Japan’s emperor and his family greet New Year well-wishers
TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and his family waved to a flag-waving crowd of New Year’s well-wishers gathered at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Friday.
Standing with his wife Masako and the rest of the royal family, he wished people lined up under the palace balcony a happy new year; some were shouting “banzai” – the Japanese word for “hooray”.
Annual New Year celebration of the Emperor and his family It draws large crowds to the usually enclosed spaces of the palace in central Tokyo.
People stand in long lines despite the cold for each of the day’s five shows, as the Imperial Family remains relatively popular.
The emperor has no political power but has symbolic importance for Japan. Although World War II was fought in the name of Naruhito’s grandfather, Hirohito, he and his family have long been advocates of peace.
In a previously released statement, Naruhito noted that the past year has been important. 80 years have passed since the end of that war. He emphasized the importance of the message of peace, given that wars and strife continue in some parts of the world.
“I deeply feel that it is important to continue efforts at dialogue between people, to try to deepen mutual understanding so that we can build a peaceful world,” he said in the statement.
In his statement and comments on Friday, he touched upon recent events such as earthquakes, natural disasters such as heavy rain and snow, and forest fires.
Annual appearance canceled for New Year’s Eve in 2024 Earthquake in Noto PeninsulaA coastal area in central Japan that has killed hundreds of people. It was canceled in 2021 and 2022 due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Princess Aiko, the only child of the imperial couple, attended this year’s celebration with her family, as did her other relatives. He’s at the center of something national debate About the rules that allow only men to inherit the Chrysanthemum Throne.
The presence of Naruhito’s nephew Hisahito also attracted attention because he now appears in adult imperial events and is the presumptive heir to the throne. He is second in line to his father, the emperor’s brother.
Naruhito’s father, retired emperor Akihito, who abdicated in 2019, was also there with his wife Michiko, the emperor’s mother.
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Yuri Kageyama on Threads https://www.threads.net/@yurikageyama
