The unexpected move of the Japanese royal family shocked the Internet

Japan’s royal family made their Instagram debut on Monday.

The official social media account posted 19 photos and videos of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako’s official performance.

It showcases their public activities and celebrations of major events since the beginning of the year.

The Instagram account attracted more than 200,000 followers as soon as it was made public, a week after being made private.

A spokesman for the Imperial Household Agency, the government agency responsible for the imperial family’s affairs, said it hopes to revive interest in Japan’s monarchy by reaching a younger audience through social media.

“The mythical origins of Japan’s monarchy date back two thousand years, and any public criticism of the emperor remains taboo in the country. By adding social media, the institution hopes to spark interest among younger generations in what the imperial family does,” they said . New 18.

It’s worth noting that the Instagram account will strictly cater to official updates and announcements, so anyone hoping for informal interactions with the public can give up hope.

Regarding the royal family’s unexpected move, one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “IHA posted on Instagram! I thought it was an April Fools’ Day prank!”

Another netizen said: “When I heard that IHA created an Instagram account, I quickly checked it out. But of course the emperor is not going to post something like ‘Today’s lunch (heart emoji)'”.