Daily Times

May 1, 2019 was a usual day of political and economic turmoil in Pakistan while imperial transition took place in Japan. Widely reported in the international media, most of the Pakistani media remained ignorant about the Japanese royal ceremony. Wasn’t it strange that we remained silent on an extremely significant day in the history of a friendly country? Unfortunately, we are too busy in our political dogfights and skipping many significant moments in the world history.

Not only our media but our rulers too have been rudely careless about the friendly countries. Japan’s imperial transition is the recent example. Pakistan should not forget that Japan is one of the friendly countries that has significantly contributed in our development and supported in all our odd and testing times. Sharing their significant moments would certainly strengthen our bilateral ties.

The Crown Prince of Japan Naruhito took the Throne on first May 2019 as 126th emperor to begin the new era – Reiwa, the beautiful harmony era. His father Emperor Akihito abdicated on 30 April 2019, and the Heisei (achieving peace) era ended 30 years after he has been on the Chrysanthemum Throne. Emperor Akihito has been the first Japanese emperor to abdicate since 1817. I believe this new tradition would blossom an era of new colours and fragrances, prosperity of the Japanese people, and international support and cooperation.

After heart surgery and treatment for prostate cancer, Emperor Akihito, 85, has hinted for some time that he wanted to step down for health and age reasons. “I am worried that it may become more difficult for me to carry out my duties as the symbol of the state,” he said in 2016 in a rare televised address. Japan’s monarchs are expected to serve until death, but parliament passed special legislation to allow Akihito to step down.

Emperor Naruhito was born on February 23, 1960 as Akihito’s eldest son. He grew up with his siblings and parents in Tokyo’s moat-protected Imperial Palace. After earning a history degree at Gakushuin University, where he wrote a thesis on medieval water transport, the prince became the first Japanese royal to study overseas when he spent two years at Merton College, Oxford. The book he wrote chronicling his time there, The Thames and I: A Memoir of Two Years at Oxford, has just been re-issued in English.

The people worldwide are having a lot of hopes from the new emperor. The experts expect the new emperor to continue Akihito’s “people-focused” sense of duty, but with carefully chosen embellishments that reflect his international outlook

The prince’s interest in water management extends beyond academia. Since 2007, he has served as honorary president of the U.N. Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation, and he has spoken frequently on the topic at international conferences. “He has been actively involved in international environmental issues in recent years,” Hideya Kawanishi, associate professor at Nagoya University and an author of several books on Japan’s emperors, tells the popular weekly TIME.

Emperor Naruhito’s hobbies include mountain climbing, jogging, tennis, skiing and playing the viola, according to the Associated Press.

The people worldwide are having a lot of hopes from the new emperor. The experts expect the new emperor to continue Akihito’s “people-focused” sense of duty, but with carefully chosen embellishments that reflect his international outlook. Having been served to the UN Secretary General’s office on water and sanitation, many foresee his proactive role in the arena of international development too.

Amy Gunia, the TIME correspondent, wrote: By the rarefied standards of Japan’s imperial household, Naruhito’s past suggests he will be a thoroughly modern monarch. He is the first Japanese emperor to study abroad and, unlike his predecessors, was brought up among his siblings by Akihito and Empress Michiko, a non-royal who defied tradition by refusing to turn parenting duties over to palace staff.

In a brief speech, Naruhito said he would “reflect deeply” on the course followed by his parents and “bear in mind the path trodden by past emperors, and will devote myself to self-improvement. He also swore that he would act according to the constitution and fulfil my responsibility as the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people of Japan, while always turning his thoughts to the people and standing with them.

He said “I sincerely pray for the happiness of the people and the further development of the nation, as well as the peace of the world”.

While he prays for the people and for the peace of the world, I pray for his health and happiness and wish him an unmatchable success as an Emperor. My close friends know that I am living with the memories of the meeting I had with him in group with the participants of the South Asia Youth Invitation Programme.

It was 21 October 1992 when I had the honour to meet the then Crown Prince Naruhito at the Royal Palace, Tokyo. The courtesy call was the first agenda of the South Asia Youth Invitation Programme of the Japan’s foreign office.

While entering the Royal Palace, we all saw the passers-by bowing down their heads to the palace as a respect and honour. No one bow-down his or her head to a palace if the palace is not compassionate to its people.

When the Crown Prince Naruhito entered the hall we had already been assembled in our respective country groups, sequenced alphabetically. A fresh-looking, energetic and well-dressed young man entered the hall escorted by only two persons to the first group. He mingled and socialised with the participants of each group like an ordinary citizen.

As many as 27 years after, I still remember his friendly and humane-smile. And, I believe that his humane-nature would bring more peace and harmony to his own people and the soaring wounds of the word. President Trump is expected to be the first world leader to have a meeting with his. May we hope that the US President would learn some humane emotions from him?

The writer is an Islamabad-based policy advocacy, strategic communication and outreach expert. He can be reached at devcom.pakistan@gmail.com. He tweets @EmmayeSyed