Japan's embassy celebrates Emperor's 83rd birthday

Sovereign of the world’s oldest hereditary monarchy – Japan’s Reigning Emperor, Akihito – celebrates his 83rd birthday December 23 this year marking almost three decades of his reign.

Ambassador of Japan to Botswana Masahiro Onishi and his wife Sae will tomorrow host a reception and buffet dinner at the envoy’s official residence, in Gaborone’s premiere suburb, Ext. 11, to celebrate the emperor’s birthday.

In a sad twist, the event coincides with Tuesday’s 7, 4 metre magnitude earthquake that struck Japan’s northern coast of Fukushima sparking fears of a repeat of the 2011 Tsunami disaster.

Emperor Akihito ascended Chrysanthemum Throne on 7 January 1989 and with advanced age, is now believed to have expressed a desire to abdicate in favour of his son, Crown Prince Naruhito, 56. Largely a symbolic figure in Japan’s political architecture, the Emperor is however, a force that unifies the nation and has been a staunch proponent of the country’s ‘peace constitution’ drawn by the Americans at the end of the World War II.

Japan and Botswana continue to maintain cordial political relations as manifested by the former’s conferment of its highest Honour for foreign nationals – the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun – on Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s May this year, but was only handed to him last week by His Excellency Masahiro Onishi in Gaborone.

But sadly, the two nation’s trade and commercial relations require a lot of jerking up given the raft of opportunities Japan has placed at Africa’s disposal, such as $30billion provided under the watershed Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) that took place in Nairobi, Kenya at the end of August this year. 

On the occasion of the Emperor’s birthday, the public gets the rare opportunity to enter the grounds of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo while the Emperor and the Empress walk to the balcony to wave at the cheering crowds waving Japanese flags.

The reigning Emperor will be succeeded by the Crown Prince Naruhito upon his death unless Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s administration alters the current Royal Household Act next year to create room for regency.