MONARCHY IN JAPAN

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27208, 27 November 1953, Page 16

MONARCHY IN JAPAN

Changing Symbol Of Relationship POSITION OF CROWN PRINCE (From a Reuter Correspondent) TOKYO. Japan’s Crown Prince Akihito has returned from his travels to find himself for millions of Japanese a symbol of a new, democratic relationship between the Imperial Family and the people. An entrenched “old. guard,” however, is fighting to bring the nation’s royalty back into the straitjacket of pre-war traditional forms. • Between the extremes of the old traditionalists, who would again make the Emperor a deity, and the modern attitude of respectful informality, it is expected that Japan will gradually approach something like the British attitude to the Royal Family. Older Japanese still hold the Emperor in considerable reverence, but Emperor Hirohito no longer holds his remote, god-like pre-war position. Significantly, the Emperors photograph is now less common in the ordinary Japanese home than Prince Akihito’s. Emperor Hirohito, deservedly or not, is associated with Japan s former militarist caste. The Japanese revulsion from war turns the people towards a new era and the new name. Emperor Hirohito himself is known to oppose any return to the pre-war position, but reportedly has some difficulties with the traditionalists of the Imperial Household Board. The board is now attempting to write a new protocol covering relations between the monarchy and the nation. Prince Akihito hafi seen and experienced the friendliness between European rulers and their subjects. It.is hoped this experience will play a big part in remoulding the relationship between the Imperial family and the Japanese man-in-the-street Prince Akihito becomes Japans 126 tn Emperor.

Old Customs Disappear The relationship between Emperor Hirohito and his people has been undergoing a steady change in the last eight years. Many old customs ana taboos have disappeared. Since the war’s end, and more particularly since the end of the occupation, the Emperor and the Crown Prince have been closer to the people than any monarch in Japan’s recorded history. An increasing number of informal photographs have appeared in the press. Many of these photographs show the Emperor smiling or laughing. This would have little significance to an Englishman. It is of great significance in Japan. In rare pre-war press photographs the Emperor was never seen smiling or showing any emotion. Before the war when the Emperor rode in the streets, spectators always bowed—and the police, with their backs to the road, made sure nobody raised his head to look. It was illegal for anyone to look down from a building window when the Emperor was passing. Buildings near the palace were not allowed to tower above the palace roof. Today these taboos have gone. When Crown Prince Akihito returned to Japan from his tour, many older people wore formal clothes and bowed when he passed. Younger people waved. Some Japanese criticised the 19-year-old Crown Prince for wearing a homburg hat during his tour. Others laugtfed when newsreels showed the Prince wearing the hat. For similar criticism and laughter before the war the people concerned would have lost their heads—literally.