Japan, one of the world’s most ancient civilizations, is an east Asian island nation, one-third the size of Ontario , 85 percent mountains , with a population four times that of Canada. Despite these and other challenging natural circumstances – its only natural resources are earthquakes and volcanoes – postwar Japan is a technological powerhouse, the second largest economy in the world, a most major aid provider and one of the world’s models of democracy, peace and economic development.
Their Imperial Majesties, the Emperor and Empress of Japan, will visit Canada including Carleton University, from July 3 to 14, 2009. This is the first official visit of Japan’s Head of State to Canada. As Crown Prince, the Japanese sovereign toured Canada in 1953. The Canadian and Japanese governments agreed on the visit during Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s official visit to Japan in 2008.
The formal occasion for the Imperial visit is the 80th anniversary of the founding of diplomatic relations between our countries.
The Japanese monarchy is the oldest in the world. The same dynasty, which has no formal name, has always been on the throne. The mythological first Emperor of Japan, Emperor Jimmu, considered a descendant of the Sun Goddess [Amaterasu Ōmikami], the central deity in Shintoism, ascended the throne in 660 BC. Japan’s present head of state, Emperor Akihito, is the 125th Japanese sovereign.
Shintoism [Shintō means Path of the Gods] , Japan’s ancient religion, is polytheistic and decentralized. It is very close to nature and takes a most positive approach to life. Local Shintoist traditions vary. The Emperor of Japan, although not a religious leader, is the symbol of national Shinto tradition. The holiest place in Shintoism are the Grand Shrines at Ise, near Nagoya. Japan’s other major religion is Buddhism, practised together with Shintoism for 1,400 years. Christianity is observed by about one percent of Japanese.
The Japanese Constitution defines the Emperor as “the symbol of the unity of the people,” although in reality, he is the formal head of state. Japan is the only nation whose official name, Nihon Koku/the State of Japan, does not reflect the existence of an emperor as ceremonial head of state. Since Japan’s modern emperors serve for life, there is always only one living emperor. While alive, the Japanese Emperor is referred to as His Majesty the Emperor [Tennō Heika] and not by his given name. The Empress is addressed as Her Imperial Majesty [Kōgō Heika].
When an emperor ascends the throne, a new national era starts, always carrying an auspicious name. The period coincides with his years on the throne and is used to identify him posthumously. The period which started when Emperor Akihito came to the throne in 1989 is called Heisei, Promoting Peace. In Japan, years are counted both by the Western calendar and by the Imperial count. Therefore the year 2009 is the 21st year of Heisei.
Postwar Japan has no nobility. Only the immediate members of the imperial family carry titles of “prince” and “princess.”
Empress Michiko hails from a wealthy business family. The future Imperial couple met on the tennis court and married exactly 50 years ago. The Imperial couple have three children: Crown Prince Naruhito, Prince Akishino and former Princess Nori/Sayako who, after marriage to a “commoner,” became Mrs. Sayako Kuroda. The Imperial Household Agency, Kunaichō, manages the affairs of the Imperial family.
Official Imperial Japanese visits to foreign nations are relatively rare. Imperial visits to foreign universities are even less frequent. Their Imperial Majesties will visit Carleton University on July 6th.
From its founding, Carleton University has had diverse links to Japan. Hugh Llewellyn Keenleyside, member of Carleton University’s first Board of Governors, inaugurated the Canadian Legation in Tokyo on Dominion Day/Canada Day exactly 80 years ago. Proud Canadian that he was, Keenleyside insisted that both God Save the King and O Canada be played at the ceremony. Both diplomat and scholar, Keenleyside represented Canada in Japan for seven years and authored History of Japanese Education.
E.Herbert Norman, born in Japan into a missionary family and among Canada’s best known diplomats and Japan scholars taught the Japanese language at Carleton in the 1940s.
The development of Japanese studies at Carleton was given a major boost in the 1980s, thanks to the assistance of the Japan Foundation and the Government of Ontario. Hundreds of Carleton students study Japan’s history and language every year.
–Written By Professor Jacob Kovalio–
