Here are five things to know about Japan's royals:Ancient HistoryThe Japanese imperial family is believed to be the world's oldest, with a myth-filled history that dates back more than 2,600 years. Akihito is the 125th emperor since Emperor Jimmu, said to be a descendant of the legendary sun goddess Amaterasu. Constitutional SymbolThe greatest threat to the imperial family's long history came with Japan's defeat in World War II. Some in the Allied camp wanted to end the monarchy in whose name Japanese armies marched through the Asia-Pacific. Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko journey to sites of natural disasters to console victims, most notably after the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster.

Source: The China Post May 19, 2017 10:41 UTC