Akihito, TIME's Person of the Year 2025?

  • By Elizabeth Sy
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Japanese Emperor among finalists for TIME’s 2025 Person of the Year?
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According to a well-placed source, the Japanese Emperor Akihito is leading the race to become Time magazine's Person of the Year in 2025. But while the emperor's fans are thrilled with the news, many people hold a very different opinion.

UPDATE 23/12/2024 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Why not Akihito for Person of the Year?

The list of nominees for Time magazine’s Person of the Year is always an eclectic mix of world leaders, pop culture icons, buzzworthy names, and human rights activists. The unexpected inclusion of the 91-year-old emperor, as a 2025 nominee has therefore sparked controversy and debate.

“What makes Akihito so important is the potential and influence he now has, rather than anything he has already done,” said a panelist who preferred to remain anonymous, adding that earlier this month, the emperor have already been named ‘Japanese Of The Year’ by some major Japanese newspapers and even ‘Tokyo Citizen Of The Year’ by the readers of a local gazette in Tokyo (Akihito's hometown).

Social Reactions to TIME’s Person of the Year

A representative for the emperor was not immediately available for comment, but the announcement generated immediate reaction on Twitter:

“Akihito Named Person of the Year Is No ‘Surprise’.”
— @TheNewsEditor, 22 Dec 2024
“Congrats! Akihito has this charisma that seems to come out of nowhere.”
— @SamanthaJones, 22 Dec 2024
“Past recipients include Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler ... then why not Akihito?”
— @TheClassicObserver, 22 Dec 2024

Could 2025 officially be the Year of Akihito?

Still, TIME’s editors will make the final decision about who will grace the magazine’s cover as its 2025 Person of the Year.

Who do you think should be TIME’s Person of the Year for 2025?

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