https://www.scmp.com/rss/519877/feed The latest news on Emperor Naruhito, Emperor of Japan, including news on the Imperial House of Japan. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan’s public has once again signalled strong support for a woman ascending to the Chrysanthemum Throne, but Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the country’s first female leader, is pushing in a different direction. A Mainichi newspaper poll published on Wednesday found that 61 per cent of respondents believed the law should be changed to allow a woman to become emperor, against just 9 per cent who said the throne should remain reserved for a man. The emperor is defined in the 1947 constitution as... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3350203/japanese-public-backs-female-emperor-while-takaichi-pushes-conservative-succession-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3350203/japanese-public-backs-female-emperor-while-takaichi-pushes-conservative-succession-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:18 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Indonesia’s president is heading to Tokyo – and Japan has eight stealth frigates, a mineral deal and a seat at the emperor’s lunch table waiting for him. Prabowo Subianto is due to arrive on March 29 for a three-day state visit, his first trip to Japan since taking office in October 2024. He will hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and dine with Emperor Naruhito, according to a statement published by Tokyo’s Foreign Ministry on March 13. Analysts say the agenda will be... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3347360/japan-woos-indonesia-stealth-frigates-ahead-prabowo-takaichi-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3347360/japan-woos-indonesia-stealth-frigates-ahead-prabowo-takaichi-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:00:12 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Japan’s representative to Hong Kong has said his consulate is making “steady progress” in improving ties with the city, while noting the absence of top local officials at a celebration of the emperor’s birthday amid tensions between Tokyo and Beijing. Jun Miura, the country’s consul general to the city, on Thursday expressed his thanks for the friendship between Japan and Hong Kong at an event marking the 66th birthday of Emperor Naruhito. “While we do not have a guest of honour per se, I... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342560/japans-consulate-hong-kong-marks-emperors-birthday-city-officials-absent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342560/japans-consulate-hong-kong-marks-emperors-birthday-city-officials-absent?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 14:26:03 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Nearly 70 per cent of Japanese want the law to be changed to permit an empress, with observers suggesting that the recent emergence of Princess Aiko on the international stage is fanning a groundswell of support for her to become a future monarch. A poll by the conservative Yomiuri Shimbun published last Sunday showed that 69 per cent of respondents favoured revisions to the Imperial Household Law to allow a woman to assume the Chrysanthemum Throne, with a further 24 per cent undecided on the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3337076/more-japanese-favour-having-empress-princess-aikos-public-appeal-rises?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3337076/more-japanese-favour-having-empress-princess-aikos-public-appeal-rises?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Dec 2025 03:00:14 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Japan’s beloved Princess Aiko is often cheered like a pop star. During a visit to Nagasaki with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, the sound of her name being screamed by well-wishers along the roads overwhelmed the cheers for her parents. As she turns 24 on Monday, her supporters want to change Japan’s male-only succession law, which prohibits Aiko, the emperor’s only child, from becoming monarch. Along with frustration that the discussion on succession rules has stalled, there is a sense of... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3334707/japans-princess-aiko-turns-24-calls-her-inherit-throne-grow-louder?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3334707/japans-princess-aiko-turns-24-calls-her-inherit-throne-grow-louder?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Dec 2025 02:44:54 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg US President Donald Trump arrived in Japan on Monday, telling reporters he was excited for his meeting with new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and the prospect of completing a joint deal to promote shipbuilding capacity. “I look forward to meeting the new prime minister. I hear phenomenal things,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he flew from Malaysia, where he attended the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit. Trump sidestepped questions about what corporate leaders... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3330475/trump-arrives-japan-promising-great-friendship?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3330475/trump-arrives-japan-promising-great-friendship?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Oct 2025 09:03:43 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo US President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Japan for three days from Monday for his first in-person talks with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said. Trump is slated to visit Japan for the first time in about six years. Takaichi, who won the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential election on October 4, became Japan’s first female prime minister on Tuesday, succeeding Shigeru Ishiba. Kihara, Japan’s top government spokesman, said at a regular press... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3329884/trump-meet-japans-takaichi-emperor-naruhito-during-3-day-trip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3329884/trump-meet-japans-takaichi-emperor-naruhito-during-3-day-trip?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Oct 2025 04:40:03 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday urged Russia and Mongolia to deepen their energy and financial bonds with his country while fending off “external interference”. The three countries must further strengthen “solidarity” amid increasingly turbulent international dynamics, Xi said during his first trilateral summit with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa in three years. “China is ready to work with Russia and Mongolia to strengthen political mutual... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3324079/xi-urges-russia-mongolia-block-external-interference-forge-deeper-economic-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3324079/xi-urges-russia-mongolia-block-external-interference-forge-deeper-economic-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Sep 2025 12:17:48 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan has called on the Chinese government to take steps against a surge of artificial-intelligence videos on Chinese social media mocking Emperor Hirohito, the wartime monarch, warning that the clips risk further straining already fraught bilateral ties. There has been a sharp increase in video clips released on Chinese social media in the run-up to a military parade scheduled for September 3 to mark 80 years since Japan’s surrender ended World War II. In one video, the wartime emperor... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3323347/japan-warns-ai-videos-mocking-wartime-emperor-risk-further-straining-china-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3323347/japan-warns-ai-videos-mocking-wartime-emperor-risk-further-straining-china-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Aug 2025 01:30:14 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang Princess Kako of Japan has attracted attention online after a photo of her sleeping on an economy flight to Brazil went viral. The 30-year-old princess is the niece of Emperor Naruhito and a member of Japan’s imperial family. Her younger brother, Prince Hisahito, is next in line to the throne, as Japan still bars women from royal succession. In June, Princess Kako visited Brazil on an 11-day trip, touring eight cities at the invitation of the country’s government. During a domestic flight, she... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3315034/japan-princess-kako-goes-viral-after-photo-her-asleep-economy-flight-emerges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3315034/japan-princess-kako-goes-viral-after-photo-her-asleep-economy-flight-emerges?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Jun 2025 06:00:10 +0000 Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine, which honours Japan’s war dead, including convicted World War II war criminals, was vandalised again overnight on Monday. “It is deplorable that an act seeking to denigrate the shrine’s dignity has happened again,” the shrine said in a statement. In May, a stone pillar at Yasukuni was spray-painted red. Jiang Zhuojun, 29, who lived north of Tokyo, was later arrested “on suspicion of vandalism and disrespect for a place of worship”, Tokyo police said in July. A Yasukuni... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3275048/japans-yasukuni-shrine-honours-war-dead-convicted-war-criminals-vandalised-again?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3275048/japans-yasukuni-shrine-honours-war-dead-convicted-war-criminals-vandalised-again?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Aug 2024 09:39:33 +0000 Did somebody say “alfresco?” It is a truth universally acknowledged that food and drink taste better when eaten outside. Maybe it is the primeval joys of huddling around the fragrant flames of a barbecue, the delight of the first cooling sip of bubbly in the afternoon or the undeniable romance of dining in the moonlight. Although some countries do it better and more naturally than others, if there is a better way to spend time in the summer than eating and drinking with friends in the fresh air... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/3273817/6-best-alfresco-restaurants-world-miami-tokyo-heres-where-food-truly-best-enjoyed-outdoors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/3273817/6-best-alfresco-restaurants-world-miami-tokyo-heres-where-food-truly-best-enjoyed-outdoors?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Aug 2024 04:45:08 +0000 Most young Japanese have no interest in the imperial family and feel no closeness to the monarchy, according to a new survey, a surprising finding given the country’s traditional reverence for the royals. Analysts suggest the trend reflects broader societal shifts and the dominance of digital media in shaping young people’s perceptions, reducing their exposure to symbols of national identity. The survey was conducted by The Nippon Foundation in May and asked 1,000 Japanese aged between 17 and 19... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3268364/online-savvy-young-japanese-feel-no-affinity-imperial-family-survey-shows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3268364/online-savvy-young-japanese-feel-no-affinity-imperial-family-survey-shows?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Jun 2024 04:00:13 +0000 King Charles hailed Britain and Japan’s “close friendship” at a lavish state banquet for Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday as the Japanese royals began a three-day state visit. It is the first state visit to the UK by a Japanese head of state since 1998 and, unusually for such a trip, comes during a general election campaign. Some typical political elements, such as a Downing Street visit, have been scrapped in line with neutrality rules but all the traditional... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3268045/king-charles-hails-ties-japans-emperor-naruhito-makes-uk-state-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3268045/king-charles-hails-ties-japans-emperor-naruhito-makes-uk-state-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Jun 2024 23:58:05 +0000 Princess Anne, King Charles’ younger sister, is in hospital after suffering a head injury on Sunday, Buckingham Palace said, adding the royal was expected to make a full recovery from the incident which was believed to have involved a horse. The palace said on Monday that the 73-year-old, the only daughter of the late Queen Elizabeth, had suffered minor injuries and a concussion following the incident, and was now recovering at Southmead Hospital in Bristol, west England. “Her royal highness is... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3267876/uks-princess-anne-hospital-head-injury-after-suspected-horse-incident?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3267876/uks-princess-anne-hospital-head-injury-after-suspected-horse-incident?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Jun 2024 13:47:15 +0000 Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako arrived in Britain on Saturday for a three-day state visit hosted by King Charles. A special flight from Japan landed at London’s Stansted airport. The royal couple are to spend Sunday and Monday at private engagements before the official programme begins on Tuesday. The highlight will be a state banquet at Buckingham Palace, with all eyes on a possible appearance by heir to the throne Prince William’s wife Kate Middleton, rarely seen in recent months... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3267680/japans-emperor-naruhito-arrives-uk-3-day-state-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3267680/japans-emperor-naruhito-arrives-uk-3-day-state-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Jun 2024 18:28:55 +0000 Japan is exporting one of its best-loved sporting events, the ekiden long-distance relay race, to Britain. The inaugural UK edition, set to be held later this month, will celebrate strong ties between the two countries. Starting in Oxford and following a 116km route along the Thames Path, the route of the race on June 24 will pass through Abingdon, Reading, Henley-on-Thames and Maidenhead before ending in Windsor. Its commemorates the 100th anniversary of Japan’s most famous ekiden – a two-day... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3266599/britain-laces-japan-style-116km-relay-emperor-naruhito-visits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3266599/britain-laces-japan-style-116km-relay-emperor-naruhito-visits?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Jun 2024 08:00:11 +0000 Britain’s King Charles will host Japanese Emperor Naruhito and his wife for a state visit later in June, Buckingham Palace said on Tuesday, providing details of the three-day trip in the latest sign of the monarch’s health after his cancer diagnosis. Emperor Naruhito and his wife, Empress Masako, will be greeted by heir to the throne Prince William on June 25 before a state banquet at Buckingham Palace held by Charles, his wife Queen Camilla and other members of the royal family. The occasion... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3265261/king-charles-host-japans-emperor-naruhito-uk-state-visit-month?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3265261/king-charles-host-japans-emperor-naruhito-uk-state-visit-month?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Jun 2024 23:32:42 +0000 Crowds of well-wishers on Tuesday greeted King Charles III as he made his first official public appearance since being diagnosed with cancer, after doctors said they were “very encouraged” by the progress of his treatment. The British head of state and his wife, Queen Camilla, toured the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in central London, which diagnoses and treats a wide range of cancers. Charles, 75, is patron of Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support, while... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3260955/britains-king-charles-resumes-public-duties-visit-cancer-centre-after-own-diagnosis-disease?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3260955/britains-king-charles-resumes-public-duties-visit-cancer-centre-after-own-diagnosis-disease?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Apr 2024 11:02:58 +0000 Britain’s King Charles will return to public duties next week for the first time since being diagnosed with cancer as he makes good progress following treatment and a period of recuperation, Buckingham Palace said on Friday. In February, the palace revealed that the 75-year-old king had been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer detected in tests after a corrective procedure for an enlarged prostate. Although Charles continued with official state business, the diagnosis led him to... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3260594/uks-king-charles-resume-public-duties-after-cancer-diagnosis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3260594/uks-king-charles-resume-public-duties-after-cancer-diagnosis?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Apr 2024 18:38:38 +0000 The Japanese imperial family and the Dutch royals have followed each other on Instagram as the former’s venture into social media gained momentum with its account gathering over 800,000 followers since its debut April 1. The account was established by the Imperial Household Agency to deepen understanding of the household, posting on events such as the Imperial New Year’s Poetry Reading. It had attracted more than 855,000 followers as of Friday. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako have amicable... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3258767/japan-royal-family-follows-dutch-counterpart-instagram-social-media-outreach?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3258767/japan-royal-family-follows-dutch-counterpart-instagram-social-media-outreach?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Apr 2024 06:30:15 +0000 Japan’s monarchy will soon enter the social media space with a new Instagram account, in a move seen as giving the Imperial Household Agency control over its narratives following the online woes of the British Windsor family. The Japanese imperial family’s official Instagram account is due to go live next month, with media observers agreeing the timing is notable given the social media frenzy surrounding Kate, the Princess of Wales, before and following her announcement about her cancer... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3256853/japans-royals-are-joining-instagram-kate-middletons-cancer-saga-britain-top-mind?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3256853/japans-royals-are-joining-instagram-kate-middletons-cancer-saga-britain-top-mind?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Mar 2024 01:30:12 +0000 Two weeks after the deadly New Year’s Day earthquake struck Japan’s north-central region of Noto, some schools reopened and limited rubbish collection resumed on Monday in rare hopeful signs amid the devastation that thousands of people still face in the area. The magnitude 7.6 earthquake on January 1 killed at least 222 people and injured thousands. More than 20 are still missing. About 20,000 people, most of whom had their homes damaged or destroyed, have been sheltering in nearly 400 school... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3248526/japans-areas-worst-hit-new-years-quake-reopen-some-schools-resume-rubbish-collection?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3248526/japans-areas-worst-hit-new-years-quake-reopen-some-schools-resume-rubbish-collection?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Jan 2024 12:11:00 +0000 At least 48 people were killed after a powerful earthquake hit Japan on New Year’s Day, with rescue teams struggling on Tuesday to reach isolated areas where buildings had been toppled, roads wrecked and power cut to tens of thousands of homes. The quake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck in the middle of the afternoon on Monday, prompting residents in some coastal areas to flee to higher ground as tsunami waves about 1 metre (3.3ft) high hit Japan’s western seaboard. A thousand army... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3246876/japan-76-earthquake-hits-north-central-region-tsunami-warning-issued-waves-5-metres-reaching-noto?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3246876/japan-76-earthquake-hits-north-central-region-tsunami-warning-issued-waves-5-metres-reaching-noto?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jan 2024 07:50:54 +0000 Japan and Vietnam have agreed to strengthen their security and economic ties in the face of China’s growing influence in the region. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong held talks in Tokyo on Monday and agreed to broaden their security cooperation, work on defence equipment and technology transfers and start discussing a new Japanese aid programme for militaries of like-minded developing countries in the region. The two leaders said the Japan-Vietnam... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3243052/japan-joins-china-us-india-top-tier-security-economic-partner-vietnam?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3243052/japan-joins-china-us-india-top-tier-security-economic-partner-vietnam?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Nov 2023 05:01:08 +0000 Japan’s Crown Prince Fumihito Akishino and his wife Princess Kiko arrived in Hanoi on Wednesday for an official visit to Vietnam to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries. Akishino, at a news conference last week, stressed the importance of deepening relations between Japan and Vietnam, noting their long history of cultural and economic exchanges dating back to the 16th century. “Japan and Vietnam have a very close relationship”,... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3235200/japan-vietnam-celebrate-50-years-diplomatic-relations-royal-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3235200/japan-vietnam-celebrate-50-years-diplomatic-relations-royal-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Sep 2023 09:20:57 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification. The release of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s review of Japan’s plan to release nuclear waste water has not pacified neighbouring countries including China and South Korea. Some have even... https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3227751/harmonious-way-out-japans-fukushima-water-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3227751/harmonious-way-out-japans-fukushima-water-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Jul 2023 03:30:16 +0000 King Charles invited around 2,200 guests to witness his coronation at Westminster Abbey, London, on May 6. The coronation forms part of a religious ceremony that has remained largely unchanged for over 1,000 years. The king had a weekend of special events planned and invited Asian royalty to take part in the historic event. King Charles actually broke tradition by inviting reigning kings and queens to his coronation – it is usually princes and princess who attend. The addition was welcomed by... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3219913/asian-royals-who-dazzled-king-charles-coronation-bruneis-sultan-hassanal-bolkiah-and-son-bhutans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3219913/asian-royals-who-dazzled-king-charles-coronation-bruneis-sultan-hassanal-bolkiah-and-son-bhutans?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 May 2023 07:16:39 +0000 It’s hard to believe that the coronation of King Charles III and his wife Camilla as king and queen of the United Kingdom is just around the corner. It seems like it wasn’t that long ago that Queen Elizabeth left the world. The ceremony will be held on May 6 at Westminster Abbey, nearly 70 years after the coronation of Queen Elizabeth. Prince Harry will attend the coronation without Meghan Markle and their two children. Meanwhile, US president Joe Biden has confirmed he will not attend, but... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3217713/whos-going-coronation-king-charles-iii-and-camilla-queen-consort-princes-harry-and-william-kate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3217713/whos-going-coronation-king-charles-iii-and-camilla-queen-consort-princes-harry-and-william-kate?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Apr 2023 08:10:51 +0000 Han Zheng, formerly China’s top-ranked vice-premier, has been appointed the country’s vice-president, giving the 68-year-old a role on the political stage following his retirement from the Communist Party’s Politburo Standing Committee in October. Han’s appointment was passed by a unanimous 2,952 votes from the national legislature on Friday. Analysts said the vice-presidency would remain a nominal role, with Han’s duties, like those of predecessor Wang Qishan, likely to be confined to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3212351/meet-han-zheng-man-just-appointed-chinas-new-vice-president?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3212351/meet-han-zheng-man-just-appointed-chinas-new-vice-president?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Mar 2023 05:00:08 +0000 Kei Komuro, the husband of Japanese former princess Mako Komuro, has been registered as a lawyer in New York, a local judicial website showed. Komuro’s registration, dated on Monday according to the New York State Unified Court System, came after he passed the US state’s bar examination on his third attempt last July. His title in a legal firm in New York he has been working for has been changed from law clerk to associate. Komuro, 31, graduated from New York City’s Fordham University School of... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3211986/husband-japans-ex-princess-mako-registered-lawyer-new-york?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3211986/husband-japans-ex-princess-mako-registered-lawyer-new-york?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Mar 2023 12:39:19 +0000 Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr will head a delegation of political and business leaders to Japan from February 8, with Manila and Tokyo seeking to deepen ties given new impetus under the former Abe administration. Marcos is set to meet Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who invited him to Tokyo when the two first met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in September. They are expected to discuss trade, economic assistance and the security of the broader Indo-Pacific... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3208862/philippines-marcos-meet-japans-kishida-5-day-tokyo-trip-further-deepen-bilateral-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3208862/philippines-marcos-meet-japans-kishida-5-day-tokyo-trip-further-deepen-bilateral-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Feb 2023 00:30:08 +0000 Shunning social media, Japan’s imperial family has long been reluctant to open up about the daily lives of its members, but the year 2023 could be a turning point, with the agency in charge of the family’s affairs set to explore the potential use of social media platforms as part of a new approach to public relations. With experts in agreement that an overhaul by the Imperial Household Agency of its communication style, including giving increased exposure to the family, is long overdue, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3205136/japans-royal-family-eyeing-social-media-stay-relevant-form-closer-bond-people?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3205136/japans-royal-family-eyeing-social-media-stay-relevant-form-closer-bond-people?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Dec 2022 03:00:12 +0000 China has called on Japan to beware of the “zero-sum game trap” and not join any bloc confrontations targeting Beijing, but rather work together to tackle global challenges. Addressing an event to mark half a century since the normalisation of ties, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said: “China and Japan should treat each other with sincerity and strive to live together peacefully”, rather than provoke each other’s core interests, including “heavily sensitive issues involving history and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3202409/china-calls-japan-shun-bloc-confrontation-sensitive-issues-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3202409/china-calls-japan-shun-bloc-confrontation-sensitive-issues-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Dec 2022 12:00:09 +0000 China’s ambassador to Tokyo said on Thursday that President Xi Jinping’s official visit to Japan as a state guest, if realised, would be “invaluable” for bilateral relations that have often been strained over issues that include a territorial row. Kong Xuanyou also stressed that China must continue to emphasise “leader-level” exchanges with Japan, weeks after the two Asian powers held their first summit in almost three years. Kong’s remarks came as protests against China’s zero-Covid policy,... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3201778/xi-jinpings-visit-japan-invaluable-strategic-driving-force-bilateral-ties-chinese-envoy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3201778/xi-jinpings-visit-japan-invaluable-strategic-driving-force-bilateral-ties-chinese-envoy?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Dec 2022 03:35:16 +0000 The man who married a former Japanese princess has passed the New York bar exam, defying detractors back home who had criticised their romance. Kei Komuro’s name is on the list of those who passed the July New York state bar exam, which was posted on Friday on the New York State Board of Law Examiners website. Komuro’s engagement to former princess Mako, announced in 2017, prompted a widespread public outcry, mostly on social media and in the tabloids. One reason was a financial problem of... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3196869/former-japanese-princess-makos-husband-kei-komuro-clears-new-york-bar-exam-third-attempt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3196869/former-japanese-princess-makos-husband-kei-komuro-clears-new-york-bar-exam-third-attempt?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Oct 2022 03:30:11 +0000 As a nation mourned its monarch, global leaders congregated in London on Monday to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth, in the largest gathering of royals, heads of state and diplomats in recent memory. Her funeral provided the chance to bid farewell to a global figure who was ever present among diplomatic circles over her seven decade reign. With around a quarter of the 2,000 attendees being foreign dignitaries, it was a show of unity without precedent in the modern era, reflecting a queen... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/article/3193066/stellar-cast-world-leaders-royals-meet-queens-funeral-uninvited-catch-eye?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/article/3193066/stellar-cast-world-leaders-royals-meet-queens-funeral-uninvited-catch-eye?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Sep 2022 14:53:19 +0000 Chinese Vice-President Wang Qishan has joined world leaders at Queen Elizabeth’s funeral at Westminster Abbey in London on Monday. Dressed in a black Mao suit and wearing a mask, Wang – as the special envoy of President Xi Jinping – paid tribute to the late queen alongside US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden and some 500 other foreign leaders and dignitaries. Wang also visited the queen’s lying-in-state in the Palace of Westminster on Sunday evening, two days after Parliament... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3193041/chinese-vice-president-wang-qishan-attends-queen-elizabeths?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3193041/chinese-vice-president-wang-qishan-attends-queen-elizabeths?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Sep 2022 14:00:10 +0000 With world leaders and dignitaries flown in from across the globe, and a crowd of over two million people filling the streets of London, Queen Elizabeth’s funeral was closely watched in Britain and beyond, including in Asia. Across the region, citizens tuned in to the state funeral – Britain’s first since the passing of Winston Churchill in 1965 – on live streams on YouTube and other social media platforms. Rather than due to colonial legacies or memories, Asians are likely to have been drawn to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3193049/asians-love-good-show-and-british-delivered-why-malaysia-singapore?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3193049/asians-love-good-show-and-british-delivered-why-malaysia-singapore?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Sep 2022 12:48:16 +0000 Britain’s King Charles said he had been “moved beyond measure” by the outpouring of public sympathy following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth in a message of thanks on the eve of her grand state funeral. King Charles said that he and his wife Queen Consort Camilla had been “so deeply touched” by messages of condolence and support from Britain and around the world. Britain held a minute’s silence on Sunday in a tribute to Queen Elizabeth before Monday’s farewell. “We were moved beyond... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3192953/king-charles-deeply-touched-he-thanks-public-ahead-queen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3192953/king-charles-deeply-touched-he-thanks-public-ahead-queen?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Sep 2022 22:38:34 +0000 US President Joe Biden paid his last respects to Queen Elizabeth II in London on Sunday, appearing on a balcony in Westminster Hall as a stream of people filed past the late-monarch’s coffin. The president made the sign of the cross and briefly placed his hand on his heart during the visit as he stood quietly near the casket. The Bidens were joined by US Ambassador Jane Hartley. The President also signed the official condolence book and attended a reception at Buckingham Palace on Sunday, hosted... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3192946/us-president-joe-biden-and-first-lady-jill-biden-pay-respects?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3192946/us-president-joe-biden-and-first-lady-jill-biden-pay-respects?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Sep 2022 17:07:12 +0000 When the funeral for Britain’s Queen Elizabeth takes place at Westminster Abbey on Monday, a host of world leaders, royals and other dignitaries are expected to attend, in an event likely to be the most-watched in history. The guest list includes many Western leaders, from US President and First Lady Joe and Jill Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to French President Emmanuel Macron and Australian and New Zealand prime ministers Anthony Albanese and Jacinda Ardern. Asian royalty... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3192831/asian-leaders-malaysia-singapore-sri-lanka-arrive-queen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3192831/asian-leaders-malaysia-singapore-sri-lanka-arrive-queen?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Sep 2022 10:00:20 +0000 The House of Commons has barred a delegation of Chinese government officials from visiting Queen Elizabeth’s lying in state at Westminster Hall in the latest political rift between London and Beijing, Politico reported on Friday. House Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has told colleagues that he turned down a request by the Chinese government, Politico said, citing a senior parliamentary figure familiar with the matter. A Commons spokesman declined to comment on Friday, saying they do not discuss “security... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3192772/chinese-delegation-barred-visiting-queen-elizabeths-lying-state?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3192772/chinese-delegation-barred-visiting-queen-elizabeths-lying-state?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Sep 2022 09:59:52 +0000 The first members of the public, some in tears, filed past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth on Wednesday as it lay in state in the grand Westminster Hall in London. A queue 5km (three miles) long snaked through the British capital as mourners braved hours of waiting to pay their respects at the casket of the late monarch before her funeral on Monday. Many people stopped and bowed or curtsied towards the coffin. Others crossed themselves, or removed their hats. Some prayed towards the casket or... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3192526/public-mourners-brave-hours-long-queue-view-queen-elizabeths?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3192526/public-mourners-brave-hours-long-queue-view-queen-elizabeths?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Sep 2022 17:48:40 +0000 Thousands of mourners streamed past Queen Elizabeth’s coffin in Edinburgh on Tuesday in what could be a dress rehearsal for an influx of visitors to the nation’s capital beginning on Wednesday as she is expected to lie in state for four days ahead of her funeral next week. Officials estimated as many as 4,000 people an hour journeyed to St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh to view the queen’s coffin, which was draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland, with the Crown of Scotland placed on top. Some... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3192363/thousands-view-queen-elizabeths-coffin-edinburgh-return-london?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3192363/thousands-view-queen-elizabeths-coffin-edinburgh-return-london?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Sep 2022 11:29:09 +0000 Palace officials say the state funeral for Queen Elizabeth will take place on September 19 at Westminster Abbey in London after the public gets an opportunity to pay their last respects to the monarch. Elizabeth, the nation’s longest-reigning sovereign, died on Thursday at her summer retreat, Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Details on the 96-year old queen’s funeral will be released later, but organisers on Saturday described the ceremony as a “a fitting farewell to one of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3192087/uks-biggest-security-operation-planned-first-state-funeral-1965?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3192087/uks-biggest-security-operation-planned-first-state-funeral-1965?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Sep 2022 14:17:50 +0000 Japan’s Emperor Naruhito plans to attend the funeral of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, while Prime Minister Fumio Kishida may also attend, Japanese media said. It would be Naruhito’s first overseas trip since acceding to the throne in May 2019. Empress Masako has also expressed a wish to attend, and the Japanese government is arranging their trip, NTV, TBS and other media said on Friday, citing government sources. Kishida is considering attending the funeral, which Britain says will be held in a... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3192053/japans-naruhito-plans-attend-queen-elizabeths-funeral-first?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3192053/japans-naruhito-plans-attend-queen-elizabeths-funeral-first?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Sep 2022 04:34:07 +0000 Official negotiations on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework – the economic component of the US strategy to counter China in the Indo-Pacific that US President Joe Biden introduced in May – are set to start on Thursday in Los Angeles, when US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo sit down with their counterparts from 13 other participating countries. One US priority, trade experts and Biden administration officials said, is to make sure it has uninterrupted... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3191739/under-construction-building-us-led-indo-pacific-economic-framework?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3191739/under-construction-building-us-led-indo-pacific-economic-framework?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Sep 2022 21:59:59 +0000 South Korea and Japan face “common threats” and must overcome their historical disputes, President Yoon Suk-yeol said on Monday, offering to improve ties between two US allies the Joe Biden administration has called upon to form a united front against the likes of China, Russia and North Korea. Speaking at a ceremony to mark the 1945 end of Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean peninsula, Yoon said Tokyo had become a partner in tackling threats to global freedom, adding that he wants to “swiftly... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3188894/south-korea-japan-confront-common-threats-and-must-move-past?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3188894/south-korea-japan-confront-common-threats-and-must-move-past?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Aug 2022 04:36:21 +0000 In 2021, Princess Mako of Japan – now simply known as Mrs Mako Komuro – stirred quite the controversy when she decided to marry a “commoner”, aka her university sweetheart. She gave up her imperial title and left the crown family for New York City, where she is now interning at The Met and living happily with her husband in their one-bedroom flat near Central Park. While Mrs Komuro, 30, is now enjoying life like us common folk, her siblings are still obliged to fulfil their duties as part of... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3186611/meet-princess-kako-princess-makos-younger-sister-27-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3186611/meet-princess-kako-princess-makos-younger-sister-27-year?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Jul 2022 05:36:18 +0000