Imperial Family of Japan
| Imperial House of Japan | |
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| Country |
 Japan
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| Titles |
Emperor of Japan Empress of Japan Regent of Japan Crown Prince Crown Princess |
| Founded | 11 February 660 BC |
| Founder | Jimmu |
| Current head | Akihito |
| Ethnicity |
Japanese Yamato |
| Cadet branches | House of Akishino House of Hitachi House of Mikasa House of Takamado |
| Japanese Imperial Family |
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The Imperial House of Japan (皇室 kōshitsu?, "Imperial House"), also referred to as the Imperial Family and the Yamato dynasty, comprises those members of the extended family of the reigning Emperor of Japan who undertake official and public duties. Under the present Constitution of Japan, the Emperor is "the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people". Other members of the imperial family perform ceremonial and social duties, but have no role in the affairs of government. The duties as an Emperor are passed down the line to their children and so on.
The Japanese monarchy is the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy in the world. The imperial house recognizes 125 monarchs beginning with the legendary Emperor Jimmu (traditionally dated to February 11, 660 BC) and continuing up to the current emperor, Akihito; see its family tree.
Historical evidence for the first 29 emperors is marginal by modern standards, but there is firm evidence for the hereditary line since Emperor Kinmei ascended the throne 1500 years ago.
of the Imperial Household Act (皇室典範 Kōshitsu Tenpan?) defines the imperial family (皇族?) as the Empress (皇后 kōgō?); the Grand empress dowager (太皇太后 tai-kōtaigō?); the Empress dowager (皇太后 kōtaigō?); the Emperor's legitimate sons and legitimate grandsons in the legitimate male-line (親王 shinnō?), and their consorts (親王妃 shinnōhi?); the Emperor's unmarried legitimate daughters and unmarried legitimate granddaughters in the legitimate male-line (内親王 naishinnō?); the Emperor's other legitimate male descendants in the third and later generations in the legitimate male-line (王 ō?) and their consorts (王妃 ōhi?); and the Emperor's other unmarried legitimate female descendants in the third and later generations in the legitimate male-line (女王 joō?). In English, shinnō and ō are both translated as "prince" as well as shinnōhi, naishinnō, ōhi and joō as "princess".
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Wikipedia