JAPAN

Imperial couple to visit disaster-hit northeast in 2026

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako plan to visit Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima Prefectures next year, 15 years after the massive earthquake and tsunami hit the region, sources have said. | POOL / VIA JIJI

JIJI

Nov 14, 2025

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako plan to visit Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures next year, 15 years after a massive earthquake and tsunami struck the region, people familiar with the matter said Thursday.

Before ascending to the throne, Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako visited the three prefectures three times.

The imperial couple spoke online to affected people in the three prefectures during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, 10 years after the disaster. In 2023, they visited Iwate to attend a tree-planting festival.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako are also considering traveling to Kumamoto Prefecture in 2026, 10 years after powerful earthquakes hit the prefecture.

KEYWORDS

Emperor Naruhito(https://www.japantimes.co.jp/tag/emperor-naruhito), Empress Masako(https://www.japantimes.co.jp/tag/empress-masako), imperial family(https://www.japantimes.co.jp/tag/imperial-family), Iwate(https://www.japantimes.co.jp/tag/iwate), Miyagi(https://www.japantimes.co.jp/tag/miyagi), Fukushima(https://www.japantimes.co.jp/tag/fukushima), earthquakes(https://www.japantimes.co.jp/tag/earthquakes), Kumamoto(https://www.japantimes.co.jp/tag/kumamoto)