The Imperial House of Japan (皇室, kōshitsu), also referred to as the "Imperial family", is made up of the extended family of the reigning Emperor of Japan.
History
In 1947, membership in the Imperial family was limited to the male line descendants of the Emperor Taishō, excluding females who marry outside the Imperial family.
Eleven branches of the Imperial House were removed in 1947.
Article 5 of the Imperial Household Law (皇室典範, Kōshitsu Tempan) defines who is an official member of the Imperial family (皇族), including
The Emperor, the eldest son of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, was born at the Tsugo Palace in Tokyo on 23 February 1960. He became heir apparent upon his father's ascension to the throne and succeeded him as emperor on 1 May 2019. Naruhito was married on 10 June 1993 to Masako Owada.
The Empress was born on 9 December 1963, the daughter of Hisashi Owada, a former vice minister of foreign affairs and former permanent representative of Japan to the United Nations. The Emperor and Empress have one daughter:
The Crown Prince Akishino, the Emperor's second son, was born on 11 November 1965. His childhood title was Prince Aya. He received the title Prince Akishino and started a new branch of the imperial family upon his marriage to Kiko Kawashima on 29 June 1990.
The Crown Princess Akishino was born on 11 September 1966, the daughter of Tatsuhiko Kawashima, professor of economics at Gakushuin University. Prince and Princess Akishino have two daughters and a son:
The Prince Hitachi was born on 28 November 1935, the second son and seventh child of the Emperor Shôwa and Empress Kojun. His childhood title was Prince Yoshi. By getting the title Prince Hitachi, he started a new branch of the imperial family on 1 October 1964, the day after his wedding.
The Princess Hitachi was born on 19 July 1940, the daughter of former Count Yoshitaka Tsugaru. Prince and Princess Hitachi have no children.
Princess Tomohito of Mikasa is the widow of Prince Tomohito of Mikasa (born 5 January 1946, died 6 June 2012), the eldest son of the Prince and Princess Mikasa and a first cousin of Emperor Akihito. The princess was born on 9 April 1955, the daughter of Takakichi Asō, chairman of Asō Cement Co. and his wife, Kazuko, a daughter of former prime minister Yoshida Shigeru. Has two daughters with the late Prince Tomohito of Mikasa:
The Princess Takamado is the widow of The Prince Takamado (born 29 December 1954, died 21 November 2002), the third son of the Prince and the Princess Mikasa and a first cousin of Emperor Akihito. The princess was born 10 July 1953, the daughter of Shigejiro Tottori. She married the prince on 6 December 1981. Originally known as Prince Norihito of Mikasa, he received the title Prince Takamado and started a new branch of the imperial family on 1 December 1981. Princess Takamado has three daughters:
Article 2 of the Constitution of Japan provides that "the Imperial Throne shall be dynastic and succeeded to in accordance with the Imperial Household Law passed by the Diet."
The Imperial Household Law allows only males in the Japanese order of succession.
