Emperor, turning 72, shows favorable view of female roles
(Kyodo) _ Emperor Akihito, on the occasion of his 72nd birthday Friday, showed a favorable view of the roles of the female members of the imperial family, though declining to comment in relation to a government panel report on imperial succession which proposed allowing females to ascend the Japanese throne.
The emperor said female members "must have played major roles" in the royal family up to now, adding he feels their presence brings "some very good elements" such as warmth and encouragement to the people on both public and private occasions, in comments released by the Imperial Household Agency.
The imperial family is expected to face drastic changes if the current Imperial House Law is revised in line with the panel report, which was submitted to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Nov. 24 as a way to ensure stable succession, given that no male heir has been born to the royal family in the last 40 years.
The panel's decision is a step toward Japan having Princess Aiko, 4, the only child of Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako, as the first female monarch since the 18th century.............
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/051222/kyodo/d8elgclgb.html
Emperor calls for historical accuracy
JAPANESE Emperor Akihito has called on Japan to "accurately understand" its history at the end of a year marked by criticism abroad that the country fails to atone for its militarist past.
In an interview marking his 72nd birthday today, the Emperor said "there were rarely peaceful times" in the 20 years to 1945 when Japan surrendered to the Allies to end World War II.
"I believe it is extremely important for the Japanese people to strive to accurately understand this past history along with the ensuing era," Akihito said. "This is also important when the Japanese people interact with other peoples of the world," he added in the interview held recently with the Imperial Palace press corps for publication today.........
http://www.ntnews.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,7034,17648993%255E401,00.html
Emperor lauds role of women in royal family
Emperor Akihito, speaking before his 72nd birthday Friday, spoke favorably about the role of the female members of the Imperial family, though he declined comment on a report by a government panel on the Imperial succession that proposes allowing females to ascend the throne.
The Emperor, in comments released by the Imperial Household Agency, said women have "played major roles" in the royal family up to now, adding he feels their presence brings "some very good elements," such as warmth and encouragement, to the people on both public and private occasions..........
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20051223a5.htm
Emperor urges 'accurate' understanding of history
Emperor Akihito says his trip to Saipan in June to pray for the repose of the war dead left him "heavy-hearted" thinking about the severe combat that took place there 61 years ago.
The emperor was speaking at a news conference at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo ahead of his 72nd birthday today. "It is impossible to imagine the level of agony felt by the military personnel and those others residing on the island as well as the sorrow of the people who lost their family members there," he said, responding to questions about the trip............
http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200512230136.html
◆Emperor, turning 72, shows favorable view of female roles
TOKYO, Dec. 23 KYODO
Emperor Akihito, on the occasion of his 72nd birthday Friday, showed a favorable view of the roles of the female members of the imperial family, though declining to comment in relation to a government panel report on imperial succession which proposed allowing females to ascend the Japanese throne.........
http://home.kyodo.co.jp/modules/fstStory/index.php?storyid=220976
Japanese should understand 20th century: emperor
Japanese people must strive to properly understand their country's history when they deal with the rest of the world, Emperor Akihito said on his 72nd birthday on Friday.................
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1343287.cms
Japan's emperor urges understanding of history
Japan's Emperor Akihito has urged the Japanese to understand their country's history accurately, in an apparent reference to simmering disputes with China and South Korea over Japan's past militarism.
Akihito made the remarks in a recent news conference, a translation of which was released to mark his birthday on Friday.
"I believe it is very important for the people of Japan to strive to accurately understand this past history as well as the times that followed and this is also important when the Japanese people interact with the people of the world," he said..........
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051223/wl_nm/japan_emperor_dc_2
#1: JIJI Press-Dec 19th press conference