An imperial couple made an unusual decision.
Japan’s imperial family took their first steps on social media Monday, debuting on Instagram, AFP and the Associated Press reported.
However, users who were hoping to come across selfies and other more spontaneous photos than usual are likely to be disappointed.
The reason is that the first photos and videos posted on the official account of Japan’s Imperial Court Affairs Agency are carefully selected shots of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako taken during recent public appearances, always very ceremonial.
That didn’t stop the account (kunaicho_jp) from surpassing 200,000 subscribers on Monday morning. By evening, their number already exceeded 270,000.
The first published photo is of the imperial couple sitting on a couch with their 22-year-old daughter Princess Aiko, notes the Associated Press, cited by BTA.
Japan’s Imperial Court Affairs Agency said they wanted the public to better understand the family’s official duties and that Instagram was chosen because of its popularity among young people.
By debuting on social networks, the institution hopes to draw the attention of younger generations to the activities of the imperial family, a spokeswoman for the agency told AFP.
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