Japan’s imperial family is stepping into the digital age—and onto YouTube. Starting this Tuesday, the world’s oldest monarchy will be sharing videos online, the Imperial Household Agency announced.
It’s the latest sign that even the most tradition-bound institutions are finding ways to connect with the public.
Last year, the royals made their social media debut on Instagram. Their account @kunaicho_jp now has nearly two million followers and features photos of Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and their family attending official ceremonies, meeting dignitaries, and visiting cultural sites or disaster-stricken areas.
Their upcoming YouTube content is expected to offer more of the same, but in video form, showing the family in action at various events. It’s part of a broader effort to maintain visibility and relevance while honoring centuries of custom.
A Symbolic Family Under Pressure
Japan’s monarchy is strictly ceremonial under the country’s postwar Constitution, but the family remains deeply respected. Emperor Naruhito, 65, became the 126th emperor in 2019 after his father, Emperor Emeritus Akihito, abdicated due to health issues—the first emperor in more than two centuries to step down.
Still, the royals face enormous pressure to live up to public expectations. Crown Prince Akishino, Naruhito’s younger brother, has previously spoken about the “bullying-like” online messages his family has received. His daughter, Mako Komuro, gave up her royal title in 2021 when she married her college sweetheart and moved to the U.S.
The Succession Problem
While the family is gaining attention online, it’s shrinking in real life. There are only 17 members left—and just four of them are men. The most talked-about is Prince Hisahito, the son of Crown Prince Akishino and second in line to the throne. When he turned 18 last September, he became the first male royal to reach adulthood in nearly 40 years.
“Right now I would like to cherish my remaining time in high school,” Hisahito said at the time. The young prince has a passion for insects and even co-authored a paper on dragonflies around his Tokyo estate.
His status as the last heir apparent underscores a looming crisis. Under the 1947 Imperial House Law, only men in the direct male line can inherit the throne. Female royals must leave the family if they marry a commoner, which is exactly what happened with Mako. Hisahito’s cousin, Princess Aiko, is the daughter of Naruhito and Masako and a fan favorite with the public, but she’s not eligible to succeed her father.
A government panel proposed letting female members keep their royal status after marriage and even adopting distant male relatives from defunct royal branches to preserve the male lineage.
Critics, however, argue these are half-measures that don’t reflect today’s social reality.
From the Chrysanthemum Throne to YouTube
The imperial family’s decision to join YouTube marks a new chapter in how it interacts with the world. It also shows that even institutions with thousands of years of history are adapting to a new media landscape.
Whether it’s a palace ceremony or a cultural exhibition, the royals’ YouTube videos will likely be polished and carefully curated—but it still brings them a little closer to everyday people. After all, in 2025, even emperors want subscribers.