# Akihito

_Emperor of Japan from 1989 to 2019_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/akihito
Last updated: 2026-11-06

> Akihito is a member of the Imperial House of Japan who reigned as the 125th emperor of Japan from 7 January 1989 until his abdication on 30 April 2019. The era of his rule was named the Heisei era, Heisei being an expression of achieving peace worldwide.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 23 December 1933 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37979#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Tokyo Imperial Palace ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37979#P19))
- **Citizenship:** Japan ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37979#P27))
- **Occupation:** monarch; ichthyologist; zoologist; marine biologist; ruler; Emperor of Japan ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37979#P106))
- **Education:** Gakushuin University ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37979#P69))
- **Spouse:** Empress Michiko ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37979#P26))
- **Positions held:** Emperor Emeritus (since 1 May 2019); Emperor of Japan (7 January 1989 – 30 April 2019) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37979#P39))
- **Awards:** Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour; Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic; Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order; Order of the White Eagle (Third Polish Republic); Order of the Crown of the Realm; Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Saint Olav‎; Collar of the Order of the White Lion; Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer; Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Netherlands Lion; Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers, 1st class; Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold; Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Three Stars; Grand Cross of the National Order of the Lion; Order of the Nile; Grand Cross of the Order of the Aztec Eagle ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37979#P166))

## Questions

**When was Akihito born?**  
Akihito was born on 23 December 1933 in Tokyo Imperial Palace.

**What positions has Akihito held?**  
Positions held by Akihito include: Emperor Emeritus (since 1 May 2019); Emperor of Japan (1989–2019).

**Where did Akihito study?**  
Akihito was educated at Gakushuin University.

## Related

- [Hirohito](https://diginpl.com/people/hirohito)
- [Emperor Go-Sanjō](https://diginpl.com/people/emperor-go-sanjo)
- [Empress Meishō](https://diginpl.com/people/empress-meisho)
- [Emperor Go-Komatsu](https://diginpl.com/people/emperor-go-komatsu)
- [Emperor Taishō](https://diginpl.com/people/emperor-taisho)
- [Emperor Meiji](https://diginpl.com/people/emperor-meiji)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Akihito](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akihito) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikipedia (Nepali): अकिहितो](https://ne.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8B) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q37979](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37979) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Emperor Akihito (2016).jpg by Malacañang Photo Bureau (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Emperor_Akihito_(2016).jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Akihito, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Emperor Akihito (2016).jpg — Malacañang Photo Bureau, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Akihito". DigiNepal. Last updated 6 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/akihito. Retrieved 7 November 2026.