The East Monarchies Observations Society

Emperor Akihito of Japan abdicates, and his son Naruhito is to succeed him

Today Akihito, the 125th Emperor of Japan, formally abdicated the Chrysanthemum Throne; tomorrow his eldest son, 59-year-old Naruhito, will be enthroned. By way of comparison, Akihito's father, Emperor Showa, lived to almost 88 and reigned for 62 years. Since abdication was not provided for by the laws of the Japanese monarchy, a special procedure had to be devised for transferring the title during the lifetime of the reigning monarch, specifically for Akihito, who had already asked to retire in 2016.

I want you to look at this splendid couple, 85-year-old Akihito and his 84-year-old wife Michiko: how handsome and elegant they are, a lovely pair, it fairly brings a tear of tenderness to the eye.

As for those who cling to power with all their might until the lid of the coffin starts peeping out from their trousers, one can only pity them.

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September digest: archaeological finds, exhibitions, museums, theatre and the Church

In the finale of the Strugatskys' Roadside Picnic, the Golden Ball is told: "Happiness for everybody, free, and let nobody go away unsatisfied!" I do not promise to offend nobody, but the digest really does come free of charge. So, here is the main business of the

Frederic Leighton

Frederic Leighton. “Daedalus and Icarus”, 1869 Daedalus warns his son not to climb too high: the heat of the sun may melt the wax, but Icarus is already gazing into the distance, and the lamentations of a foolish old man interest him not in the least

Emperor Akihito of Japan abdicates, and his son Naruhito is to succeed him

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September digest: archaeological finds, exhibitions, museums, theatre and the Church

Frederic Leighton

Attempts to resolve the problems of many years of uncontrolled mass migration

Characters from Gogol's "Petersburg Tales" on the pedestal of the monument to Nikolai Gogol on Nikitsky Boulevard, photograph of the 1960s