Users cannot comment on posts and can only press the “Like” button.
Japan’s royal family – the world’s oldest monarchy – made its Instagram debut on Monday in a bid to reach young people through social media. The Imperial Household Agency, the government agency responsible for family affairs, shared 21 posts that included photos and videos of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako formally performing their royal duties during recent public appearances.
The verified account with the username Kunaicho_jp currently has 6,03,000 followers. The account does not follow any other users and has not ventured into Instagram Stories to date. Additionally, users cannot comment on posts and can only press the “Like” button. The images are currently limited to official family matters and do not include private or candid moments. The agency said it was considering adding events for other members of the royal family.
The first photo released shows the royal couple sitting on a sofa with their 22-year-old daughter Princess Aiko, smiling broadly as they celebrate New Year’s Day.
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Other posts include meetings between the royal couple and foreign dignitaries, including Brunei Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah and his wife.
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The mythical origins of Japan’s monarchy date back two thousand years, and any public criticism of the emperor remains taboo in the country. An IHA spokesman confirmed to AFP that the agency hopes to spark interest among younger generations in what the royal family does by joining social media.
The Japanese royal family’s social media debut comes 15 years after the British royal family joined X (formerly Twitter) in 2009. [Japanese] They may be the last famous royal family not to fully engage in the digital age,” said social media analyst Andrew Hughes.
