Emperor Akihito (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
An interesting but surprising item has appeared in Japan Today. It shows to what extent the emperor is a ‘prisoner’ of the Imperial Household Agency, in collusion with the governing class. Even in death, the emperor has no right to decide his own fate but can only make requests. It’s a continuation of the shogunate policy of investing in his spiritual authority while controlling his politics. What’s surprising – staggering even – is the request to be treated like ordinary Japanese. This appears to contradict the Shinto-sanctioned notion that he is special by being descended from Amaterasu Omikami. Personally it wouldn’t surprise me if the IHA refuse the request: after all, they would be the ultimate losers should the emperor lose his mantel of traditional sacredness.
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Emperor, empress express desire to be cremated after they die — The Imperial Household Agency said Thursday that it is considering a request from Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko to have their remains cremated after they die.
Traditionally, emperors have been interred in mausoleums and empresses in separate tombs nearby.
According to the agency, the emperor, 78, and the empress, 77, expressed a desire to be cremated like ordinary Japanese people and have their ashes interred in the same location. The agency said the imperial couple also wish to minimize the financial impact of their funerals on the public, NHK reported.
The mausoleum for Emperor Showa, who was buried at the Musashino Imperial Mausoleum in Hachioji in 1989, cost 2.6 billion yen. His wife was buried at a nearby spot in 2000.
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