Emperor Akihito urged the people of Japan to help those affected by the March 2011 disasters and together tackle challenges in the reconstruction efforts in his New Year's message on Tuesday, while expressing hope for the people's happiness.
"Our country is now going through difficult times because of the earthquake and other factors, but it is my wish that the people's hearts will always be with the afflicted, and that everyone will support one another to overcome the various challenges," the 79-year-old emperor said in his "New Year Thoughts 2013" released by the Imperial Household Agency.
Looking to the aftermath of the nuclear crisis following the magnitude-9.0 earthquake and tsunami, Emperor Akihito expressed his sympathy for local residents who were displaced from their homes as a result of the nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant.