Japanese Emperor Akihito commemorated the 20th anniversary of his reign yesterday with a visit to the grave of his father, Hirohito.
Akihito, 75, was joined by Empress Michiko, Prime Minister Taro Aso and dozens of others at the grave on Tokyo’s outskirts.
Akihito’s son, Crown Prince Naruhito, and Crown Princess Masako held a small observance of their own at the Imperial Palace.
Akihito assumed the Chrysanthemum Throne after Hirohito died on Jan. 7, 1989.
The anniversary comes as Akihito has cut back his official duties due to an irregular pulse and bleeding from his stomach — symptoms imperial doctors have attributed to “mental stress.” He has also undergone surgery and treatment for cancer.
Hirohito reigned when Japan invaded Asia in his name during the 1930s and 1940s, and his responsibility for wartime atrocities committed by Japanese troops remains a major topic of historical debate. Yesterday’s observance was without incident, however.
On his birthday last month, Akihito assured the nation his health was improving.
Though no longer revered as living gods, members of the imperial family live tightly regimented lives and have been known to suffer from stress-related illnesses.
Crown Princess Masako, 45, withdrew from most of her official duties and appearances several years ago because of a nervous disorder attributed to the difficulties she felt adjusting to palace life and the pressure to bear a son to continue the imperial line.
Empress Michiko, 74, has also often complained of stress and suffered a breakdown in the early 1990s that rendered her unable to speak for months.
Succession concerns are also believed to be a major source of worry. Under a post-World War II law, only males are allowed to assume the throne.
BACKLASH: The National Party quit its decades-long partnership with the Liberal Party after their election loss to center-left Labor, which won a historic third term Australia’s National Party has split from its conservative coalition partner of more than 60 years, the Liberal Party, citing policy differences over renewable energy and after a resounding loss at a national election this month. “Its time to have a break,” Nationals leader David Littleproud told reporters yesterday. The split shows the pressure on Australia’s conservative parties after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s center-left Labor party won a historic second term in the May 3 election, powered by a voter backlash against US President Donald Trump’s policies. Under the long-standing partnership in state and federal politics, the Liberal and National coalition had shared power
NO EXCUSES: Marcos said his administration was acting on voters’ demands, but an academic said the move was emotionally motivated after a poor midterm showing Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr yesterday sought the resignation of all his Cabinet secretaries, in a move seen as an attempt to reset the political agenda and assert his authority over the second half of his single six-year term. The order came after the president’s allies failed to win a majority of Senate seats contested in the 12 polls on Monday last week, leaving Marcos facing a divided political and legislative landscape that could thwart his attempts to have an ally succeed him in 2028. “He’s talking to the people, trying to salvage whatever political capital he has left. I think it’s
CONTROVERSY: During the performance of Israel’s entrant Yuval Raphael’s song ‘New Day Will Rise,’ loud whistles were heard and two people tried to get on stage Austria’s JJ yesterday won the Eurovision Song Contest, with his operatic song Wasted Love triumphing at the world’s biggest live music television event. After votes from national juries around Europe and viewers from across the continent and beyond, JJ gave Austria its first victory since bearded drag performer Conchita Wurst’s 2014 triumph. After the nail-biting drama as the votes were revealed running into yesterday morning, Austria finished with 436 points, ahead of Israel — whose participation drew protests — on 357 and Estonia on 356. “Thank you to you, Europe, for making my dreams come true,” 24-year-old countertenor JJ, whose
Polish presidential candidates offered different visions of Poland and its relations with Ukraine in a televised debate ahead of next week’s run-off, which remains on a knife-edge. During a head-to-head debate lasting two hours, centrist Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s governing pro-European coalition, faced the Eurosceptic historian Karol Nawrocki, backed by the right-wing populist Law and Justice party (PiS). The two candidates, who qualified for the second round after coming in the top two places in the first vote on Sunday last week, clashed over Poland’s relations with Ukraine, EU policy and the track records of their
RSS