|
 Japan appears to be one of the dynamically
developing countries of the world that is the leader in the sphere of high
technologies. Still, the country adheres to traditions and customs observed for
over thousand years. There is still the strict hierarchy in Japan where the junior obeys to the
senior; a woman submits to a man, a subordinate is accountable to the boss. The samurai spirit still prevails in the country
and the emperor is still regarded as the super person but not the mere person
who ritually sit on the throne.
And even if Japan lost the World War II, the Japanese Emperor had to
issue the edict where generally he refused from the divine origin
advocated throughout the centuries. By the way, the statement was made
so vaguely that
if and when necessary the words might be interpreted vice versa, yet,
even now in
XXI century the ruling emperor Akihito is more than an emperor for his
people.
To perceive
in the full extent, it is enough to find out that the Japanese people actually
live in the 20th year of Heisei era, but not in the year 2009. The Heisei
era which means Peace Everywhere is the Japanese chronology which is measured
by the years of ruling of every emperor. Akihito Tsugu acceded to the throne on
January 7, 1989, so welcome to calculate the year of the new era.
The 125th
Emperor of the Land of the Rising Sun was born on December 23, 1933.
And the rare
dynasty may be proud of the continuous rulers in the family. The
emperor was
born to the family of the 124th Emperor of Japan, Seva Hirokhito,
and the Empress Nagako. Akihito was the welcome son though he was the
fifth child
of the imperial couple but the first sun and only male children may
inherit the
throne and thus, the power. Crown Prince had all chances to receive
traditional for the country education and social skill and manners.
However the world history played its role and
particularly the defeat of Japan
during World War II. The process of active penetration and use of all
American
(and thus, western) into the life of Japanese society immediately
concerned the
ruler-to-be. Akihito completed the course of elementary school at the
privileged
educational institution for boys and at the same time he was brought up
with
the immediate participation of the American teacher, author of the
books for
kids Elizabeth Gray Winning who introduced to the basic landmarks and
values of
the civilization of the West. And the crown prince made his first steps
to welcome
the «other half» of the world in 1953 when he was on his half-year trip
to the
countries of Northern America and Western Europe.
In addition, he studied at the faculty of Political Sciences and
Economics at
the most prestigious universities in Japan which make it easier for him
to perceive the necessity of the thought-out integration of the country
with
the world culture, economics and politics.
Akihito
made first step in the process of integration. First, he breached the
court
traditions obeyed within centuries and the Crown Prince, the future
Emperor,
married to the girl from the highest aristocratic society. His
wife-to-be Sedo
Mitiko was the daughter of the wealthiest people of the world, the
owner of the
flour-milling company. However, she did not present the middle class
but not
the aristocratic society. Nevertheless, the necessity to turn aside
from the strict
observance of all formal charters of ancestors was accepted not only by
the
Prince but by the Highest Government of the country - the Council of
the Imperial Palace. The Council consisted of the representatives
of all the vital authorities and the choice of the Prince was approved
officially, and the wedding took place in April 1959.
Akihito also made corrections into the process of bringing his kids up. His first child, Naruhito Hiro was born
in 1960 (the current heir), the Prince Fumihito Aya-no-Miya was born in 1965 and
in 1969 the world welcomed the birth of princess Nori. For many centuries the imperial
children were brought up by the entire group of babysitters, valets, advisors, ushers
and other replacements of biological parents, though the Prince and his wife
practiced using the western manner of bringing up. They spent lots of time with
kids explaining all situations they faced.
As the Crown
Prince and the Emperor Akihito always accentuated that his major goal was to
keep the stable national form of government, observance of the Constitution and
strengthening of peace in the Japanese society. The special attitude that
reigns in Japan
as to the Emperor and members of imperial family proves that Akihito managed to
achieve his goal.
|
