As stated in the Constitution of Japan, the Emperor is “the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people” and derives his position from “the will of the people with whom resides sovereign power”.

Emperor Akihito was born in Tokyo on December 23 1933 and acceded to the throne as the 125th Emperor of Japan on January 7 1989.

On April 10 1959, Crown Prince Akihito married Miss Michiko Shoda, daughter of a distinguished businessman Dr Shinzo Koizumi.

Emperor Akihito carries out the symbolic planting of rice in the Imperial Palace Grounds (May 2011) and harvests rice (September 2011).

Empress Michiko feeds mulberry leaves to silkworms at the sericulture centre in the Imperial Palace Grounds. Besides attending the symbolic rituals related to silkworm raising, she often visits the mulberry field and the cocoonery and works with the staff, tending the worms until they make their cocoons, which are then readied for sending the silk mill.

Since the Emperor’s enthronement, Their Majesties have so far made official visits to 26 countries, bringing the total number of countries they have visited to 57.

The Imperial Family are greeted by the public during the New Year celebrations (January 2012).

State Banquet in honour of His Excellency Truong Tan Sang, former State President of Vietnam (March 2014).

Bidding farewell to His Excellency Truong Tan Sang and Madam Mai Thi Hanh.

Meeting His Excellency Nguyen Minh Triet, former President of Vietnam and Madam Chi (November 2007)

State banquet in honour of former President Nguyen Minh Triet

Emperor Akihito comforts victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake (April 2011)

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko with the Imperial Family (November 2013)

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko take a walk in the Forest of Nasu Heisei-no-mori (July 2013)

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