Refine your search

The results of your search are listed below alongside the search terms you entered on the previous page. You can refine your search by amending any of the parameters in the form and resubmitting it.

Select all Deselect all Add selection to lightbox
Large Small
Thumbnails per page
Akihito (born 23 December 1933) is the reigning Emperor of Japan. He is the 125th emperor of his line according to Japan's traditional order of succession. Akihito succeeded his father Showa and acceded to the Chrysanthemum Throne on 7 January 1989. He abdicated on 30 April 2019.
Informal picture of the Imperial family playing a board game (1950s). Crown Prince Akihito left, Empress Kojun centre, Emperor Hirohito right.<br/><br/> Hirohito, the Shōwa Emperor ,(April 29, 1901 – January 7, 1989), was the 124th emperor of Japan according to the traditional order, reigning from December 25, 1926, until his death in 1989. Although better known outside of Japan by his personal name Hirohito, in Japan he is now referred to exclusively by his posthumous name Emperor Shōwa.<br/><br/> At the start of his reign, Japan was one of the great world powers and one of the five permanent members of the council of the League of Nations. Emperor Hirohito headed Japan's imperial expansion, militarization, and involvement in World War II. After the war, he was not prosecuted, but remained emperor, though with significantly reduced power.
On 10 April 1959, Crown Prince Akihito married Miss Michiko Shoda (born 24 October 1934), the eldest daughter of Mr. Hidesaburo Shoda, the president and later honorary chairman of Nisshin Flour Milling Company. The new Crown Princess was the first commoner to marry into the imperial family. The Emperor and the Empress have three children: HIH The Crown Prince Naruhito (b. 23 February 1960, titled Hiro-no-miya or Prince Hiro); HIH The Prince Akishino (Fumihito, b. 30 November 1965, titled Aya-no-miya or Prince Aya); and Sayako Kuroda, formerly HIH The Princess Sayako (titled Nori-no-miya or Princess Nori, b. 18 April 1969).