Exhibition Outlines

His Majesty the Emperor attended the coronation ceremony of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom in June 1953, on behalf of His father, then Emperor Showa. The year before, on November 10, 1952, when His Majesty was 18 years of age, He had His coming-of-age ceremony and had been invested as Crown Prince. For His Majesty, who was 19 years old when He departed for this journey, this was His first overseas visit. At the same time as performing the important task of acting on behalf of the Emperor, this journey was a great opportunity for Him to broaden His knowledge on the conditions of foreign countries.

His Majesty left Japan on March 30 and returned to Japan on October 12. On this journey, He visited fourteen countries, starting with Canada, which He entered via the United States, the United Kingdom, where He stayed for a little over a month, France and other European countries, and then the United States. The peace treaty had taken effect in 1952, the year before, and Japan was just restarting to take its first step as an independent nation, but the scars of World War II were still deep, and national sentiments of the people abroad towards Japan were harsh. Through this journey, however, His Majesty made efforts to improve relations and promote friendships with the countries He visited. This journey enabled His Majesty to come into contact at a young age with lifestyles, cultures and nature very different from those of Japan, enhanced His views of international affairs, and deepened His ideas of the state and society. As such, it was an invaluable experience for His Majesty.

On the occasion of the 80th birthday of His Majesty the Emperor, this Exhibition will trace the itinerary of this journey, which was an event of great significance in the course of His Majesty’s 80 years. Referring to the situations of the various countries He visited at the time, the Exhibition will introduce His Majesty’s encounters with the members of the Royal Families and others which still continue today, the various visits which broadened His knowledge, the daily lives and nature which caught His Majesty’s eye, newspaper reports and photographs, various mementos, the feelings occasionally expressed by His Majesty, the photographs taken by His Majesty, and others.

We hope that visitors to this Exhibition will see not only that this journey was an important experience for His Majesty Himself, but also how it has contributed to Japan’s good will and international relationship today.