Shinto mythology tells of how a descendant of the sun goddess named Jimmu, who was living on the east coast of Kyushu, set off to bring ‘enlightened rule’ to the troubled provinces in Honshu. Accordingly under the leadership of … Read the rest
Category: Emperor (imperial family) (Page 7 of 8)
An interesting poll has just come out about attitudes to immigrants with Japanese blood. “80% of Japanese welcome foreigners of Japanese descent'” shouts a headline in the Japan Times. It’s framed as if it constitutes a new openness to … Read the rest
An aristocrat with a penchant for cricket who went native, wore Japanese kimono with a scarf, and became the twentieth century’s foremost expert on Shinto. Richard Ponsonby-Fane (1878-1937) was the archetypal English eccentric, with a hatred of modernity that extended … Read the rest
The peculiarities of the Imperial Household Law are highlighted in the article below, which explains the latest developments concerning the lack of males in the emperor’s family. The present laws are nothing to do with antiquity, but were drawn up … Read the rest
The Japan Times today carried an article about the appointment of an Ise special priestess (see below), which relates to the old custom of ‘saigu‘ (unmarried royal princess}. The practice probably started in the late seventh century, around
… Read the rest
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 … Read the rest
* The present emperor underwent a ceremony affirming his connection with the sun goddess, Amaterasu. He’s claimed to be the 125th descendant in direct line from her.
* The Rock Cave myth, central to Shinto, is funny and playful in … Read the rest