The year 2019 marks a new era for Japan, with the abdication of Emperor Akihito ending the three-decade Heisei era. On May 1, Emperor Naruhito took the throne, succeeding his father and ushering in a new imperial era, Reiwa. While Japan’s constitution gives the emperor only symbolic status, the emperor and imperial family continue to have a powerful cultural significance for Japan. What is the role of the emperor in Japan today? In this program, Ken Ruoff, the leading authority on the imperial house in Japan, shares his expertise on the Japanese imperial system, the postwar evolution of the monarchy, and the emperor’s role in Japanese society.
Speaker:
Ken Ruoff, Professor of History & Director of the Center for Japanese Studies, Portland State University
Presider:
Carol Gluck, George Sansom Professor of History, Columbia University; Member of the Board of Directors, Japan Society
Agenda:

6-6:30 PM
Registration

6:30-7:30 PM
Lecture and Q&A

7:30-8 PM
Reception

Admission:
Non-members: $20
Corporate members: Free, up to designated number of tickets; additional tickets $15
Individual members at Patron Circle level and above: $15
Academic and government: $15
Seating is available on a first come, first served basis.
Prepayment must be made with a credit card. All cancellations must be made at least 48 hours prior to the event.
REGISTRATION REQUIRED, PLEASE FOLLOW LINK 
https://jscommunity.japansociety.org/pages/from-heisei-to-reiwa-the-peoples-emperor?_ga=2.261255245.1333414770.1568817738-1492717597.1568817738