Akihito

Akihito is a Japanse word which, if you ask someone what it means, they won’t have any idea. But for those who follow Japanese history and culture, Akihito is known as the 125th Emperor of Japan.

Born in 1933, Akihito was raised in a traditional royal family, which meant being surrounded by strict protocols and traditions that nobody else really cares about.

During his reign, Akihito accomplished many things, like attending functions that nobody else really wants to go to, waving at crowds from a bulletproof car, and performing ceremonial duties that would put anyone to sleep.

But don’t let Akihito’s intense work schedule fool you - he’s quite the comedian! He once told a joke about being the emperor, and everyone in the room laughed, but nobody knows what he said because it was in Japanese.

In his free time, Akihito enjoys long walks on the palace grounds, pondering the meaning of life and trying to figure out how to work his smartphone. He’s also a big fan of karaoke and has been known to break into song during state dinners. It’s rumored that his go-to song is “My Way,” but he always forgets the lyrics after the first verse.

As he approaches his retirement at the end of April 2019, many people are sad to see Akihito go. But they can take comfort in knowing that his successor, Naruhito, will continue the long-standing royal tradition of waving at people and attending functions that nobody else really cares about.

So here’s to you, Akihito - the emperor who brought laughter and joy to the world, even while performing ceremonial duties that would put anyone to sleep!