Topic: Emperor Akihito

Emperor Akihito visits disaster-stricken town

Emperor Akihito: The deeply respected royal couple visited a school gymnasium where 200 people live in the town of Minami-Sanriku, 250 miles northeast of Tokyo.

Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko make first trip to disaster zone

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited two evacuation shelters Thursday in Asahi city, about 54 miles east of Tokyo near the Pacific coast.

In first TV address, Japan's emperor seeks to calm public

Japan's emperor Akihito sought to reassure citizens who are beginning to doubt government reassurances amid rising fear about a nuclear crisis.

Prince William and Kate Middleton royal wedding: Do monarchies still matter?

Prince William and Kate Middleton's royal wedding may have tinges of the turreted-castle fairy tale. But from romantic to ruthless, more than 40 modern monarchies, including Prince William's family, still influence global realities for better or worse.

Japan PM Kan sends signal to Asian neighbors by shunning Yasukuni Shrine

Japan Prime Minister Naoto Kan ordered his cabinet to avoid the controversial Yasukuni Shrine on the Aug. 15 anniversary of the end of WWII. It underscores his shift toward improving relations with Asian neighbors.

Obama at one year: new realism in foreign policy

Less ideological than Bush, Barack Obama pursues a more traditional approach to foreign affairs, marked by a narrower definition of US interests.

Japan emperor, empress join commoners in 1,000-year-old toast to poetry

The emperor and empress of Japan shared poetry known as 'tanka,' a 31-syllable form that prizes subtlety, at an annual reading Thursday. The royal couple feted their walks in the palace garden during 51 years of marriage.

For China, Japan sets aside royal protocols

Japan's Imperial Household initally balked at a 'last minute' request by China's visiting vice president to meet with the Emperor Akihito.

When presidential gaffes go global

President Obama's much-discussed bow in Japan earlier this month is the latest in a long line of awkward moments between world leaders as they adjust to each others' different cultural norms.

USA

Japanese dare to ask: Do we really need an emperor?

This week, the Imperial Household Agency curtailed the emperor's activities amid rising evidence of stress in the royal household.

Chinese President Hu's visit to Japan boosts warming trend

Hu Jintao will play ping-pong and talk pandas and energy. The visit comes as strains over interpretations of history appear to be easing.