One important Japanese holiday will be celebrated soon. It’s the Emperor’s Birthday. The date of this holiday is always changed when a new ruler appears.
Present Emperor Akihito was born on the 23rd of December in 1933. So, next week the Japanese will congratulate him.
Only on this day and also on the 2nd of January Japanese people and foreigners are allowed to visit the Imperial Palace (Edo Castle). They get a chance to enjoy the beauty of Kitanomaru Park, the Nippon Budokan Hall and other sights that are normally closed to general public.
On this day a special ceremony takes place within the walls of the castle. Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko and other members of the royal family appear before the crowd and greet thousands of people who stand under the palace balcony and wave tiny Japanese flags.
The Emperor is a very important person in Japan.
He’s the symbol of the state and of the unity of the Japanese people.
He’s the highest authority in Shinto religion.
He’s the head of the Japanese Imperial Family. By the way, it’s the oldest continuing hereditary monarchy in the world.
However, the Emperor of Japan doesn’t possess any real executive authorities. The one that actually rules the country is the Prime Minister.
Do you think it's a good idea to celebrate the birthday of a monarch as a national holiday? Does this tradition exist in other countries?
P.S. We can see Emperor Akihito and his wife on the photo below.
