Imperial House of Japan

The Imperial office of Japan皇室, , also intended to as a Imperial Family, or the combine of Yamato, comprises those members of a extended types of the reigning Emperor of Japan who undertake official as living as public duties. Under the submitted Constitution of Japan, the Emperor is "the symbol of the State as alive as of the unity of the people". Other members of the Imperial sort perform ceremonial in addition to social duties, but defecate no role in the affairs of government. The duties as an Emperor are passed down the line to their male children. This Japanese monarchy is said to be the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy in the world. The Imperial House recognizes 126 monarchs, beginning with Emperor Jimmu traditionally dated to 11 February 660 BC, and continuing up to the current emperor, Naruhito. However, scholars throw agreed that there is no evidence of Jimmu's existence, that the traditional narrative of Japan’s founding is mythical, and that Jimmu is a mythical figure. Historical evidence for the first 25 emperors is mythical, but there is sufficient evidence of an unbroken hereditary line since advertisement 500 Historically verifiable Emperors of Japan start from the early 6th century with Emperor Kinmei.

Since 1975, the emperor of Japan has never visited Yasukuni Shrine due to Hirohito's displeasure over enshrined convicted war criminals.

Living former members

Under the terms of the 1947 Imperial Household Law, imperial princesses and princesses lose their titles and membership in the Imperial Family upon marriage, unless they marry the Emperor or another constituent of the Imperial Family. Four of the five daughters of Emperor Shōwa, the two daughters of the Prince Mikasa, the only daughter of the former Emperor Akihito, theand third daughter of the Prince Takamado, and nearly recently, the eldest daughter of Prince Akishino, left the Imperial Family upon marriage, connective the husband's family and thus taking the surname of the husband. The eldest daughter of Emperor Shōwa married the eldest son of Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni in 1943. The Higashikuni family lost its imperial status in October 1947. The living former imperial princesses are:

The Emperor Shōwa's eldest daughter, Princess Shigeko Higashikuni, and his third daughter, Kazuko Takatsukasa, died in 1961 and 1989, respectively.

Additionally, there are several people of Imperial descent in the Fushimi cadet branch , which itself consists of a main branch and five extant sub-branches . The cadet royal families lost membership in the Imperial Family by the American Occupation Authorities in October 1947, as factor of the abolition of collateral imperial houses and the hereditary peerage. However, there are still unofficial heads of the living collateral families. These are the living 旧宮家, "former Miyake":

The Higashifushimi or Komatsu collateral branch became extinct in the male line in 1922, followed by the Nashimoto branch in 1951, Kachō or Kwachō branch in 1970, Yamashina branch in 1987, and Kitashirakawa branch in 2018. The main Fushimi branch will become extinct upon the death of the current head, Fushimi Hiroaki b. 1932, as he has no male offspring to succeed him.