Unofficial Royalty

Starting back in May when the Governor General announced there would be an official visit to Canada by His Imperial Majesty Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, the ripples of excitement that swirled in the Japanese communities in the Jester’s hometown had swept into a wave of unabashed awe by the time the royal couple finally arrived from Ottawa on July 10, at the end of an 11-day visit.

The police had been practicing their escort runs from airport to Government House for weeks, special menus featuring local seafood and vegetables were prepared; and all the security and safety procedures were in place. The Maritime Museum’s replicas of a Japanese Imperial Naval sloop from 1880, as well as a naval vessel which swept into our harbour in 1914 to protect us against German sea raiders (because our only battleship was deployed off Mexico), were prominently displayed for the occasion. 

Royal visits by members of the Queen’s family for official, business or career reasons happen all the time. Buckingham Palace has just announced the Queen and Prince Philip will visit Canada again sometime in 2010, putting to rest the rumour that their trip here in 2005 was their last. Prince Charles, who last visited with his sons shortly after Princess Diana’s death, will make a cross-country trek in November. But it’s been 56 years since the then Crown-Prince Akihito has been in the Jester’s backyard, and this time he came to celebrate three separate but important occasions in his life and his country’s.

In 1959, Akihito married the daughter of a flour merchant whom he met while playing tennis doubles. Michiko and her partner beat him. She was the first commoner permitted to marry into a dynasty that stretches back to the 7th century B.C.  However, Akihito, eldest son of Emperor Hirohito, did not want to be the venerated demigod his ancestors had always been.  He is the 125th emperor, celebrating his 20th year on the throne, but the 75-year-old and his 74-year-old wife just want to be like everybody else. One of his future goals is to convert Japan into a constitutional monarchy.

Both are scientists. He is a marine biologist, specializing in taxonomy and she is a botanist, poet and author. After meeting the requisite politicians and business types, to recognize the 80th year of diplomatic relations between Canada and Japan, there were also special plans made to expose them to places and things that would personally interest them. Although the few stops in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver were to be public, and the stops here mainly private, the occasions when they were out in public may have been as much a revelation to them as they were to the adoring crowds that greeted them everywhere.

One main theme that people who had been born in Japan and now lived in Canada voiced was that if they lived in Japan they would never have seen their Emperor, or been able to get this close if they did, and that was the charm of it. An always-smiling, more gracious couple would be hard to find. They were obviously having a great time. In Japan they mainly traveled to bring comfort to those suffering from natural and man-made disasters like earthquakes, floods and fires.

The Emperor was born on 23 December 1933, after his mother had already given birth to four girls. He had arrived seven years after his father Hirohito’s reign had ushered in the Showa Age-Radiant Peace. It had been, and would be, anything but until near its end. Japan had already seized control of Manchuria in China and withdrawn from the League of Nations. When he was three Japan and China went to war and Japan captured Nanking. War in Europe broke out in 1939, and in1940 Japan signed the Axis Treaty with Germany and Italy. The following December it attacked Pearl Harbor, for the glory of the Emperor, and the War in the Pacific seemed his to win. By 1943 the tide had turned and Japan was quickly losing ground. Before he was 12 the war was over and the winners moved in, revising Japan’s politics and finances. 

When he was 19 in 1953, he made his first foreign trip abroad, traveling by steamer to San Francisco, then by plane up to Victoria, BC. He was on his way to London to represent Japan at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, and there were those who felt sorry for him. Hard feelings against Japan were still very much alive. Up until 1945 Hirohito was revered as a living god, and although he was declared a mere human being himself, Akihito still led a very restricted life. The teenager now ate his first hot dog and flew for the first time, taking the controls of an R.C.A.F. (Royal Canadian Air Force) North Star transport plane for 12 minutes. Judging by the huge grin on his face in the newspaper photo he loved every second of it. 

He also went horseback riding around lake trails, and inspected an honour guard at the airport, all of which were over six feet tall.  As he was about five foot three inches, and as they all stood at attention with eyes forward, they saw nothing of him and he had a great view of their chests. Even though his every move was recorded in minute and formal detail by the 24-member contingent of newspaper reporters and photographers that followed him everywhere, he still seems to have made plenty of local friends. Missing from the crowds were any Japanese faces. Though born in Canada all those of Japanese extraction were interned, and sadly had decided to stay where they were or move east after as they had nothing to come back to.

After he had a chance to talk to military school cadets his own age he flew to Vancouver, then took a train to Toronto, before boarding a ship to London. Fifty-six years later he reversed the route. This time he returned with 40 media types, a 150-member entourage, and his wife of 50 years. They arrived at the airport in brilliant late afternoon sunshine on July 10, met by Lieutenant Governor Steven Point and his wife. People would have the opportunity to greet them at Government House about 5:30pm. Flower bouquets, Japanese and Canadian flags and signs written in Japanese saying “Welcome” were all waving as the parade of vehicles pulled up. Their trip across Canada had been a success so far, every picture (immediately beamed back to Japan and featured prominently on their front pages and TV screens) showed them smiling and engaged. By the time they arrived here they were ready for a bit of a rest, but not just yet. As they walked the edges of the crowd, shaking hands what was the reaction? “The Empress is more beautiful in person than her pictures”. “This is the first time and maybe the last time I have seen them. We respect them a lot”. Lt-Gov. Point is aboriginal, and he found that, “the Japanese people look at the world an awful lot like we do. They believe in spirit, they believe in their ancestors...” Some were concerned that the Empress’s knee problem-not well-known about in Japan- would give her trouble with all the walking. It didn’t seem to.

The Empress is fluent in English, but he needed an interpreter. They both have an interest in literature. Having written a children’s book, she is also an expert at the ‘tanka’ form of poetry, using 31-syllables in five lines, which predates haiku by several centuries. She wrote one for the Prince for their wedding, and one after the birth of their son Crown Prince Naruhito in 1960. To the Japanese people that marriage had been a symbol of hope that things were going to get better. Japan was in political and social turmoil in 1949, and those that were there have never forgotten. It may be that Naruhito’s only child, a daughter, could be the first ruling Empress in her own right in Japanese history. 

While Japan worked its way back into the world’s good books Japan and Canada renewed their 80 year old bond. Many artists had traveled to the court and displayed their talents for the royal couple. While here they took part happily in all the official activities planned for them, but they wanted to play too. After they had toured the Legislative Buildings with the province’s top politician, the Premier, signed the guest book and enjoyed another walkabout with the adoring crowds outside, it was time for an official reception with invited Japanese from the Island and the Yukon. For this day he wore a business suit and she wore a traditional light pink silk kimono. One 78-year-old lady in the crowd was thrilled that she had now seen three generations of emperors, although she’d lived in Canada longer than Japan. Finally there was private time for the Empress, a botanist, to tour the gardens. The volunteer gardeners had spent hours creating floral arrangements throughout the House. Some simple ikebana arrangements were displayed, but also local flowers and native plants were used to decorate the private quarters where they stayed. After the pleasures of the extensive gardens, they decided to do some unofficial visiting. 

Later that day, about 4:30pm, down a quiet country road came a queue of vehicles flashing lights of blue, red, and orange. An ambulance, a black limousine and a motorcycle police escort The royal couple had been invited for tea by a couple of professional musicians who had played for them many times and had sent the invitation as soon as they heard the royals were coming. The pianist and bassist had played about 20 concerts in Japan since 1981, several times at the palaces in Tokyo. Recently they had played for the Empress alone. They were delighted that the couple would stay for one hour but it turned into almost two. Before their arrival photos of every room in the house and outside were taken. Now police with sniffer dogs with walkie-talkies were deployed everywhere. Meanwhile as the royal doctor cooled his heels in the kitchen, the royal couple listened to the music of their hosts. One piece was especially composed to honour their 50th anniversary. A singer performed several Japanese songs, and their friend’s two dogs, Shinju and Shiro performed tricks and sang for them too. (Naturally). Then just as the officials were making ‘time to go’ noises the Empress pulled out sheet music, sat down and happily played two classical pieces for them. Declared the hosts, “It was an afternoon we’ll remember for the rest of our lives. Very special”. 

The next day, their last, they headed out to the Institute of Ocean Sciences in Sidney, about half-an-hour out of town. .This was the place the Emperor was looking forward to most. He has made extensive published research in the field of taxonomy, which is the science of finding and categorizing organisms. This led him to discover eight new species of goby fish (The Empress raises silkworms). Followed by an entourage of hundreds they had the opportunity to inspect some Japanese-made ocean exploration equipment. After lunch, as they boarded their plane for Vancouver, the crowd bid them an emotional and tearful farewell on the tarmac.

So while it seemed like the royal couple were pleased with their hosts, what did the locals think of them? Some quoted comments were:

After being thanked for her role in helping new Japanese emigrants the president of the Japanese Friendship Society said, “They were so kind. All of us felt so pleased…it was a nice, warm feeling.” 

“I felt like they wanted to stay:”

To a photographer of Japanese heritage meeting the Emperor for the second time, “It’s tough for an average Japanese to get close…Shaking hands is unheard of”. He did it twice, 1953 and 2009.

“We invited them to our house because we know what kind of life they lead…all the formal duties, how they don’t have much fun. But we never thought it would actually happen.”

President of the Nikkei Cultural Society was at first curious to meet them, but on reconsideration said, “I guess it’s more than curiosity. It’s because I have a connection through my parents and my ethnic background”. 

One woman, whose friends back in Japan are amazed that she will get an opportunity to see the royal couple up close said her wish for them is, “…to be healthy and live long. I remember their marriage when I was ten years of age”. The Emperor’s reign represents “more than 1,000 years of history”.

A man who emigrated here in 2006 believes the emperor came to apologize to Canadian citizens for the War. “Personally I respect him because of his emphasis on international peace.’

Another man, the same age as the Emperor had the chance to say, ”I’m glad you’re healthy”, in Japanese, and to have him respond with a nod and a smile. 

“They said thank you for letting us visit your country.” “They are so nice and down to earth”. “Royalty are people just like anyone else.” “They were very warm and sincere”.

During a stop at the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre, in the crowd of 3,000 people, were three men who had accompanied him back in 1953, and the four of them all enjoyed a brief reunion. Throughout there was nary a dissenting voice to be heard anywhere.

On Tuesday the Emperor and Empress left Canada for home by way of Honolulu. They would lay a wreath at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. They would pass on Pearl Harbor. 

So from the first enraptured ‘Konnichiha’ to the final tearful wave, to all, as to a 12-year-old boy who was sure he’d never seen an emperor before, that indeed, “It was very special”.

And so it was.

Thank you for visiting our country, Your Majesties.

Anon,

- The Court Jester
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