Japan's Imperial Household Agency said Wednesday that Makoto Iokibe, 76, chancellor of the University of Hyogo, and two others have been named advisers to Emperor Naruhito.

The appointments of Iokibe, former Imperial Household Agency Grand Steward Noriyuki Kazaoka, 73, and former Supreme Court Chief Justice Itsuro Terada, 72, will take effect on Thursday.

On the day, four current advisers will step down from the posts. They are Makoto Watanabe, 84, who had served as grand chamberlain for former Emperor Akihito, now Emperor Emeritus, former National Police Agency Commissioner General Takaji Kunimatsu, 82, former Imperial Household Agency Grand Steward Shingo Haketa, 78, and former Supreme Court Chief Justice Hironobu Takesaki, 75.

Regular meetings of advisers to Emperors have played an important role. At a meeting in July 2010, Emperor Emeritus Akihito, father of the current Emperor, disclosed his intent to step down from the throne for the first time.

The Imperial Household Agency had been working to choose new advisers since Emperor Naruhito ascended the throne on May 1, 2019, following his father's abdication the preceding day after some 30 years on throne.

JIJI Press