Biography of Akihito

Majestic seams

December 23, 1933 born on December 23, 1933 in Tokyo, Akihito is the fifth son (the first male) of Emperor Hirohito. Appointed Tsugu-no-miya (Prince Tsugu) as a child, after being educated by tutors from 1940 to 1952 he attended the lessons of Gakushin University of the Japanese capital, reserved for the aristocratic classes. Specializing in Ichthyology, is invested with the title of Prince with an official ceremony which is staged on 10 November 1951 at the Tokyo Imperial Palace. In 1959 marries Michiko Shoda, the daughter of the President of Nisshin Flour Milling Company, Hidesaburo Shoda: this is the first time that a commoner is married to a member of the Royal family. The marriage three children: Prince Naruhito, born in 1960 and heir to the throne; Prince Akishino, born in 1965; and Sayako Kuroda, former Princess Sayako, who lost the Imperial title after marrying a citizen does not belong to the Japanese nobility. After his father's death of 7 January 1989, Akihito ascends the throne and became the 125th monarch in the history of Japan, although the official ceremony will take place only on 12 November 1990. The political commitment of Emperor Akihito, since it took the throne, takes shape in an attempt to bring as much as possible, the Japanese people to the imperial family. Among the highlights of his international career, they remember the apology to China and Korea for the damage caused by the occupations of Japan, official visits carried out in eighteen countries worldwide (as well as, of course, in forty-seven prefectures of Japan) and the declarations of esteem towards Korea (arising from the fact that her mom was Korean). In June 2005 the Emperor visits Saipan, site of one of the u.s. most famous battles of World War II: after the deposition of flowers and prayers of the rite, an emotional ceremony pays tribute to the fallen Americans, Japanese, Koreans and Indians. This is the first time a Japanese monarch travels in a battlefield. Holder of numerous awards at home (including the Grand Master of the order of culture, Grand Master of the order of the rising sun and Grand Master of the order of the precious Crown), Akihito is never called by its name, but as "Tenno Heika", "his Imperial Majesty". After his death, Emperor Akihito will be called "Heisei Tenno", meaning "Emperor Heisei", from the name of his era, "Heisei", which means "achieving peace". Other titles that can enjoy the Japanese Emperor, the Grand Cordon of the order of Leopold by the Belgium, the collar of the national order of Côte d'Ivoire and the recognition of Knight Grand Cross of the order of merit of the Italian Republic and the Special Class of the Grand Cross of the order of merit of Germany.