally, he, as befits a person related to the supreme deity, not only could communicate directly with the gods, but was also endowed with impressive magical powers... And the possession of the relics that Amaterasu Omika had once given to her grandson remained a prerequisite for the accession of the next emperor to the throne and the key to his successful reign.

In addition to myths and legends, the tales of Jimmu brought to us information about very real historical events (for example, about the campaigns of the tribes that inhabited Kyushu at that time on the island of Honshu). Two temples are dedicated to this ruler - in Miyazaki and in Kashiwara. In addition, the Japanese owe the existence of one of the most famous national holidays to Jimmu - Kigensetsu, which is celebrated on February 11 (currently this ancient holiday is called Kenkoku Kinenbi - State Foundation Day). This festival is believed to commemorate the day when Jimmu first sat on the Chrysanthemum Throne.

For obvious reasons, historians do not consider the Kojiki and Nihongi to be models of accuracy and are somewhat doubtful that the chronicles contain reliable historical information. In addition to stories about the first emperors of Japan, they contain many myths and legends. Historians and archaeologists consider the 3rd–4th centuries AD to be a more plausible time for the emergence of imperial power; then the power of the Yamato tribal union spread over an impressive territory: from the island of Kyushu in the south to the Kanto Plain in the north. At that time, the rulers of Japan could truly boast of true greatness. This is evidenced, for example, by the burial of Nintoku, the 16th emperor of the Land of the Rising Sun, who ruled in the 4th century AD. e. A huge complex, the size of which is 753? 656 m, was discovered during excavations in Osaka Prefecture.

It is reliably known that from the middle of the 7th century, Japanese emperors began to bear the title tenno - “heavenly ruler”. Since that time, when mentioning the ruler of the country, the formula has been constantly used that he “rules the world, being the incarnation of a deity.” Emperor Temmu (c. 631–686) was particularly fascinated by the divine origins of his dynasty and the country as a whole. It was he who introduced the name Nippon for Japan, the spelling of which includes the hieroglyph for “sun”.

And now let's go to the 8th century, or rather to its very beginning. At that time, the imperial court was undergoing serious changes, and the system of government of the country underwent a radical restructuring. Now everything was organized according to the Chinese model, with its characteristic rigid centralization of power. It is interesting that at this time the descendant of Amaterasu was not only an emperor: he combined the role of the ruler of the state with the duties of the high priest of the cult of his own ancestor. However, for a long time, the emperors of Japan failed to maintain the highest both secular and spiritual power in the same hands.

Due to the fact that Japan knew practically no external threat, and the bureaucratic management system was constantly being improved, the palace aristocracy gradually began to gain more and more strength. The Fujiwara clan especially emerged at that time. As a result, the institution of regency arose in Japan, which led to the reduction of the once all-powerful tenno to a symbolic ruler... At the levers of real power were representatives of one or another influential clan, who always wanted to drown their competitors in blood in order to get to leadership positions. It is not surprising that the Land of the Rising Sun quickly reached a state of crisis.

The descendants of Amaterasu Omikami, meanwhile, were looking for ways to regain their lost positions. A significant step in this direction was made at the end of the 11th century by Emperor Shirakawa (1053–1129; reigned 1073–1087), who fought against the growing influence of local feudal lords and the Buddhist elite. He was the first to apply the so-called practice of insei - abdication of the throne and adoption of monasticism. In his new capacity, Shirakawa, who no longer held any official positions, continued to govern the country. Since that time, such royal monks again regained the position of the most influential force in the country: they became the largest landowners (more than half of all land in Japan was concentrated under their control), maintained not only numerous and well-trained troops, but also their own police.

In the 10th–14th centuries, the fate of the imperial dynasty of Japan was in the hands of three related families: Taira, Minamoto and Hojo. The first of the mentioned clans was closest to the emperor, and therefore managed to seize all the key positions in the government and at court. Later, the Minamoto clan ousted their rivals from their positions when, after a bloody war between the two clans, the victors founded a new form of government - the shogunate (military government). After the head of the Minamoto clan received the title of shogun from the tenno and all the feudal lords of Japan with their samurai and lands were under his command, the power of the emperor himself turned into a fiction. The 96th Emperor, Go-Daigo (1288–1339; reigned 1318–1339), tried to rectify the situation, who wanted at all costs to regain the powers that had once belonged to the tenno. Before his coronation, he bore the name of Prince Takaharu, and for the first time in the long centuries of Japanese history, he ascended the throne as an adult. When his father Go-Uda (1267–1324) devoted himself entirely to religious affairs in 1321, the young emperor decided that the time had come to take control of the country into his own hands, getting rid of the overly active guardians in the person of numerous regents, ex-emperors and feudal lords. He demonstrated his desire to finally restore order in the country even when he was choosing his posthumous name. Takaharu recalled the "golden age" of his dynasty, which coincided with the reign of Emperor Daigo (885–930). Therefore, he chose the name Go-Daigo, which means “follower of Daigo.”

To begin with, the new monarch alienated the hereditary aristocrats from himself and eagerly turned for help to less well-born, but much more capable and talented people. In 1319–1322, Go-Daigo carried out a series of economic reforms and forced the government to flexibly manage the financial situation through taxation. Thanks to this, Go-Daigo was able to establish complete control over the imperial capital of Kyoto and the surrounding areas.

In 1324, the shogunal authorities uncovered a conspiracy organized by the emperor. Indirect evidence pointed this out quite clearly. However, the tenno sent a letter to the shogun in which he denied his involvement in this conspiracy. Go-Daigo's statement was believed, and the conspirators did not even suffer serious punishment. In Japan, meanwhile, there was a wave of uprisings against the government of the Minamoto shoguns.

After Crown Prince Kuniyoshi suddenly died in 1326, his place, despite the emperor's protest, was taken by a representative of another line of the dynasty, Kazuhito (later Emperor Kogon). Then Go-Daigo again resorted to a conspiracy against the shogun, which he personally led. When the feudal lords discovered the monarch's intentions in 1331, he, taking with him the sacred relics that gave him the right to the Chrysanthemum Throne, fled to the province of Kawachi under the protection of the commander Kusunoki Masashige. The civil war began.

Go-Daigo was defeated and, captured, was forced to give the sacred relics to the new emperor - Kogon. But even after being exiled to the Oka Islands, he refused to recognize the power of his successor. A guerrilla movement arose in Japan, led by the son of the captive emperor, Prince Moriyoshi (former abbot of the Enryakuji Temple on Mount Hiei) and Kusunoki Masashige. The military successes of the rebels were so significant that unrest spread throughout the country. Go-Daigo was able to return from exile and in 1333 he himself led the uprising.

Military operations were carried out against the Hojo clan, which by that time had effectively ruled the state behind the backs of the Minamoto shoguns for more than a century. In the same 1333, the commander of the army of the shogunate, Ashikaga Takauji, at a decisive moment took the side of Go-Daigo and captured Kyoto. At the same time, another former commander of the shogun, Nitta Yoshisada, took Kamakura by storm. Following this, the entire Hojo household and its many retainers committed seppuku (ritual suicide). Go-Daigo again took the throne of Japan, after which he made dramatic changes in the government, began land reform and the distribution of awards. However, tenno adopted the wrong policy regarding samurai: he significantly reduced the rights and privileges of these warriors, which greatly undermined his authority. In addition, too many mistakes were made during the redistribution of land, which led to terrible confusion.

The Emperor also carried out a number of administrative reforms. State authorities were staffed by both aristocrats and the military. By appointing military and civilian governors, the emperor was able to establish control over all of Japan for some time, but this step led to aggravation of contradictions between the rulers of individual provinces. Go-Daigo also took a number of measures to reform financial policy and relations with religious institutions. The government's adoption of so many new decisions increased confusion and angered the military.

Ashikaga Takauji, meanwhile, became a recognized authority in the government and among the samurai. To prevent the rise of this warlord, Go-Daigo awarded the highest military title to Prince Moriyoshi. He openly conflicted with Takauji, and within a few months the emperor, under pressure from the military, reversed his decision and allowed his son to be arrested. This did not help Go-Daigo retain his throne. Rebellions broke out again in Japan, but this time in support of Ashikaga Takauji. He withdrew from the imperial court, and then defeated the troops of Nitta Yoshisada, loyal to the emperor. Entering Kamakura victorious, Ashikaga Takauji proclaimed himself shogun. In 1336, he installed his protégé, Emperor Kōmyō, on the throne.

Go-Daigo had no choice but to leave with a small number of his supporters to the Yoshino Mountains, where the so-called Southern Court was founded. Meanwhile, in Kyoto there was a government controlled by the new shogun - the Northern Court. The confrontation between the two centers of power lasted from 1337 to 1392, when the Southern Court finally fell into decay and ceased to exist. Go-Daigo himself left the throne in 1339, leaving it to his son Go-Murakami (1328–1368). The abdicated ruler died the day after his abdication.

For several centuries, the emperors of the Land of the Rising Sun had no more than the appearance of power, they were a kind of symbol, a tribute to tradition. Naturally, they tried more than once to change the situation, but to no avail, especially since the Sengoku-jidai era gave Japan powerful and talented commanders and rulers - Oda Nobunaga (1534–1582) and Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536–1598). Compared to them, the nominal rulers of Japan seemed nothing more than pale shadows. And Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542–1616) founded the shogun dynasty and the most powerful military-feudal regime in the history of Japan, which buried the hopes of the imperial dynasty to regain real power for 250 years.

When Japan was actually ruled by shoguns, the emperor, who was assigned a palace in Kyoto, was forced to do only magnificent ceremonies at the court, performances of ancient bugaku dances, poetry competitions, calligraphers and sports competitions. An echo of the then-established tradition has survived to this day: such events are still part of the official entertainment of the Japanese imperial court.

Until the middle of the 19th century, the rulers of the Land of the Rising Sun were forced to be content with the purely religious power that remained with them. The situation changed radically with the accession to the throne of Emperor Mutsuhito (1852–1912). This powerful, far-sighted and talented politician in 1868 risked starting an armed conflict with the shogunate, which resulted in the so-called Meiji revolution. This time, the descendant of the goddess was lucky: Mutsuhito managed to emerge victorious and gained full state power. To consolidate the successes achieved and protect the Chrysanthemum Throne from becoming a symbol, the Emperor insisted that in 1889 Japan pass a basic law, according to which the country was declared a constitutional monarchy. During the Meiji era, the capital of Japan moved to Edo (1869), which was called the “Eastern Capital” - Tokyo.

Despite significant changes, at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, the powers of the emperor were somewhat limited - the government played a significant role in matters of foreign and domestic policy. A particularly difficult fate befell Hirohito (1901–1989), the 124th emperor who ascended the throne in 1926. State duties were entrusted to him back in 1921, when the health of Emperor Yoshihito (1879–1926) sharply deteriorated, and he was forced to transfer many of his concerns to his heir, who received the title of regent. The years of Hirohito's reign went down in history as the Showa era. This representative of the dynasty was to occupy the Chrysanthemum Throne until 1989. Even his ancestors, distinguished by their enviable longevity, could envy such a long reign, unusual even for the imperial house of Japan. It was under this monarch that the Land of the Rising Sun experienced truly difficult times. Such pages of Japanese history as participation in military adventures (the result of militarists being in power), the rapid expansion of the colonial empire, continuous war in 1937–1945, Hiroshima and Nagasaki burned in the hellfire of atomic bombs, the surrender of a militaristic state, foreign occupation and years of devastation , followed by a period of economic prosperity that came to be called the “Japanese miracle,” had a huge international resonance.

During the Showa era, the very role of the emperor in the life of the country was rethought. Until 1945, the ruler of the Land of the Rising Sun, according to the 1889 constitution, had absolute power in the country - legislative, executive, judicial and military. Hirohito, like his predecessors, was considered specially sacred and inviolable, and literally sacred... Does this mean that responsibility for many crimes, such as the war of conquest against China, the colonial plunder of Southeast Asia and the attack on Pearl Harbor, lies entirely on the conscience of the emperor? Hirohito himself and his supporters denied their guilt for crimes against peace and humanity. They insisted that the absolute power of the emperor was only on paper, but in reality there was a constitutional monarchy in Japan, so that all affairs in the country were in charge of the government and the Genro (Council of Elders). But the emperor had to answer for everything. On January 1, 1946, Hirohito publicly renounced the divinity of his dynasty's origins.

In this regard, in the new Japanese constitution, which came into force in May 1948, the emperor was proclaimed “the symbol of the state and the unity of the people,” and sovereign power was the prerogative of the people themselves. Since then, the monarch occupying the Chrysanthemum Throne has performed exclusively ceremonial and formal functions. In particular, his responsibilities include confirming the appointments and resignations of senior officials proposed by the government, accepting credentials from foreign ambassadors, endorsing official government documents, and presenting honorary awards. All actions of the emperor, which in one way or another can affect state affairs, are controlled by the cabinet of ministers and carried out only with his approval.

After Hirohito passed away, the Chrysanthemum Throne was taken by his eldest son Akihito (born in 1933). Hirohito had seven children in total - five daughters and two sons. Akihito, the 125th emperor of the dynasty, began his reign on January 7, 1989. Since 1991, the heir apparent (crown prince) is the eldest son of the monarch, Naruhito (born in 1960).

The Crown Prince is an extraordinary person. Those who know him well describe Naruhito as a determined person with enviable self-control. In 1982, he graduated from the history department of the literary department of Gakushuin University, after which he entered graduate school at Oxford University. In March 1988, Naruhito received his master's degree from the same Gakushuin University. The Prince is also a member of the local Center for Historical Research and received an honorary Doctor of Science degree in 1991. In addition, the heir to the Chrysanthemum Throne goes on official visits abroad as a representative of the Japanese imperial dynasty.

The prince was fond of music since childhood, playing the violin and then the viola. During his studies, he and his friends organized a small string ensemble.

The prince first met his future wife Owada Masako at a reception in 1986. Naruhito at that time was already 26 years old, and she was 21. All of Japan was closely watching the attempts of the heir to the throne to start a family; this story was very reminiscent of a drama.

It seems that no one wanted this marriage except the prince himself. His parents believed that Masako was not a person of sufficiently noble origin: Naruhito’s chosen one was the daughter of the country’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Masako spent most of her life abroad, moving from country to country with her parents (including attending a kindergarten in Moscow). After graduating from school, the girl entered Harvard University, specialized in economics, and graduated with honors in 1985.

Masako eventually decided to become a diplomat. Returning to Japan, she went to work at the University of Tokyo, and a year later, having passed all the necessary exams, she became a translator for the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. When Prince Naruhito appeared on her life horizon, the girl was faced with a difficult choice: a familiar life, career prospects, trips around the world, friends - or marriage, which did not seem attractive at all... Both Masako and her parents knew too well what was hidden behind the loud princess title.

Despite the fact that Japan is one of the most developed countries in the world, the imperial family still lives according to the laws of a thousand years ago! And if the emperor is almost a god, and his heir is perhaps the most spoiled child in the entire universe, the princess in Japan is an empty place. She has no civil rights. The wife of the heir to the throne doesn't even have a passport! It is clear that princesses never participate in elections... Work in their specialty is also ordered for them. The only acceptable pastime for the princess is sewing kimonos and reading ancient poems. What can I say! In the palace, the princess must express herself exclusively in hexameter (!) and pronounce no more than five words per minute! And she can leave the walls of her home only accompanied by her husband; she should walk three steps behind her husband, with her head bowed low and, if possible, in silence.

Needless to say, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs did not want such a fate for his daughter?! Moreover, Masako was not only beautiful, but also talented. So Naruhito, who made an offer through acquaintances, received a decisive refusal. Masako (out of harm’s way) went to Oxford. But the stubborn heir continued to pursue his goal. It took him almost six years to finally achieve his goal!

In 1992, Naruhito again received a refusal from his chosen one. On October 20, the Owada family submitted an official refusal to the Imperial Household Office. The prince again began to besiege the girl, and finally Masako surrendered. After six years of persistent courtship, the 28-year-old translator agreed to the marriage, hoping that it would “serve the interests of Japan.” Naruhito had to promise: his wife would not face the fate of a high-ranking housewife... The future princess, who declared that “love for a wonderful man was kindled in her heart,” was introduced to Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, after which the couple announced their engagement in December 1992. On June 9, 1993, the wedding of the heir to the throne and his chosen one took place, performed according to the traditional Shinto rite of Japan. From that moment on, Masako's life began to be measured with a ruler and a stopwatch.

After the first press conference of the married couple, the monarchists fell into hysterics: the princess spoke... nine seconds longer than her husband! Then Masako began to be reproached for being too tall - she is three centimeters taller than the heir to the throne. The woman was instructed to walk with a slouch. European dresses, and especially jeans, were out of the question: from now on Masako had to wear only a kimono.

Naturally, the heir’s wife initially tried to defend her right to work, study, drive a car herself, travel without security and wear what she likes. Naturally, she lost on all counts. The reigning empress, a year after her son’s wedding, clearly expressed her attitude towards attempts to change the ancient foundations: “There will be no second lady Di in our family!” Masako was told that she should only think about giving the nation an heir: the Chrysanthemum Throne is passed on only through the direct male line, and children of the required gender have not been born into the imperial family since 1965. So special hopes were placed on the princess.

Masako was so “pecked” by considerations of a higher order that she turned into a silent shadow of her own husband... Finally, in 1999, it was announced that the princess was expecting a child. But the joy was short-lived: Masako’s pregnancy ended in miscarriage. According to the doctors, this happened solely due to the severe nervous overstrain in which she lived.

In 2001, the Japanese media, interrupting all planned programs, conveyed the message: the 38-year-old princess would soon become a mother. However, the Japanese were again disappointed - Masako gave birth to a daughter in December... Baby Aiko (“favorite child”) did not solve the problems of the prince and his wife. The Emperor and Empress did not hide their disappointment, and Michiko generally refused to see her daughter-in-law and granddaughter for several months (!). It is clear that Masako’s nerves finally gave way. She began to miss official events, and in December 2003 she was admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of shingles. But this is the official diagnosis. In fact, the princess’s illness had a more terrible name - “manic-depressive psychosis”... In May 2004, Masako shouted to her relatives that she, who had failed to fulfill her duty, should be released, and Naruhito for the first time violated all decency and accused the press and parents of that they hounded his wife. Contrary to all traditions, the “wrong” prince begged his wife for forgiveness on his knees for failing to protect her.

Perhaps this was the first time in the entire existence of the Japanese imperial dynasty when love and family turned out to be more valuable than the throne for the heir to the throne. For the first time, the prince openly spoke out in defense of his wife, who did not fit into the demands of palace life. And then... Emperor Akihito himself trembled. At the insistence of the monarch and his son, a special commission examined the situation where there was no male heir. The commission recommended that parliament change the law on succession to the throne. According to opinion polls, this decision is supported, oddly enough, by more than 80% of the country's residents. So little Aiko may one day sit on the Chrysanthemum Throne and become a symbol of the nation. She won’t have to sew a kimono and speak in hexameter all her life!

Recently, the media reported another piece of news: Princess Kiko, the wife of Emperor Akihito’s second son, Prince Fumihito, became pregnant. Perhaps the law on succession to the throne will not need to be changed.