In first poem reading of Reiwa Era, Japan's emperor speaks of hope for children's futures
Emperor Naruhito expressed his hope for a bright future for children in his poem recited Thursday at the first New Year's Poetry Reading Ceremony held since he ascended to the chrysanthemum throne last year. The theme of this year's waka poems was nozomi (hope). Empress Masako, ...
Emperor and empress to make state visit to United Kingdom this spring
The imperial couple “have accepted an invitation from Her Majesty The Queen to pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom in Spring 2020,” Buckingham Palace said.
Kyoto man admits to trespassing and leaving knives on Prince Hisahito's desk
A 57-year-old man admitted during the first court hearing of his case Thursday to trespassing and other charges over an incident last April in which knives were found on Prince Hisahito's desk at a Tokyo junior high school. Kaoru Hasegawa, a resident of Kyoto, said ...
Emperor Naruhito expresses hope for peaceful year in first New Year's greeting
Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko also greeted well-wishers, making their first public appearance with the emperor since last year’s succession.
Emperor Naruhito uses first New Year's address to express hopes for disaster-free year
Emperor Naruhito, in a message released at the beginning of his first full year as the symbol of state, says he hopes 2020 will be one free of major disasters.
Emperor, empress console victims in typhoon-hit areas of Japan's northeast
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako on Thursday visited areas in northeastern Japan that were hit by a powerful typhoon in October and consoled the victims of the deadly storm. The couple visited Marumori in Miyagi Prefecture as well as Motomiya in Fukushima Prefecture. Both areas ...
Japan's former emperor and empress likely to celebrate new year with public
Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko are expected to join other members of the imperial family in greeting New Year's well-wishers, sources at the Imperial Household Agency said Tuesday. If the couple attends the event, at which Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will offer ...
Emperor and empress to meet victims of Typhoon Hagibis in Miyagi and Fukushima
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will visit Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures on Thursday to offer encouragement to people who were affected by deadly Typhoon Hagibis in mid-October, the Imperial Household Agency has said. The visit will be the couple's first to a disaster-hit area since ...
The Reiwa Daijosai: Pomp, circumstance and litigation
The separation of church and state in Japan comes under scrutiny in the new era. However, we've been down this road before.
The Daijokyu halls, where imperial enthronement-related rites were performed last month, drew 782,081 visitors during the 18 days between Nov. 21 and Sunday when the site was open to the public. The number rose sharply from 439,780 visitors also over 18 days on the previous ...
Due to differing opinions within ruling party, debate on imperial succession issue is postponed
The government has decided to postpone holding full-fledged talks on how to achieve a stable imperial succession due to differing views even within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
Emperor Naruhito, joined by Empress Masako, visited the mausoleums of his grandfather and great grandfather in Tokyo on Tuesday, concluding a series of visits to imperial mausoleums since the completion of key succession rituals. The imperial couple separately offered tributes at the mausoleum of Emperor ...
