日本の皇室
Japan’s Imperial Family

By 外務省, CC BY 4.0

By 外務省, CC BY 4.0

Top: Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako in their wedding outfits when they were Crown Prince andCrown Princess. Bottom: Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, and their daughter Princess Aiko.

The JapanSociety (2024)| www.japansociety.org.uk| education@japansociety.org.uk
The Japan ©
Society| Education
Resources| education@japansociety.org.uk| www.japansociety.org.uk

The Emperor and Imperial Family
In the UK we have a king and a queen, in Japanthey have an emperor and an empress. The current
Emperor Naruhito took the throne on 1 May 2019and is the 126th monarch of Japan. The reign of eachemperor gets a special name. This one is called “Reiwa”(令和) which means “beautiful harmony”.

By 外務省, CC BY 4.0

The chrysanthemum is an important symbol of theJapanese Emperor and his family – the throne of theEmperor and the imperial seal (similar to coat ofarms) both have a chrysanthemum design. That’s
also why The Japan Society uses a chrysanthemum
flower as its logo!

Emperor and Empress in JapaneseEmperorEmpress

天皇

皇后

Ten-nohKoh-gohFun Facts
Learn more about the emperor and monarchy in Japan by taking the quiz below!
1. Japan is believed to have the oldest monarchy in world.
True or False?
2. The Imperial family lives in the imperial palace. Where is it?
a. Kyotob. Osakac. Tokyo

3. What is the name of the throne of the Japanese Emperor called?
a. The Sun Throneb. The Chrysanthemum Thronec. The Edo Throne

4. According to Japanese myth, the emperor and his family are related to thesun-goddess Amaterasu.
True or False?
Answers on next page!
The Japan
Society (2024)| www.japansociety.org.uk| education@japansociety.org.uk
The Japan ©
Society| Education
Resources| education@japansociety.org.uk| www.japansociety.org.uk

SpringMiniF
The Japan
Socie

Nowadays, the Emperor and Empress do not usually dress this way with the exceptionof very special or formal occasions such as for their wedding photo. Below you cansee the layers of different coloured kimono with elaborate designs and the traditional
headwear and hairpieces. It looks just like the Japanese imperial court outfits worn
hundreds of years ago.

SpringMiniFeProgramme
Family Session

Programme1.00pm- Drop-in / all morning 10.00am - 12.30pm- Drop-in/ all morning- Masako will
The Imperial Family Visits the UK!​ EmperorNaruhitoand Empress

Origami- Drop-in
1.00pm - 3- Drop-in / all aCalvisit the UK in June 2024 to meet King Charles. Both the emperor and the empress
studied in Oxford and the emperor wrote a bookOrigami
called The Thames and I.

Calligra

Calligraphy

Manga

Calligraphy

MangawithposCh

Decoratehina dolls
Decorate hina dolls

with Chie Kut

Design a UK-Japan Costume for the Emperor andEmpress Hina Dolls
10.45am
11.45am
We want to see your designs which
representand
the friendshipbetween the UK and Japan, to celebrate the special visit by theimperial family to the UK.
Live!

10.45am and 11.45am

Live!
Kamishibaiperformances

Kamishibai performances

Design a traditional Emperor and Empress costume using our
byaAphoto
Thousand
template. ​When you’re finished, sendor scan Cranesof yourdesign to education@japansociety.org.uk for a chance to win!
See our website for more details on how to enter.

by A Thousand Cranes
www.japansociety.org.uk
Find us on Social Media @TheJapanSociety

Decorate
Decoratekok1.40pm
and1.40pm

Live
Shamisen perby Hibiki Ic
Shamisenscan QR codefor more details

by HibOrganised by:

Organised by:ty’ckspa

www.japansociety.org.uk
Find us on Social Media @TheJapanSociety

Tee

Teen Ses

Family Session

10.00am - 12.30pm

i:ite ‘activ
bs
we archure
it o nd savisor g.ukrde
co ty.o
QR ocies
hen t panSca w.jaww

Quiz answer: 1, True. It is more than 1000 yearrs old; 2, c; 3, b; 4, True. This is why the Emperor is also head of the Shinto religion.

The Japan Soc

In the past, the emperor and empress of Japan would wear elaborate outfits which
you can see in old artworks or on the emperor and empress dolls in a traditional hina
doll set.

The JapanSociety (2024)| www.japansociety.org.uk| education@japansociety.org.uk
The Japan ©
Society| Education
Resources| education@japansociety.org.uk| www.japansociety.org.uk

UK-Japan Costume Design Contest
for the Emperor and Empress Hina Dolls

Your Name: 								Age:About your design:

Entry Guidelines•

Your design must include elements which represent the Japan and the UK•

Include at least one of the following: nature patterns, symbolic colours, animals, emblems.

•Take a picture or scan a copy of your entry and email to education@japansociety.org.uk•

Anyone is welcome to send us their design, but entrants must be 16 and under and reside in the UK to beeligible to win a prize.
Deadline: Sunday 28 July 2024

© The Japan Society (2024) | www.japansociety.org.uk | education@japansociety.org.uk