About the status of the Emperor and Imperial Family Members

Majority

The Emperor, the Kotaishi (Crown Prince) and the Kotaison (the Emperor's grandson who is Imperial Heir) attain majority at eighteen full years of age. (Imperial House Law, Article 22)

Other Members of the Imperial Family attain majority at twenty full years of age (Civil Code, Article 4).

Honorific Titles (Imperial House Law, Article 23)

The style of address for the Emperor, the Empress, the Grand Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager is "His", "Her" or "Your" " Majesty."

The style of address for other Members of the Imperial Family is "His", "Her" or "Your" "Imperial Highness" or "Imperial Highnesses."

Restrictions on adoption and marital alliances

  • The Emperor and the Members of the Imperial Family may not adopt children. (Imperial House Law, Article 9)
  • The institution of the Empress and the marriage of any male member of the Imperial Family are required to be authorized by the Imperial House Council. (Imperial House Law, Article 10)

The Ceremony of Accession

The Ceremony of Accession (Sokui-no-Rei) is held when the Throne is succeeded to. (Imperial House Law, Article 24)

Sokuirei-Seiden-no-Gi Ceremony (Seiden, Imperial Palace)
November 12, 1990
(Photo: Imperial Household Agency)

The Rites of Imperial Funeral

The Rites of Imperial Funeral (Taiso-no-Rei) are held when the Emperor passed away. (Imperial House Law, Article 25)

The Rites of Imperial Funeral (Shinjiku Gyoen)
February 24, 1989
(Photo: Imperial Household Agency)

Record of Imperial Lineage (Imperial House Law, Article 26)

Daitofu is the record of the lineage of the Emperor, Empress, and Empress Dowager.

Kouzokufu is the record of the lineage of other Members of the Imperial Family

Imperial Mausoleums (Imperial House Law, Article 27)

The graves of the Emperor, the Empress, the Grand Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager are called "Ryo".

The graves of all other Imperial Family members are called "Bo".

Registers containing matters relating to Ryo and Bo are called the Ryo Register and the Bo Register.

Others

For the crime of defamation or contempt of the Emperor, Empress, Grand Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager, or the Imperial Heir, the Prime Minister files a complaint in a court of law (Panel Code, Article 232).