The Emperor's Birthday

Day 919, 21:10 • Published in Japan Japan • by Reiji Mitsurugi


Ten thousand years of life to our Emperor

That is our typical chant before going into battle, opening a session of congress, cooking breakfast, or what have you. 『天皇陛下萬歲』 as it goes is thrown about often, sometimes without true thought to its meaning. As I, Reiji Duke Mitsurugi, publish the first article of the Imperial Household Administration, a very special day draws to a close. We call this in our noble language 『天皇誕生日』 or more simply, the Emperor's Birthday. On this day we should reflect on the meaning of our famous (to some, infamous) battle cry, as one more year of His Majesty's ten thousand passes.

His Imperial Majesty is a busy man. Some would say He is an eccentric man. A man who fancies owls more than most, a man given to flights of fancy. He wanted ever so much to make a public appearance today, to address the Japanese people on His special day. Unfortunately, circumstances being what they are, He was unable to do so. So He asked me, His First Servant, to make some remarks on His behalf.


The Imperial Household Administration dresses better and takes fewer photographs than Foreign Affairs

His Imperial Majesty recognizes that we live in difficult times, that things do not always go as we intend them. Still, He remains optimistic for the future, and asks that His subjects (He prefers the word 'children') do not fear. For as the owl takes flight into the darkest night with the utmost confidence, so too do the Japanese people bound forward into an imperceptible tomorrow with heads held high. His Majesty believes that our indomitable spirit and unbreakable unity guarantee an ultimate victory, in whatever form it must take.

With His Majesty's remarks concluded, I, Reiji Duke Mitsurugi, would like to write my own message of praise and congratulations to the Emperor on this occasion. His Majesty is the rock of our country. Though He is not as present in the media as our politicians, though He does not propagandize like our militarists, He is our constant. Alpha and Omega. As I wrote before, governments come and go, but the Emperor is eternal, and all governments ultimately serve Him. So let us all serve Him our congratulations on this, His Day.

Happy Birthday, Your Majesty

天皇陛下萬歲

-Reiji Duke Mitsurugi, Imperial Household Administration
-禦劍令治公爵, 宮內省