Why has the Japanese Emperor System not Collapsed?
Have People’s Feelings towards an Emperor changed?
Autobiography
My name is Sakura, from Japan.
In Japan, the Japanese Emperor and his family immensely possess the popularity of the citizens though the Japanese monarchy is already abolished after World War 2. The Emperors have been in place since approximately 1,000 years ago by patrimonial. People go to see them in Tokyo if they hold some events. TV frequently broadcasts them for people who hope to see them though they are not able to in person. I am also aware that they are humble and caring people: they have visited victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake every year at the same time when the unfortunate natural disaster attacked years ago. Along with the changeover of the Japanese era that happened recently, Crown Prince Naruhito took over the throne and became the 126th emperor of Japan. People were reluctant to part from the previous Emperor, yet they felt happy for having a new leader of their country.
Timeline
February
Begin research
March
Taking survey of questions that I created which are related to my project
Interview with a person from Japan to ask questions
April
Finishing research and the portfolio
May
Practicing presentation
February portfolio:
I researched Japanese history related to how the Emperors becomes popular.
Possible Success of the Emperors:
1. Providing an education system of the ideology of the Emperor system
2. Holding power as a religious symbol
3. Media broadcasting Emperor-Symbolism
4. Picturing the life of the Emperors as Public entertainment
5. Publishing literature or songs writing about the Emperor
March Portfolio
I took a survey for 20 people who identify themselves as Japanese. I also did an interview with a Japanese woman. They are all from Japan.
Questions in the survey:
1. Japanese people have become largely indifferent to spiritual concerns which they used to believe in ancient times. Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not?
2. What benefit does the emperor bring to Japanese people today in Japan?
3. Do you think that the Japanese people do not have in themselves an interest in retaining the emperor-symbol system compared to the old days?
General responses to the questions
1st question
Agree. They are not concerned but seeing values in retaining tradition.
Agree. I definitely don’t believe in gods, ancestors, rituals, etc. as much as my grandmothers.
Agree. they see the spiritual values in retaining Japanese tradition.
Japanese people less believed in their own religion to protect their country compared to the others in ancient times. In addition to being an island country, Japan has never been invaded or looted by other peoples in modern days. Maybe that is why most of the Japanese people are not interested in the spiritual nowadays because their close ancestors did not believe in it on purpose? But it is interesting that they like divination, such as hand-readings. Perhaps it is because the spiritual concerns changed their shape when it has been told today from ancient times.
Disagree. Religion is not part of self-identity in Japanese society and people may no longer actively participate in family religious services (ancestorial worship through anniversary of the dead, for instance), but this is only a visible part of religious life in Japan. Remember, the most recent religious practices were formed by the Tokugawa Shogunate's policy for using Buddhist temples as basic administrative units (Terauke-seido), then the Meiji Government's National Shinto and the end of Buddhist/Shinto syncretism (kokka Shinto and Shinbutu Bunri), and finally the post-war freedom of religion. But long before these political attempts to shape the religious life of people, spirituality and primitive form of religion (nature worship, Myths) were deeply entrenched and strongly woven into Japanese life and landscape. I believe spirituality continues beyond our consciousness.
2nd question
Emperor is like an ambassador for Japanese foreign policies. Sometimes, having the Emperor visit other countries ahead of politicians would ease the negotiation.
People, especially older people, talk about the emperor or his family a lot because it is a kind of public entertainment. My grandmother loves to talk about them, and she was kidding by saying talking about them is one of her joys to live longer. So I appreciate them for making my grandmother feel excited.--So I think the idea that the emperor symbolizes the unity of the Japanese nation, people, and culture is a “common fantasy”.
The emperor (a person) does not bring “benefit” to anyone. I believe the symbolic presence of the emperor certainly is a unifier of the nation and brings stability to the society. Also, Japan’s history and culture cannot be described without mentioning the contributions of generations of emperors.
The emperor is the only person who interacts with foreign royal families on an equal footing.
History and culture and heritage, which is important
3. After WWII educational reform completely denied Japan's supreme principle. As the education was shifted from the double-track type to the single-track type, the complete loss of individuality of the Japanese was promoted. Therefore, now that the culture of respecting the emperor has gradually disappeared, there is a tendency to eliminate the emperor's hurray.
Certainly, I think that interest in the imperial family has diminished compared to the past. I often see it on TV and online news, so it's more like a movie star than a symbol of Japan. It may be close to the feeling of seeing a celebrity.
I think a big difference is in education. Today, I don't mention the emperor at school. Few people think of it as a god.
The major reason is that many Japanese were thought to be sad and suffering from the death of the emperor and commit suicide. Nowadays, some people call the people of the imperial family by their nicknames (which seems to have been completely unthinkable if you see the past in Japan), and more people have a casual impression. Still, I feel that those who work in relation to the Japanese government have more respect for the imperial family than those who do not.
Agree. I like and respect the emperor family, but the world is changing, and information from all over the world are abundantly given to anyone. I think people are simply people, no higher or lower, no symbol perhaps regardless of "rank" in the society. I feel like it's a bit obsolete.
Agree. People do not talk about Emperor or Royal families as much as before. TV News does not talk about Emperor or his families as much either. Many young people do not know a lot of things about the Emperor and what he does as his duties.
April Portfolio
Throughout the research, I questioned whether the approval rate and COVID-19 corporate.
I was thinking: whether the Emperor fills out the needs of his existence of mentally comforting people, who are suffering from COVID economic downturn.