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Japanese Imperial Family Joins Instagram to Modernize

Japan's imperial family joins Instagram to modernize and engage with younger generations, but initial posts are criticized for being dull and lacking authenticity.
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Japan's imperial family has joined Instagram, marking a significant step into the digital age for the world's oldest continuing monarchy. Emperor Naruhito, who took over the throne five years ago, has been determined to bring the royal family into the modern era. The move to join Instagram comes 15 years after Britain's royal family first made their presence known on social media. The Japanese royal family's decision to engage with younger generations and stay relevant in the digital age was inevitable, as younger people increasingly consume content through their phones.

However, those hoping for a more authentic glimpse into the daily lives of the imperial family might be disappointed. The @kunaicho_jp account, which has been active for 48 hours, has so far posted formal and curated content. The pictures and videos uploaded feature Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, and their 22-year-old daughter Princess Aiko. The account mainly showcases the family's public appearances, visits to museums, and meetings with other royals. The content is formal and lacks personal notes or reflections.

The Japanese royal family's Instagram account has a cohesive aesthetic, with a melange of beige and grey tones. The captions are written solely in Japanese and provide factual recaps of the events shown in the photos. The account has also turned off the comments function, following a trend seen in the corporate world. This decision prevents brand damage and dilution of content. The Japanese royal family aims to maintain a conservative and safe brand image, reinforcing their position as morally upstanding role models.

The family has traditionally used traditional media channels, such as photography, newspapers, TV programs, and weekly magazines, to communicate with the public. These mediums were used to reinforce a positive yet distant image. With the introduction of Instagram, the family continues this strategy, keeping a certain distance from the public. The Japanese royal family's approach to social media is focused on brand management and controlling the narrative, rather than providing constant content or fostering familiarity with the public.

Original news source: Bonsai and bowing: Japan's royal family join Instagram (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

πŸ“– Vocabulary:

1. monarchy
2. digital
3. inevitable
4. authentic
5. curated
6. aesthetic
7. cohesive
8. melange
9. conservative
10. dilution
11. narrative
12. traditional
13. reinforce
14. distant
15. familiarity

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Provide each group with a copy of the article. Instruct them to read the article and create a concise summary of the main points. After a designated amount of time, have each group share their summary with the class.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Instruct each group to come up with a list of questions related to the topic of the article. These questions should elicit the opinions of the group members. After the groups have developed their questions, have them take turns asking each other the questions and recording their answers. Once everyone has had a chance to answer the questions, facilitate a class discussion where groups can share their findings and discuss any interesting insights.
– Headline Creation
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a few minutes to come up with a catchy headline for the article. Encourage them to be creative and think outside the box. After the groups have come up with their headlines, have them share them with the class. As a class, discuss the different headlines and vote on the most interesting or attention-grabbing one.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Select a few key vocabulary words from the article. Write each word on a separate piece of paper and place them in a bag or container. Divide the class into two teams. One member from each team will take turns selecting a word from the bag and without speaking, try to draw a picture that represents the word. The rest of their team must guess the word based on the drawing. The team that correctly guesses the word earns a point. Continue until all the words have been used and then tally up the points to determine the winning team.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: Instruct the students to work individually or in pairs. After reading the article, have them discuss and make predictions about the future of the Japanese royal family's use of social media. Encourage them to consider potential challenges and opportunities that may arise. After a designated amount of time, have each student or pair share their predictions with the class. Facilitate a class discussion to explore different perspectives and ideas.

πŸ€” Comprehension Questions:

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Japan's imperial family has joined Instagram, a significant step into the digital age for the world's oldest continuing monarchy. Emperor Naruhito, who took over the throne five years ago, has been determined to the family into the modern era. The move to join Instagram comes 15 years after Britain's royal family first made their presence known on social media. The royal family's decision to engage with younger generations and stay relevant in the digital age was inevitable, as younger people increasingly consume content through their phones. However, those hoping for a more authentic glimpse into the daily lives of the imperial family might be disappointed. The @kunaicho_jp account, which has been active for 48 hours, has so far posted formal and curated content. The and videos uploaded feature Emperor Naruhito, Masako, and their 22-year-old Princess Aiko. The account mainly showcases the family's public appearances, visits to museums, and meetings with other . The content is formal and lacks personal notes or reflections. The Japanese royal 's Instagram account has a cohesive aesthetic, with a melange of beige and grey tones. The captions are written solely in Japanese and provide factual recaps of the events shown in the photos. The account has also turned off the function, following a trend seen in the corporate . This decision prevents brand damage and dilution of content. The Japanese royal family aims to maintain a and safe brand image, reinforcing their position as morally upstanding role models. The family has traditionally used traditional media channels, such as photography, newspapers, TV programs, and weekly , to communicate with the . These mediums were used to reinforce a positive yet distant image. With the introduction of Instagram, the family continues this strategy, keeping a certain distance from the public. The Japanese royal family's approach to social media is on management and controlling the narrative, rather than providing constant content or fostering familiarity with the public.

πŸ’¬ Discussion Questions:

1. What are some advantages of the Japanese royal family joining Instagram?
2. How do you think the younger generation in Japan will respond to the royal family's presence on social media?
3. Do you think it's important for the royal family to stay relevant in the digital age? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if the royal family shared more personal and informal content on Instagram?
5. What do you think is the main reason behind the royal family's decision to join Instagram?
6. Do you think it's necessary for the royal family to maintain a conservative and safe brand image? Why or why not?
7. How do you think the public's perception of the royal family might change with their presence on social media?
8. What are some potential risks or challenges the royal family might face by joining Instagram?
9. How do you think the royal family's approach to social media differs from other public figures or celebrities?
10. Do you think it's important for public figures to control the narrative on social media? Why or why not?
11. How do you think the royal family's presence on Instagram might impact their relationship with the public?
12. What are some ways the royal family could use Instagram to connect with the younger generation?
13. Do you think the royal family's decision to turn off the comments function on Instagram is a good idea? Why or why not?
14. How do you think the royal family's use of traditional media channels compares to their use of social media?
15. What do you think the future holds for the royal family's presence on social media?

Individual Activities

πŸ“–πŸ’­ Vocabulary Meanings:

Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.

Words

1. monarchy
2. digital
3. inevitable
4. authentic
5. curated
6. aesthetic
7. cohesive
8. melange
9. conservative
10. dilution
11. narrative
12. traditional
13. reinforce
14. distant
15. familiarity

Meanings

(A) The account or description of events
(B) Not close or intimate
(C) The state of being well known from long or close association
(D) Involving or relating to the use of computer technology
(E) To strengthen or support
(F) Based on long-standing customs and practices
(G) The process of making something weaker in force, content, or value
(H) Genuine and original, not a copy or alteration
(I) Carefully selected and organized
(J) Certain to happen; unavoidable
(K) Relating to the appreciation of beauty or good taste
(L) Favoring the preservation of established customs and values
(M) A form of government with a monarch at the head
(N) Forming a united whole
(O) A mixture or blend of different elements

πŸ”‘ Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why did Japan's imperial family join Instagram?
(a) To engage with younger generations and stay relevant in the digital age
(b) To share personal notes and reflections about their daily lives
(c) To showcase their private family moments
(d) To follow the trend set by Britain's royal family
2. How long has the Japanese royal family's Instagram account been active?
(a) 5 years
(b) 15 years
(c) The article does not mention a specific timeframe
(d) 48 hours
3. What type of content does the Japanese royal family's Instagram account mainly showcase?
(a) Personal and intimate moments
(b) Behind-the-scenes footage
(c) Formal and curated content
(d) None of the above
4. What is the aesthetic of the Japanese royal family's Instagram account?
(a) Vibrant and colorful
(b) Black and white
(c) The article does not mention the aesthetic
(d) Beige and grey tones
5. Why did the Japanese royal family turn off the comments function on their Instagram account?
(a) To encourage more engagement from the public
(b) To avoid negative feedback
(c) To prevent brand damage and dilution of content
(d) The article does not provide a reason
6. How has the Japanese royal family traditionally communicated with the public?
(a) Through traditional media channels like photography, newspapers, TV programs, and weekly magazines
(b) Through social media platforms
(c) Through personal blogs and vlogs
(d) The article does not mention how they traditionally communicated
7. What is the Japanese royal family's approach to social media?
(a) Providing constant content and fostering familiarity with the public
(b) Brand management and controlling the narrative
(c) Sharing personal and intimate moments
(d) None of the above
8. What is the main focus of the Japanese royal family's Instagram account?
(a) Sharing personal reflections and thoughts
(b) Maintaining a conservative and safe brand image
(c) Engaging with younger generations
(d) The article does not mention the main focus of the account.

πŸ•΅οΈ True or False Questions:

The account has turned on the comments function to encourage brand engagement and interaction with followers.
The Japanese royal family joined Instagram 15 years after Britain's royal family.
The content posted on the account mainly hides the family's public appearances, visits to museums, and meetings with other royals.
Emperor Naruhito has not been determined to bring the royal family into the modern era.
The @kunaicho_jp Instagram account has been inactive for 48 hours.
Japan's imperial family has recently joined Instagram.
The decision to engage with younger generations and stay relevant in the digital age was inevitable for the Japanese royal family.
The Japanese royal family's Instagram account has a cohesive aesthetic with beige and grey tones.

πŸ“ Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
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Writing Questions:

1. Why did Emperor Naruhito decide to join Instagram?
2. How does the Japanese royal family's Instagram account differ from the British royal family's account?
3. What kind of content does the Japanese royal family's Instagram account feature?
4. What is the aesthetic of the Japanese royal family's Instagram account?
5. How does the Japanese royal family's approach to social media differ from other celebrities or influencers?

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