Biographical entries of most of the reigning monarchs and of certain other members of the reigning royal families will be found in their appropriate alphabetical order in the biographical section of this site.

The name under which they can be found in the text of the site is listed and hyperlinked in this section in bold UPPERCASE type.

JAPAN

Reigning Emperor:

His Imperial Majesty EMPEROR AKIHITO
b. 23 December 1933; succeeded to the throne 7 January 1989, on the death of his father, Emperor Hirohito; enthroned 12 November 1990; married 10 April 1959, Shoda Michiko (Empress Michiko) (b. 20 October 1934).

Children of the Emperor:

The Crown Prince Naruhito (fmrly Hiro no Miya), b. 23 February 1960; married 9 June 1993, Owada Masako (The Crown Princess Masako) (b. 9 December 1963); daughter, Princess Aiko (Toshi no Miya), b. 1 December 2001.

Prince Akishino (Fumihito, fmrly Aya no Miya), b. 30 November 1965; married 29 June 1990, Kawashima Kiko (Princess Kiko) (b. 11 September 1966); daughter, Princess Mako, b. 23 October 1991; daughter, Princess Kako, b. 29 December 1994; son, Prince Hisahito, b. 6 September 2006.

Kuroda Sayako (fmrly Nori no Miya, then Princess Sayako), b. 18 April 1969; married 15 November 2005 (relinquished Royal claim), Kuroda Yoshiki (b. 17 April 1965).

Parents of the Emperor:

Emperor Hirohito, b. 29 April 1901, died 7 January 1989 (known as Emperor Showa); married 26 January 1924, Princess Kuni Nagako (b. 6 March 1903, died 16 June 2000); seven children.