With a rich history spanning more than 2,000 years, the Japanese Imperial Family is regarded as one of the longest in the world. Since Emperor Jimmu founded the country in 660 B.C., the imperial lineage has lasted for 126 generations, and this uninterrupted bloodline has witnessed almost all of Japan's history.
In the hearts of the Japanese people, the emperor is a descendant of the gods, representing the glory of the country and enjoying supreme prestige.
Every time an emperor dies, the whole country enters a period of mourning. People are not talking about politicians, but about the emperor who led the country for decades.
Whether it is Akihito, Showa, Taisho, or Meiji, they have all reigned for a long time, and several generations have grown up under their halo. The emperor is not only a symbol of power, but also a center of spiritual beliefs.
The buildings in the palace are magnificent, and the splendor of the imperial power is displayed with gold. The enthronement ceremony of the emperor is a major event of the state, and even the smallest details have been carefully choreographed to show the people the majesty of the imperial throne.
The emperor appeared in a traditional dress and walked into the main hall in the eyes of thousands of pairs of worship, and at this moment the country seemed to return to the most glorious era of a thousand years ago.
In order to maintain pure blood, the Japanese imperial family has traditionally intermarried within the imperial family. The consequence of this practice is the sacrifice of close relatives, the decline of fertility from generation to generation, and the hidden danger of various genetic diseases.
Statistics show that the incidence of congenital heart disease and hemophilia among members of the royal family is much higher than among the general population, at 2 respectively. 25% and 3%, while the incidence rate in Japanese nationals is only 0.08% and 0.01%.
In addition, mental retardation and mental illness are not uncommon. These conditions left royalty in misery and increased the likelihood of premature death.
One of the most typical cases is the tragedy of Emperor Taisho. He was sick from birth, and by the age of 13 he had a small head and no eyes. Throughout his life, Taisho struggled under the care of doctors and finally lived to be only 47 years old.
It can be said that the marriage between close relatives brought the emperor a life tormented by illness.
In addition to the torments of birth, old age, sickness and death, the proportion of deformities among the royal family is also unusually high. Teeth cannot be closed, and inversion of the eyes is not uncommon. This made the members of the royal family, who should have no worries about food and clothing, live in pain and shame.
At the beginning of Emperor Naruhito's accession to the throne, Prince Fumihito gave birth to his only son, Hirohito, and the good news that the imperial family had finally welcomed a male descendant was revealed. Akihito, Naruhito and other elders were ecstatic, and media reports caused a sensation across the country.
As a man who has been in drought for a long time, Yuhito was born with the expectations of the entire royal family.
But the good times didn't last long. As Yuhito gradually grew, the outside world's evaluation of his abilities began to decline. According to public information, whether it is intelligence, physical fitness or personality, Yuren is not outstanding, and he can't even reach the level of ordinary children.
He has a cold temperament and is not very sociable with people. Xi grades rely on royal status to enter prestigious schools, and tutors are also required to write on their behalf.
The most distressing thing to the outside world is the performance of Yuhito's dementia in many public appearances. He repeatedly did not recognize his father, but he was affectionate and flattering to strange faces; Faced with a simple math problem, he couldn't calculate "1+1".
This made Naruhito and Akihito anxious about the future of the imperial family again. A reckless and incompetent emperor would be the doom of the entire imperial family.
Faced with the dilemma of the lack of successors to the imperial family, the Japanese government put forward two major response plans in a timely manner. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and other dignitaries analyzed the situation in detail at the emergency meeting, and selected the path from two levels in light of the national conditions and people's conditions.
The first was to make a concession to the royal model and allow female members of the royal family to remain in the royal family after marriage. This can increase the likelihood of having children to some extent. But given Japan's millennial patriarchal tradition, it will be difficult to convince all parties to accept this plan, and it may end up aborting.
In contrast, the second path is a bit more viable. That is, to re-recruit the male descendants of the old palace family who were deprived of their imperial status after World War II, and re-enter the imperial family through adoption and other means.
These candidates have excellent resumes and have royal blood, which can undoubtedly provide strong help for the heir crisis. This plan for the adoption of a child is currently widely supported by Japanese public opinion.
No matter what path is taken in the end, the multi-party game between the political circles, the royal family, and public opinion will continue. But one thing is certain: the Japanese government will not sit idly by and watch this 2,000-year-old family perish.
They will certainly take decisive measures to save the situation of the decline of the royal family. For the Japanese people, the imperial family is an integral part of their upbringing.
No matter where you walk in Tokyo, you can always see people holding their hands ready to participate in the emperor's travels, or praying in front of the Imperial Palace. They regarded the emperor as a spiritual belief, and this emotion was woven into every aspect of their daily lives.
Scholars believe that this stems from the admiration of traditional culture in Japanese culture, as well as the psychological comfort brought by symbols such as princes and the imperial family. People gain positive emotional experience by participating in royal activities.
The presence of the emperor made them feel that the land was unique. It can be said that in the hearts of the Japanese people, the status of the imperial family is irreplaceable. It is the last spiritual sustenance of this eastern country with clouds and sunrise.
If even the imperial family can't be saved, then what is left of Japan as a country? Therefore, no matter how difficult the road ahead is, the Japanese Imperial Family must not afford to lose. It will surely continue to shine in the land of the rising sun.