Imperial House of Japan

Imperial House of Japan
House of Yamato
CountryJapan
Founded
Founder
Current headNaruhito
Titles
Cadet branches
Websitehttps://www.kunaicho.go.jp/eindex.html

The Imperial House (皇室, Kōshitsu), also referred to as the Imperial Family and the House of Yamato, is the imperial family of Japan, consisting of those members of the extended family of the reigning Emperor of Japan who undertake official and public duties. Under the present Constitution of Japan, the emperor is "the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people". Other members of the Imperial Family perform ceremonial and social duties, but have no role in the affairs of government. The duties as an emperor are passed down the line to their male children. This Japanese monarchy is the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy in the world.[1] The Imperial House recognizes 126 monarchs, beginning with Emperor Jimmu (traditionally dated to 11 February 660 BC), and continuing up to the current emperor, Naruhito. However, scholars have agreed that there is no evidence of Jimmu's existence,[2][3] that the traditional narrative of Japan's founding is mythical, and that Jimmu is a mythical figure.[4] Historical evidence for the first 25 emperors is mythical, but there is sufficient evidence of an unbroken agnatic line since the early 6th century.[5] Historically, verifiable emperors of Japan start from AD 539 with Emperor Kinmei.[2][6][7]

  1. ^ "5 Things to know about Japan's emperor and imperial family". 8 August 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b Hoye, Timothy (1999). Japanese Politics: Fixed and Floating Worlds. p. 78.
  3. ^ Ruoff, Kenneth J. (2021-02-01). Japan's Imperial House in the Postwar Era, 1945–2019. BRILL. p. 171. ISBN 978-1-68417-616-8.
  4. ^ Shillony, Ben-Ami (2008). The Emperors of Modern Japan. BRILL. p. 15. ISBN 978-90-04-16822-0.
  5. ^ Goldman, Russell (8 August 2016). "5 Things to Know About Japan's Emperor and Imperial Family". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 26, 2022.
  6. ^ "5 things to know as Japan's Emperor Akihito steps down". 29 April 2019.
  7. ^ "Emperor of Japan".