TV SeriesEnded
Emperor Akihito
2019 9.0(1) 1 season en
Cast
Dawn Matus
Narrator (voice)
Akihito
Self (archive footage)
Michiko
Self (archive footage)
Episodes
1 season available
- S1 · E1E1
Crown Prince of a Defeated Nation
Apr 27, 2019 1h 13mCrown Prince Akihito's childhood is spent in the shadow of a war fought in the name of his father, Emperor Showa (Hirohito). With peace comes democracy. The Crown Prince learns to balance an imperial identity with a sense of social equality. At 19, he attends Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. His first trip abroad offers him fresh insights into Japan's place in the world, and the role of a monarch who reigns, but does not rule.
- S1 · E2E2
The Two of Us
Apr 28, 2019 1h 13mCrown Prince Akihito graduates from Gakushuin University. At a tennis tournament he meets his future wife, Michiko, who becomes the first commoner to join the Imperial Household. In another break with tradition, they raise their own children. Together, the Imperial Couple press ahead with duties in Japan and abroad, even in the face of danger. On the death of his father, Crown Prince Akihito becomes Emperor in 1989.
- S1 · E3E3
The Symbol of a Nation
Apr 29, 2019 1h 13mCrown Prince Akihito ascends to the throne in 1989 and the Heisei Era dawns. Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko devise new ways to interact with the public, and actively seek opportunities to offer comfort after earthquakes and other disasters. They make a landmark diplomatic visit to China with a message of friendship. Throughout his reign, Emperor Akihito has explored his role as the symbol of the State and of the unity of the People. Eventually, foreseeing a time when he can no longer perform his duties as he wishes, the Emperor decides to abdicate.
