New Era Named

By now, everyone should know the name of the new era that will begin after Emperor Akihito abdicates on Tuesday, April 30th, 2019. The new era will be known as the Reiwa Era - meaning be in harmony. Unlike other eras, the name is not taken from the Chinese Classics but rather a traditional Japanese poem of antiquity. We at American Mishima like the sound of harmony. It is a positive aspiration for both Crown Prince Naruhito when he becomes the new Emperor, Japan, and perhaps, for the world itself so that all peoples may live in harmony. Reiwa!

This Moment in History: USS Hornet

77 years ago, the USS Hornet (CV-8) seen here in this colorized photo carrying the B-25 Doolittle Raiders set out to sea to deliver America's retaliatory strike against the Japanese main islands in WWII to avenge the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Welcome to the Fleet: Japan Commissions New Soryu-Class Submarine

This week, Japan's JMSDF welcomed the newest addition to its submarine fleet. The 84-meter long diesel powered JS Shōryū was commissioned this month. This is the tenth Soryu-Class Submarine and the 28th submarine built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries since WWII.

The Line of Succession

Seen here is Prince Akishino of Japan with his son Prince Hisahito and wife Princess Kiko at their son's graduation from a prestigious primary school in Tokyo. Twelve-year-old Prince Hisahito will become second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne after his father Prince Fumihito becomes first in line after Emperor Akihito abdicates and Crown Prince Naruhito becomes Emperor. With so few male heirs in the Imperial Family, Japan will look to reconsider the roles of the Imperial Princesses in the future lines of succession. This shall be interesting to see how they adapt. We wish the Imperial Family a smooth transition into their new roles.

The Process of Abdication

As the Heisei Era draws to a close, Emperor Akihito performs a series of Shinto rituals at three Imperial Sanctuaries on the Imperial Palace grounds in preparation of his Abdication. As reported by NHK, the first ceremony was performed at the main shrine Kashikodokoro. Emperor Akihito bowed and read an ancient-worded script to report his abdication and its date to Imperial ancestor Amaterasu-Omikami, the sun goddess, who is enshrined there. The Imperial Household Agency says he will also report his abdication at the Mausoleum of Emperor Jinmu in Nara Prefecture, who is Japan's first emperor. He will then visit the Tsubaki Grand Shrine of Ise and from there to the Mausoleum of his father, the late Showa Emperor Hirohito. All of these solemn rites are being conducted in private. And while it is sad to see him go, it is a necessary completion to his thirty year reign. We at American Mishima wish the Emperor Emeritus a peaceful transition and a happy retirement.

JAXA Successfully Lands Space Probe on Asteroid

This week, as we released our most recent book ROBOT PLANET- a story about a robotic rover on Mars, another rover-laden space probe made headlines elsewhere. Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced that it has successfully landed its Hayabusa 2 probe on the asteroid known as Ryugu The potato-shaped asteroid is said to be three hundred kilometers away from earth. The Hayabusa 2 is expected to fire an impactor blast into the surface to collect samples before lifting off and returning to Earth in 2020. The probe is said to be equipped with two tiny MINERVA-II rover robots as well as the 10-kilogram French-German observation robot  MASCOT that will scan the surface temperatures and measure the magnetic fields. While the mission itself has had issues aligning with Earth, it is now streaming data and by many accounts, a success. 

We at American Mishima wish to congratulate the Hayabusa 2 Mission team on their recent achievement. おめでとう ございます!

Japan Set to Recognize Ainu People

Japan's long-suffering Ainu people are finally getting their due as Japanese lawmakers passed a bill that recognizes the ethnic minority as an Indigenous People. The Ainu who mostly live in Hokkaido has long been subject to oppressive measures of discrimination and forced assimilation going back to the start of the Meiji Era. While an earlier bill passed in 1997 to preserve the Ainu culture, many living Ainu has lost must of their cultural traditions. This new bill is aimed at granting the Ainu more rights and respect. The government of Japan further plans to build a National Ainu Museum in Shiaroi, Hokkaido. With the languages and customs of indigenous people's under threat around the world, this is a long overdue step in the right direction.