Japan's Imperial Family Debuts on Instagram: First Post Marks Monarchy's Formal Entry into Social Media World

The Imperial Household Agency posted a total of 66 items (60 photographs and 6 videos) on the official Instagram account of Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, and Princess Aiko. The most popular post was a series of pictures of the Japanese Red Cross Society president and vice president delivering a talk to the imperial family. On the first day of the social media presence, 19 images were shared, depicting the imperial couple's attendance at a medical awards ceremony, a bonsai exhibition, and a meeting with the president and first lady. By Monday evening, the account had gained over 270,000 followers. The first photo published showed Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, and their 22-year-old daughter Princess Aiko sitting on a sofa.