EMPEROR OF JAPAN.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 2 April 1927, Page 9

EMPEROR OF JAPAN.

| the moment of the death of his father, on December 30, the Prince Regent, Hirohito, became the 123rd Emperor of Japan (says a correspondent in the London “Times"). The Imperial House of Japan claims to be the oldest dynasty extant, extending back some 2500 years. As the ruler of Japan has no crown, there is no coronation in the European sense. As in England, so in Japan, tho heir succeeds to the throne immediately on the death of the monarch; and then, in Japan, after a sufficient period for national mourning has elapsed, the formal enthronement of the new Emperor is celebrated by a ceremony of scarcely less significance than the imperial funeral. To this celebration all the countries with whom Japan is in diplomatic relations are invited to send representatives.

Japanese history is divided into periods measured by the reigns of the various Emperors, each era bearing a distinctive title, which becomes the posthumous name for the ruler of that epocn. The title for the present era will probably be designated on the enthronement of the new Emperor. Ihe title is taken from some principle of bushido, and is supposed to set tho ideal or spirit of the new age. The Emperor Y oshihito was rightly regarded by his subjects as their ruler with a modern education and outlook. The new Emperor Hirohito has not only had all the advantages ol an education similar to that of bis father, but he has been more completely equipped with a practical knowledge of the outside world. Brought up like the son of any member of the nobility, as Crown Prince he entered the Peers ’ School in Tokyo, and there he studied the regular subjects, and passed through the usual forms until his graduation at the age of 18. The Prince's form was composed of sons of distinguished families, but chosen by his tutors more for personal character than for family distinction. The Prince acquired considerable proficiency in the classics. of Japan and China, as well as in English and French, together with some mastery of political science and history. At the head of the body of tutors! supervising the Prince’s education | was the nation’s greatest hero, the late j General Count Nogi; and after the General betook himself into the unseen to follow his Master, Meiji Tenno (the Emperor Mutsuhito), in 1912, the nation’s next greatest hero, Admiral Count Togo, was selected to supervise the Prince’s studies. On leaving school the Prince continued his education under distinguished scholars and lecturers from the Imperial University, until his departure for Europe in 1921. The inception by the late Emperor of a policy calculated to render the relations of the Imperial House to the people more modern, or more after the British manner, has found a very sympathetic exponent in the new Emperor. During the five years of his father’s illness the Prince had to act as Regent, in which position he had every opportunity to reveal his affection for the traditional virtues of the nation, as well ns for its institutions and . aspirations. But throughout he never let pass an opportunity to prove his interest in the masses of the population. The new Emperor comes to the throne at a time when the gradual progress towards the realisation of constitutional government is becoming more preceptible. The days of the Genro, the Elder Statesmen, are passing away, and the hour for responsible . government has arrived. The new Emperor will therefore look more to , Parliament, and less to bupreaucracy, than his predecessor.*, were able to do. The realisation of responsible government, and the extension of the franchise, have no warmer supporter than the young Emperor. But the most obvious break with . tradition has been made by the Emperor Hirohito in his attitude towards Occidental civilisation and institutions. Just as constitutional government is becoming not normal but real, so the Imperial House has in recent years shown a distinct sympathy with democratic ideas of monarchy.