National Flag and Anthem
Japan's national flag, dubbed Hinomaru, is a white background
with red circle in the center, symbolizing the rising sun. It
has been used as the national emblem since the Meiji Government
officially selected it in 1870.
Japan's national anthem, Kimigayo ("His Majesty's Reign"),
was set to music about a century ago, but the lyrics were composed
a millennium ago. They are now interpreted as a prayer for the
lasting prosperity and peace of the country. Japan's national
flag and anthem were officially designated as such under a law
enacted in August 1999.
The Emperor
Under the Constitution of Japan, the emperor is the symbol of
the state, and he has no authority in government. He performs
only certain acts designated in the Constitution, such as appointing
the prime minister and the chief justice of the Supreme Court
as selected by the Diet and the Cabinet respectively, and promulgating
laws and treaties, convoking the Diet, and awarding honors—all
on the advice and approval of the cabinet.
Present Emperor
Emperor Akihito was born in Tokyo on December 23, 1933, the
first son of Emperor Hirohito and Empress Nagako. As Crown Prince,
Akihito married Michiko Shoda (born October 20, 1934), the eldest
daughter of the president of a major flour manufacturing company,
in April 1959.(*1)
Emperor Akihito acceded to the throne on January 7, 1989, upon
the death of his father, the late Emperor Hirohito (posthumously
named Emperor Showa), who was the longest- reigning and longest-lived
emperor in Japanese history. Emperor Showa passed away at the
age of 87 after reigning for 62 years. Emperor Akihito is noted
for his taxonomic studies of fish. He has published a number
of academic papers on gobioid fishes and is co-author of books
published in 1984 and 1993 on Japan's fish species.
Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko have three children: Crown
Prince Naruhito, born on February 23, 1960; Prince Fumihito,
born on November 30, 1965; and Princess Sayako, born on April
18, 1969. Crown Prince Naruhito studied at Oxford University
in England from 1983 to 1985, as did Prince
Fumihito from 1988 to 1990.
In June 1993 Crown Prince Naruhito married Masako Owada (born
December 9, 1963), the eldest daughter of a vice-minister for
foreign affairs and herself a member of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs in Tokyo until their engagement was announced. They
have a child, Princess Aiko, born in December 2001.
Prince Fumihito married Kiko Kawashima (born September 11, 1966),
the eldest daughter of a professor at Gakushuin University,
in June 1990, upon which the prince received the family name
of Akishino. A daughter, Princess Mako, was born in October
1991; a second daughter, Princess Kako, was born in December
1994.
National Holidays
Happy Monday
The number of "long weekends" in Japan has been increasing
in recent years after the Diet passed a bill nicknamed the "Happy
Monday Law" (1998), which took effect in 2000. In a bid
to stimulate consumer spending on leisure and travel, Coming-of-Age
Day was changed from January 15 to the second Monday of the
month and Sports Day from October 10 to the second Monday of
the month as of 2000. In 2002, the Diet passed another bill
to move two other national holidays to Monday to create more
three-day weekends; Maritime Day from July 20 to the third Monday
of the month and Respect-for-the-Aged Day from September 15
to the third Monday of the month.(*2)
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