Empress Masako pledges to help emperor more and bring happiness to the people in birthday message
Empress Masako said Monday she is happy to have completed her duties as part of Emperor Naruhito's enthronement rituals, and pledged to continue such work and help her husband more for the happiness of the people. In a palace statement marking her 56th birthday, the ...
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 ...
Princess Aiko turns 18 as she enjoys final year of high school
Princess Aiko, the only child of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, turned 18 on Sunday, enjoying her last year in high school as she prepares to move on for further studies at university starting next spring. The cello-loving princess, currently a third-year student at Gakushuin ...
In Japan, Pope Francis urges rethink of reliance on nuclear energy
Meeting survivors of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster that triggered the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear crisis, Pope Francis has a poignant message.
Pope Francis on Monday met with victims of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeastern Japan, a day after railing against the destructive power of nuclear weapons in the atomic bomb-hit cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. The gathering in Tokyo was set because ...
Japan's emperor and empress mark end of enthronement ceremonies at Ise shrine
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako visited the Grand Shrines of Ise in Mie Prefecture on Friday to mark the completion of two major rites signifying the emperor's enthronement. The couple offered prayers at the Geku outer shrine dedicated to the goddess of clothing, food and ...
Emperor departs for Grand Shrines of Ise to mark end of enthronement rites
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako left Tokyo on Thursday for the Grand Shrines of Ise for a ceremony marking the completion of two major rites signifying the emperor's enthronement. After ascending to the Chrysanthemum Throne on May 1 following his father's abdication, the 59-year-old emperor ...
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako are considering a trip late next month to areas of Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures that were hit hard by Typhoon Hagibis and subsequent heavy rain, the Imperial Household Agency said Tuesday. If realized, it will be the imperial couple's first ...
Conservative LDP group submits proposal to let some ex-imperial family members back into fold
With just three potential heirs to the throne, the LDP group called for enabling unmarried male members of former branches to join the imperial family.
The first round of Daikyo-no-Gi grand banquets for Emperor Naruhito and guests who attended the Daijosai grand thanksgiving ceremony took place at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Saturday. The day's banquet, held after Daijosai was performed by the emperor from Thursday evening to early ...
