The Imperial Family turns into a broad topic, because there are many aspects to how they are represented in media--on film, in photographs, in illustrations, etc. There are eras and shifts in how they are presented, grand strands of time, and the infamy of Emperor Showa/Hirohito and his position in the Pacific Theater and WWII.
Here I will concentrate mostly on the evolution of the Imperial Family with a focus on the present, primarily through photographs, and their representation for the public--clothing, hairstyle, colors, setting, inter-relationships, expression, etc
A brief overview of the current family and their relation to each other can be found, as always, at the wikipedia page.
Emperor Hirohito, understandably, went through a rather significant change from pre- to mid- to post- war. But what about the subtle shifts of attention in the images with the birth of the children and the control of the IHA? Who are making these images and for what purpose? What does the prevailing opinion on the Family have an affect on how they are portrayed in official venues? What do the standards of Royal Living of other families have to do with the Japanese Royal family? Who makes what, in what way, and why were they chosen for that purpose?
What is "accessibility" and who decides it? What can the public see and not? The restrictions of 'sight' imply power relations and emphasize the mysteriousness of the quality, like the unseen Buddhas, that emphasize the rarity and sacrity, but also the limitations and separations of "normal" and "not-normal." But it also keeps them out of the public eye as individuals and keeps their separated 'status' as symbols. If we take them as symbols as the constitution names them, then what sort of image does the IHA wish to project?
There are rules of contact with the Emperor and Empress highly regulated. The appearance of their visage to the public tightly controlled. Thus those times that they can be seen become intent, focused events for those who are dedicated to the idea.
Take the New Year's Greeting ceremony. Once a year, the family stands on the balcony of the palace and greet the people. This ritual did not begin until 1948, contemporary with the Occupation, and now includes only part of the day the whole family. The way they stand in the three sections of windows also denote the importance of the constituent parties, a visual reaffirmation of the centrality of the rising brothers, marked off sharply from their wives, and only the rest at the edges and distant from the Emperor and Empress.
This Year: Crown Princess Masako Moves Inside the lines
Then she doesn't
Previous Years:
"Family Portraits"
December 2008 - young prince is central
Young Prince, center of attention
2007 - see the shift?
The girls still sit center stage.
Older Photos:
Hirohito and his sons, grandchildren
Pre-children Emperor Akihito and sons, wives, and daughter
"The Family Units" and the politics of family
Crown Prince Naruhito, Crown Princess Masako
(Note how Masako's appearance changes over time, including her body language, expression, and the nature of what she wears.)
A collection of family moments..?
The larger family unit
Several collected images of the whole family, and the Emperor/Empress, out and about
Crown Prince and Princess + Dog and Child sanpo shitaaa
1887 - Print Not sure who, precisely, but
Meiji, Emperor of Japan A complete family photo
WHERE are they mediated, and WHEN?
The main access point for the royal family (today) is through the greeting ceremony, photographs, and video. They become a medium pressed behind glass, viewed clearly by few outside of politics, family, and the IHA.
IHA serves as prime 'public' mediator for the Royal Family.
Emperor and the Empress
Pictures of them both, including an old one from being married(?)
A list of all the official images released by the IHA on the IHA's website
Emperor Hirohito and the Empress
Emperor and Empress stand together
Compare to: Hirohito, etc
Pre-war Hirohito and Empress Standing with attitude
Post-war Hirohito and Empress Post-war
Together on the IHA webstie
Another family portraiture
Let's compare with the White House Photos...
The Official Photostream for the Whitehouse
Personal Portraits in Court clothes
Emperor Hirohito : From his times cover appearence
Simple portrait of Hirohito
Emperor Akihito : Wedding photo
-- Emperor Portraits --
Hirohito
Astride his white horse, Shirayuki
Akihito, as a kid
Childhood to adult
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Wow! This is so neat! I wonder if you are going to explore the switch to actual photographs from prints.
ReplyDeleteAlso because of this switch has the royal family become more public? I know it used to be(still is?) scandalous when news papers reported that so-and-so's favorite food was this-and-that.
Also- Why was it created?
Ok, this really doesn't relate to the project too heavily, but I can't get it out of my mind after seeing the imagery. The art-style of depiction of the King of All Cosmos in Katamari Damacy seems incredibly similar to some of the earlier art-work depicting the emperor. I wonder if they found inspiration in this art...?
ReplyDeleteThe gaze of the subjects to the viewer changes over time. In the earlier pictures, when the Imperial Family was visually more separated from the public, the family rarely seemed to meet the gaze of the viewer with the exception of the Emperor. His gaze seemed domineering, but proud?
ReplyDeleteIn the most recent holiday picture you showed, the family was cheerily smiling at us(the viewers) welcoming our gaze. A very different interaction between the subjects and the viewers from before.