ajituki
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This is the Japanese Imperial Family.
His Imperial Majesty The Emperor
His name is Akihito, but is not referred to with that name. He's "His Imperial Majesty The Emperor" or "His Imperial Majesty". Age 82 now. Seems like a nice polite guy.
He's a published ichthyological researcher, especially with the taxonomy of the family Gobiidae.
Her Imperial Majesty The Empress
Michiko-sama is the first commoner to be married into the Imperial Family (at least the first in 2000 years). The opposition from the media and her mother-in-law gave her a very tough time at first, but she's well loved by the public. She's a fan of poetry and music, and has translated "The Magic Pocket" and a few others by Michio Mado. Check it on amazon if you'd like.
They're adorable.
His Imperial Majesty Emperor Shōwa
and Her Imperial Majesty Empress Kōjun. Probably the most famous emperor Japan has ever had. Some of you might know him as the cold blooded dictator, although general Douglas MacArthur worked hard to keep the Emperor untied from war responsibilities. A topic with so much controversy.
He too liked marine biology.
His Imperial Highness The Crown Prince
Our Crown Prince's name is Naruhito, but just like HIM The Emperor, he's usually called HIH The Crown Prince. I don't know much about him except for the fact that he'll probably be our next Emperor. He likes hiking.
Her Imperial Highness The Crown Princess
Masako-sama, or the Crown Princess of Japan. She was on her way to becoming an elite diplomat when The Crown Prince proposed to her multiple times and finally agreed. Although she was popular among the public, she's been absent from the public for a long time - it's speculated that the pressure to produce a male heir and adjusting to life in the Imperial Family has caused emotional disorders. One of the gossip favorites.
Her Imperial Highness The Princess Toshi
Aiko-sama has always been the center of debate as she was the only child of The Crown Prince and yet a female. The laws of succession in Japan forbids inheritance by or through females, and people were raging on about how the law should/shouldn't be changed. She now has a male cousin now, so crisis averted. Sort of.
His Imperial Highness The Prince Akishino
He's the tall guy in the family. Brother to The Crown Prince, he's currently second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne. He has an PhD degree in Ornithology, although he studied taxonomy of fish at St John's College, Oxford at a younger age and later became known as a "catfish specialist". Also known to be a big Beatles fan.
Arguably his most famous picture. Seems like a cool guy.
Her Imperial Highness The Princess Akishino
Kiko-sama also has a PhD, but in Humanities. She's known to be a skilled sign language interpreter, and has been doing a lot of work with the Deaf community in Japan. One of the crowd's favorite episodes is that she gave HIH Prince Akishino a ring with catfish design as a present after engagement.
Catfish rings.
Her Imperial Highness Princess Mako of Akishino
After studying in University of Leicester, Mako-sama became the project researcher of The University Museum, The University of Tokyo on 1 April 2016. Once, a video featuring fanart of Princess Mako was uploaded onto the popular video-sharing website Nico Nico Douga, attracting over 340,000 views and 86,000 comments.
Mako-sama fanart.
Her Imperial Highness Princess Kako of Akishino
She's currently in the College of Liberal Arts of the International Christian University. Like her sister, she's also a target of gossip, especially among the internet crowd. It's been reported that Kako-sama likes dancing.
Kako-sama tabloid pictures.
His Imperial Highness Prince Hisahito of Akishino
His Imperial Highness Prince Hisahito of Akishino is nine years old, and is third in line to become Emperor of Japan after his uncle and his father. Some rumors has it that he may have some developmental disorders, but has never been confirmed.
This is the modern version of the family tree of the Imperial Family.
Japan Imperial Family's Family Tree
This is the whole tree, making them the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy in the world. But the first 8-10 are considered not real by modern historians, so probably the first real one is from 97 BC. We don't learn all of them, but the history exams are a bitch.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_imperial_family_tree
Hope you enjoyed the post!
PlantainSuperNova
Im of Lao and Thai descent and there's a video online of the crown prince of Thailand and his wife having a nude pool party lol
tindrumsolo
He may be kwisatz haderach.
seriouserer
So this is a family tree for one of those Game of Kingdoms-shows on Cinemax?
NixonDidNothingWrong
I do NOT think all asians look alike. But I do think Princes Toshi looks like Jackie Chan.
myr14d
If one of them is a villain that is plotting to take the throne, then it's definitely going to be prince Akishino.
mynameisnotalice
He doesn't have to plot any more. But probably he and his wife were very happy when they got the male heir...
iamMrG
MidlandRedux
Yep.One of the last living WWII vets. Drove an ambulance while Japan's ally was dropping buzz bombs and ballistic missiles on London.
Cassandralala
"This is our crown prince. He likes hiking."
CompressedInfo
Make Japan Meiji Again
cokebender
HAHAHA
Noodle36
Great, on top of everything else, now I'm in love with a Japanese Imperial Princess. Nice going OP.
imgurane
Hey, at least your imaginary girlfriend is real...
mynameisnotalice
I always feel sorry for Masako and Aiko. I hope there is at least less pressure on them now that Hisahito is born.
theroguex
It's sad, too, because there is totally a precedent for having a female Empress Regnant in Japan (there have been 8).
noxmeter
With their interest in marine biology it's a matter of time before one of the descendants takes an interest in cephalopoda
SpellboundFish
I've seen enough hentai to know where this is going?
jeremygl09
Hellooooooo princess Kako! Or Mako she seems dtf also
SuspiciousCactus
Disappointed you left out His Imperial Highness Emperor Ryugawagatekiwokurau
morrissimo
I couldn't help it
...but seriously: awesome post, OP
DetectiveSherlockHolmes
Totally kawaii
Cerinna
Ah you see here in the Netherlands we only know the rumors about her highness Masako because reporters have to explain why it's a big deal.
myassissocial
Pretty sure thats Jackie Chan
Superchao
This is pretty neat. I didn't know they had emperors after WWII
yeahitsmesorry
It was one of the concessions of Japan's surrender that the emperor would not face punishment and keep his title
onnani
Speculated that US kept the Monarchy as a stabilizing force and to help prevent a slide into communism.
unwttng
A bit of what I know, if you're interested! Japanese emperors are referred to after their death by the name of their era. Shouwa's name 1/?
unwttng
in life was Hirohito. Shouwa is usually translated as something like 'enlightened peace', which is shaky given the period's events.
malachitedragon
So what does Heisei mean? I only know thats the name of the current era cuz I watch a lot of Kamen Rider and it splits Showa/Heisei Riders.
ABBK
Well literally it's "become peace"
mynameisnotalice
Yeah, Japanese way of dealing with history. I think I will never fully understand it. And as a German probably never stop to somehow be (1)
mynameisnotalice
pissed off, too. (2)
ThePastmaster
Hey, you know what they say: third time lucky. ^_^
Freedom666
Which one was the war criminal?
ThePastmaster
I think the guy in the B/W photograph.
GuelfoBiancoCat
every one
ChannelingLarryDavid
showa
TwoBallsOnePenis
Why is it arguable? What is the other picture of him that competes with this one?
kongfuchicken
Yes, the one where he was trying to break into his wife's washroom with an axe.
drunkandsmoking
What is happening in this photo?
TwoBallsOnePenis
Winter.
jeep44
Well done and interesting!
steffensen100
Wow - didn't know it went that far back! Ours (Danish Monarchy) only goes back to the Viking Gorm the old - about a thousand years...
superwasabi
cool story bro
jmartkdr
Keep in mind that while the family still exists, and still holds the title, they lost effective control way back in the 14th century or so.
GuelfoBiancoCat
it's a lie
Isorikk
Catfish specialist is a very unfortunate thing to be known for...
Lambourtitty
... I wish I had a princess title... ),:
ellisDtripp25
Princess Lambourtitty see how easy it is,actually I hope you find some one who will treat you like a Queen
FlattusMaximus
Game of thrones is weird
mmaheshwary
This is the version where most kings aren't killed left and right. Also no nudity. So the show is basically one episode of 5 min.
GreenTeaIsLife
I mean, even if they had nudity it would be all pixels and what not.
Gulanga
Lots of tentacles though for some reason
AsianDad
Last season was better, they basically had a whole war and stuff resulting in a grand finale at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
mmaheshwary
Spoiler alert!
ajituki
You might like the Onin War episode from the Shogunate series. After the war, Japan broke into 160 small countries and fought each other.
mmaheshwary
Oh, I don't think Japan's imperial history is not bloody. I meant that the Emperor has always been above all the fighting and backstabbing.
ajituki
Probably bc they've been a tool to more powerful parties e.g. Shogunate, Military clique for the last 700 years. Lots of stories before that
mmaheshwary
Yeah, that was my understanding as well... they are a figure-head.
srsgiraffe
North Korean Game of Thrones is weirder (and shorter)
daniegamin
:Lennyface:
pugofstardock
Theres only House ngyuen?
imgurane
Sigh.. Nguyen will you learn? Huynh you feel like it? Wen I was young, we had to learn all the names.. in the snow.. both ways!
Camelspotting
That's Vietnam.
srsgiraffe
*House Kim
lagavulin16
As a Shogun reader where is Toranaga on that chart!?(Tokugawa Ieyasu) Stupid small phone screen.
theroguex
He isn't on the list, but his son (Hidetada) and his granddaughter (Masako - Emperess Meishō's mother) are.
theroguex
Toranaga (Tokugawa Ieyasu) was Shogun, not Emperor. He took the title of Shogun after the Battle of Sekigahara in Oct. 1600. 1/2
lagavulin16
Fantastic follow up! Thanks!
sticksosteel
That's pretty neat. I think I'd introduce myself as Doctor His Imperial Majesty The Emperor though.
PaigeTurner777
That's Mrs. Dr. Her Imperial Highness the Princess to you.
SilverTimeMaker
Ahem... That's Mr. Dr. Prof. His Imperial Majesty The Emperor to you, peasants
imgurane
You really should add a few more monikers in there like other monarchs do... like "The Great" or "Bringer of the Robot Age"
Kirbysdad
Ok learned something today. Im done
Tamzzzzzz
You can go back to bed now
NachoNachoMan
Love glorifying a war criminal that did nothing to stop and the Japanese genocides during WWII. This POS should have hanged in the Hague.
Taxicat
The Japanese Emperor has never had much power over military matters. He's always been more figurehead than actual leader.
NachoNachoMan
Not entirely true. Modern Japanese history hides the fact that he was heavily involved. Just go to Wiki and read about him. It's all there.
Taxicat
Dude...the Wiki? There's a reason Wikis aren't allowed in actual research. While it's true that the Japanese emperor 1/
Taxicat
had more direct power during the Showa era than his ancestors had during, say, the Tokugawa Shogunate, it still paled 2/
GeorgeGouyer
Well he did orchestrate the surrender of Japan even though the military opposed it and tried to stop him.
NachoNachoMan
Yes, he did. Only to save himself. Part of the terms was that his family would be immune from prosecution.
BallzToTheWalls
When did Guy LeDouche become the Imperial Highness Prince?
Killamari
Korea used to have the longest running monarchy. Then Japan put a stop to that
ajituki
Isn't Taejo of Joseon the first in line? No arguments, just curious.
ajituki
First of? The first guy. Sorry for my poor English.
Seta8967
I believe in WW2 the Korean royal family was wiped out and all documents burned, so finding any proof of being royal family is hard.
Seta8967
The only one that might be royal family was raised by japan and for what little i know, he was rejected by Korea as a japan sympathizer.
Seta8967
though he died in 2005. His wife, an american, was unable to be pregnant ending the lineage.
Okebel
It was a Yakuza clan that sent actual ninjas to assassinate the Queen. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Myeongseong
ICanChangeMyNameLater
I'd watch this movie.
Okebel
Yeah... The result weren't has awesome has you might think : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comfort_women
ICanChangeMyNameLater
I'd watch a better, loosely accurate, version of this movie
Ohaern2
Should have been better at war...
madrush
shots fired
Isexualiseeverything
*shurikens fired
herkapernikis
It wasn't war. It was assassination.
[deleted]
[deleted]
Ohaern2
I didnt open my mouth to type, pretty sure I am not a whore (or my wife owes me a lot), and that is a poor comparison. Although allies, so..
sexyasianpanda
Sorry to say that, but thers a reason why many asian countries have bad feelings about Japan like korea china indonesia vietnam thailand..
Ohaern2
2\ A better comparison would be the mongols, or the chinese in the 14th century invading Vietnam, or any number of mass invasions. they suck
sexyasianpanda
http://english.anti-risingsunflag.net/
Ohaern2
And they rightly do and should, they did invade them after all. But there are several points where the comparison falls apart