Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako Current Events Part 1: May 2019 -

[Prisma]

On May 7th, Emperor Naruhito's family returned to Tokyo from their retreat at the stock farm in Tochigi Prefecture. They entered the Imperial Palace around 5:30pm. Their Majesties will be busy after the break, such as preparations for the state visit to the UK in June.

Sources: TBS, FNN, tv-asahi

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More content of May 2 arrival at the farm:

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テレ朝news公式 on Instagram: "【天皇ご一家 御料牧場でご静養】 天皇陛下[2024/5/2]"

8,139 likes, 42 comments - tv_asahi_news on May 3, 2024: "【天皇ご一家 御料牧場でご静養】 天皇陛下[2024/5/2]".

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テレ朝news公式 on Instagram: "【天皇ご一家 御料牧場でご静養】 皇后雅子さま[2024/5/2]"

10K likes, 63 comments - tv_asahi_news on May 4, 2024: "【天皇ご一家 御料牧場でご静養】 皇后雅子さま[2024/5/2]".

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テレ朝news公式 on Instagram: "【天皇ご一家 御料牧場でご静養】 愛子さま[2024/5/2] 4月から日本赤十字社に勤務している愛子さまにとっては社会人になって初めてのご静養です。"

11K likes, 59 comments - tv_asahi_news on May 5, 2024: "【天皇ご一家 御料牧場でご静養】 愛子さま[2024/5/2] 4月から日本赤十字社に勤務している愛子さまにとっては社会人になって初めてのご静養です。".

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[Prisma]

On May 21st, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako visited Kudan Kindergarten in Chiyoda, Tokyo to mark Children's Day (May 5). They interacted with the children and watched craft activities between kindergarten and 5th grade students from the attached elementary school.

Photos: AP Images, Mainichi, FNN, Asahi

宮内庁/ Imperial Household Agency on Instagram: "令和6年5月21日（火）、天皇皇后両陛下は、こどもの日にちなみ、千代田区立九段幼稚園をご訪問になり、幼稚園児（5歳児）と同じ敷地内にある九段小学校5年生の交流の様子をご覧になりました。"

28K likes, 0 comments - kunaicho_jp on May 21, 2024: "令和6年5月21日（火）、天皇皇后両陛下は、こどもの日にちなみ、千代田区立九段幼稚園をご訪問にな�...".

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[Prisma]

On May 25th, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako began a 2-day visit to Okayama Prefecture for the 74th National Tree Planting Festival.

• arrived after 11am
• briefing from governor
• visit Okayama Technical High School where 3rd year civil engineering students explained their activities in the local community, such as investigating road deterioration and purifying water.
• watch Okayama City Junior Orchestra practice for the next day's opening ceremony
• meet winners of the festival’s poster contest at hotel
• meet people who made outstanding contributions to greenery in 2023 at convention center

Photos: Mainichi, Asahi, Nikkansports, FNN, AP Images

After 7:30pm, Emperor Naruhito privately visited his 93-year-old aunt Atsuko Ikeda (former princess Yori) at her home within Ikeda Zoo. He stayed for about 30 minutes according to NTV.

Photo: TBS

宮内庁/ Imperial Household Agency on Instagram: "【地域連携活動（課題解決型学習）ご聴取（令和6年5月25日（土））】 天皇皇后両陛下は、第74回全国植樹祭にご臨場等のため、岡山県をご訪問になりました。"

33K likes, 0 comments - kunaicho_jp on May 25, 2024: "【地域連携活動（課題解決型学習）ご聴取（令和6年5月25日（土））】 天皇皇后両陛下は、第74回全国�...".

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宮内庁/ Imperial Household Agency on Instagram: "【国土緑化運動・育樹運動ポスター原画コンクール等入賞作品ご覧及び令和5年度緑化功労者等とのご懇談（令和6年5月25日（土））】 天皇皇后両陛下は、第74回全国植樹祭にご臨場等のため、岡山県をご訪問になりました。"

55K likes, 0 comments - kunaicho_jp on May 25, 2024: "【国土緑化運動・育樹運動ポスター原画コンクール等入賞作品ご覧及び令和5年度緑化功労者等とのご�...".

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On May 26th, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako attended the 74th National Tree Planting Festival ceremony in Okayama City. They planted six seedlings and sowed four types of seeds.

In the afternoon, they visited Mabi Fureai Park in Mabi district in Kurashiki City. Heavy rains in July 2018 caused 95 disaster related deaths in Okayama Prefecture with 74 in Mabi. The park, a symbol of reconstruction, is built on the site where the Oda river broke its banks. Mayor Kaori Ito gave an explanation of the damage and recovery progress. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako bowed towards the areas that suffered the most damage and met victims.

Photos: Asahi, FNN, FNN2, AP Images, AP Images2, Getty Images, Getty Images2

宮内庁/ Imperial Household Agency on Instagram: "【第74回全国植樹祭式典ご臨席及び平成30年7月豪雨災害復興状況等ご聴取（令和6年5月26日（日））】 天皇皇后両陛下は、第74回全国植樹祭にご臨場等のため、岡山県をご訪問になりました。"

23K likes, 0 comments - kunaicho_jp on May 26, 2024: "【第74回全国植樹祭式典ご臨席及び平成30年7月豪雨災害復興状況等ご聴取（令和6年5月26日（日））】 �...".

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Japan's Emperor and Empress visit rain-damaged community in Okayama Prefecture | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako have visited a community in western Japan that was devastated by heavy rain six years ago.

[....]

Kurashiki Mayor Ito Kaori explained that most of the residents returned after riverbanks were fortified and houses were rebuilt on elevated ground.

The Emperor and Empress bowed deeply toward the residential area where reconstruction is underway.

They talked with three residents who experienced the disaster.

Takatsuki Motofumi said he told the couple that a local festival has been revived to the joy of the entire community. He said the Empress told him, "That's truly wonderful."

Japan's Imperial Couple Visit Disaster-Hit Area in Okayama | Nippon.com

[....] The Emperor and the Empress also met with people affected by the disaster, including Motofumi Takatsuki, 76, who helped revive a local festival, and local junior high school students.

The visit to Mabi by the Imperial couple marked their first trip to areas in western Japan hit hard by torrential rains in July 2018. In Okayama, 95 people were killed in the disaster, including 74 in Mabi.

Earlier on Sunday, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako took part in a national tree planting festival in the city of Okayama. The Emperor said in a speech that it is an important mission for people to pass on forests to future generations in a healthy manner.

 

[iceflower]

Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and Princess Aiko attended a concert in Tokyo today, May 29:


** Pic ** gettyimages gallery **

 

[Prisma]

The Emperor's family attended "Viola Space 2024" concert at Kioi Hall in Chiyoda, Tokyo.

The concert included violist Nobuko Imai and violinist Kei Saotome, a classmate of Princess Aiko from Gakushuin elementary school. Emperor Naruhito attends the Viola Space concert almost every year, whereas this is Empress Masako 2nd time since 1998 and Princess Aiko's first time.

More photos/info: FNN, Asahi, NTV, Jiji

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On June 1st, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako privately attended the 150th anniversary ceremony of the Kasumi Kaikan (association of the former kazoku high nobility). They arrived at the venue Tokyo Kaikan around 10:30am before the 11am ceremony and left in the early afternoon. This is Empress Masako's first visit to Kasumi Kaikan.

The Kasumi Kaikan is a social group for former aristocrats, mainly heads of families, that was established on June 1, 1874 as the Kazoku Kaikan, and was renamed when the aristocracy was abolished after the war. Members of the Imperial Family are honorary members. The association also supports Imperial court events such as Utakai Hajime (Imperial New Year's Poetry Reading).

Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko and Akishino couple attended the 140th anniversary ceremony. More recently, the Emeritus and Akishino couples with Princess Kako attended a meeting with Shimazu family at Kasumi Kaikan in April.

Arrival photos: FNN, TBS

 

[Somebody]

How lovely that Aiko attended the concert of a former classmate!

 

[Prisma]

Ahead of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako's wedding anniversary on June 9th, the Imperial Household Agency released private photos of the family's retreat at the Imperial Stock Farm from May. The 21 photos include photos taken by Emperor Naruhito.

The family harvested bamboo, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, etc. Princess Aiko was reunited with the cow "Rainbow," she named last year. Photos show the family biking and spending time with horses and lambs.

Photos: FNN, Asahi, NHK, NTV, Nikkansports

Another 7 photos were released of the family's cats Mii and Seven, including Princess Aiko feeding stray cats when she was a 3rd grade student (May 2010). Empress Masako brought some of these photos to show a guest at the spring garden party.

Photo: Mainichi

Photos of Japanese Emperor Naruhito's Family Released | Nippon.com

[...] The family stayed at the Imperial farm on May 2-7, during the country's Golden Week holiday period.

Meanwhile, some of the seven photos of cats show "Mii" and "Seven," both living with the Emperor's family. In other photos, taken in May 2010, are cats being fed by Princess Aiko, then a third grader at Gakushuin Primary School in Tokyo, after they were rescued by the princess around the family's then residence in Tokyo's Minato Ward.

According to an aide, the family rescued a mother cat and four kittens near the residence. The mother cat, named "Ningen," or Human, died in May 2016. One of the kittens, given the name Mii, and Seven, adopted from a shelter, are now living with the Emperor's family at the Imperial Palace in Chiyoda Ward of the Japanese capital.

Pictures of the imperial family’s beloved cats released to news media | The Asahi Shimbun

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On June 7th, Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and Princess Aiko attended the Vienna Boys Choir performance at Tokyo Opera City in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

Photos: FNN, AP Images, Asahi

 

[Prisma]

On June 10th, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako attended the 80th Japan Art Academy Awards ceremony at the Japan Art Academy in Ueno Park, Taito, Tokyo. They met winners and learned about their works afterward.

Photos: Asahi, FNN, AP Images

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