Thursday, 20th August 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 28th March 2025, 2:29 PM
Tokyo, 28 March 2025 (BSS/AFP) – Japan’s ancient imperial family is set to launch an official YouTube account next week in an effort to modernise their public outreach, the government announced on Friday. This move follows the successful debut of their Instagram account last year, which has since amassed nearly two million followers.
| Platform | Launch Year | Current Followers |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Nearly 2 million | |
| YouTube | 2025 | To be launched on 2 April |
A spokesman from the Imperial Household Agency confirmed that from Tuesday, the family will start publishing videos on YouTube, featuring Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, and other members of the royal household.
The emperor and empress attending formal engagements
Meetings with foreign dignitaries
Visits to natural disaster victims
Tours of cultural and historical exhibitions
This initiative marks a significant shift for Japan’s monarchy, which has traditionally maintained a formal and reserved public image.
Japan’s imperial family, one of the world’s oldest hereditary monarchies, has been largely symbolic since the country’s post-war constitution was introduced. Emperor Naruhito, 65, ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne in 2019 following the historic abdication of his father, Emperor Emeritus Akihito—the first such abdication in over two centuries.
| Emperor | Reign Period | Significance |
| Emperor Akihito | 1989–2019 | First emperor to abdicate in over 200 years |
| Emperor Naruhito | 2019–Present | Modernising the monarchy’s public presence |
Despite widespread public admiration, the imperial family has faced increasing scrutiny and online criticism in recent years. Prince Akishino, the emperor’s younger brother, remarked last year that his family had been subjected to “bullying-like” messages on social media.
A particularly notable controversy arose in 2021 when Akishino’s daughter, Princess Mako, married her college sweetheart Kei Komuro. Reports of financial disputes involving Komuro’s mother sparked a media frenzy, leading to intense public debate. The couple ultimately opted for a private wedding and relocated to the United States, distancing themselves from royal expectations.
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