The current emperor is His Imperial Majesty the Emperor Akihito . He has been on the Chrysanthemum Throne since his father Emperor ShÅ wa ( Hirohito ) died in 1989 . The current emperor is `` His Imperial Majesty '' the Emperor Akihito , who has been on the Chrysanthemum Throne since his father the Showa Emperor ( Hirohito ) died in 1989 .