Akihito

Akihito (明仁; born 23rd December 1933) has been the Emperor of Japan since 1989.

Akihito, as with all reigning emperors, is never referred to by his personal name in official discourse; the Japanese media typically refer to him as 天皇陛下 Tennoo Heika (天皇陛下), i.e. 'His Imperial Majesty'. His reign is known as the Heisei (平成) era, and by tradition Akihito will be referred to officially only as the 'Heisei Emperor' after his death.

The eldest son of the Emperor Hirohito, Akihito has three children with the Empress Michiko, including his heir, Crown Prince Naruhito. Akihito was the first Crown Prince and Emperor to marry outside the Imperial Family.

Akihito has a strong interest in ichthyology, the study of fish, and has published on the subject in scholarly journals.