Emperor Akihito And Empress Michiko

[jun5]

In Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima in 1995

Ruins are the buildings which remained miraculously, after an atomic bomb is dropped in Hiroshima. It is called "A-bomb memorial dome." Now, it is specified to be world heritage.

In Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima in 1995

In Hiroshima, 1995

In Peace Memorial Park, Nagasaki in 1995

The Emperor and The Empress who presents flowers to an atomic bomb deceased cenotaph.

In Iwo-jima, Okinawa in 1994

In the hill of repose of souls

In Itoman, Okinawa in 1995

In The Himeyuri Monument, Okinawa in 1993

They were thrown the hand grenade by the male of the anti-Imperial system in the 1970s, when they present flowers to Himeyuri Monument.

In The Imperial Palace with the former Kim Dae-jung South Korean country President

with the South Korean country President in 2003

In Nagano Winter Olympic Games opening ceremony. The Emperor who declares session as the creditable President in 1998.

[jun5]

In The Nagano Paralympics, 1998

In Chichi-jima of Ogawawara Islands, 1994

In the nursery, Tokyo in 1998

The Emperor and The Empress who enjoys a game with children in Shiga, Japan in 1994

The Emperor and The Empress who walks to The Imperial Palace and goes to official duty in 1994.

At the reception which celebrates the sixtieth birthday of His Majesty the Emperor in 1994

In the special concert of the court music of Japan which commemorates the 10th anniversary of accession to the throne with The Crown Princes in 1999.

in 2003

In Spain, 1994

In USA, 1994

[jun5]

In The Hayama Imperial Villa, 1995

in Tokyo, 1995

The Empress who visits the victims of the Great Hanshin Earthquake in
Kobe, 1995

The Emperor who talks for a disaster victim in Kobe, 1995

The Empress who offers flowers in the bouquet of the narcissus which was in bloom in the garden of the Imperial Palace. This place is named "The street of the narcissus" now. The bouquet was sculptured in the plate and it is decorating at this passage.

The Empress who gives a tight hug and encourages disaster victims' woman.

The Empress who encourages disaster victims by sign language out of a bus in Kobe, 1995.

The Emperor and The Empress who visits the stricken area of the eruption of Unzen Mt. Fugen in 1991.

The Emperor and The Empress who visits the stricken area of the eruption of Unzen Mt. Fugen in 1991.

The Emperor and The Empress who talks for disaster victims in a shelter in 1991.

[jun5]

The Emperor and the Empress who visit the stricken area of the offing earthquake of the Hokkaido southwest in 1993.

Emperor and Empress

Emperor and Empress inn the tennis court in Karuizawa, 1990

Emperor and Empress

Emperor and Empress in The Imperial Palace

Emperor and Empress

In Shimane, Japan on October 3, 2003

The Emperor and Empress who go in Izumo Shrine to worship

In Shimane, Japan on October 3, 2003

In Shimane, Japan on October 4, 2003

In Shimane, Japan on October 5, 2003

In Shimane, Japan on October 6, 2003

In Shimane, Japan on October 7, 2003

[Alexandria]

From the Glittering Royals Message Board: Mexican President Vincente Fox (L) is escorted by Emperor Akihito of Japan at a welcoming ceremony, at Akasaka state guesthouse in Tokyo, October 15, 2003. Fox flew to Tokyo Wednesday morning for a four-day visit before continuing on to Thailand for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings.

Glittering Royals Message Board: Mexican President Vicente Fox (2nd L), speaks with Japan's Emperor Akihito (L), while first lady Martha Sahagun de Fox (2nd R) talks with Empress Michiko during their audience at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo October 15, 2003.

Glittering Royals Message Board: Mexican President Vicente Fox (L) and first lady Martha Sahagun de Fox (3rd L) are escorted by Japan's Emperor Akihito (2nd L) and Empress Michiko at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo October 15, 2003.

Glittering Royals Message Board: Mexican President Vicente Fox (2nd-L) first lady Marta Sahagun (2ndL) are greeted by Japanese Emperor Akihito (2ndR) and Empress Michiko at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo for a state dinner October 15, 2003.

Glittering Royals Message Board: Mexican President Vicente Fox (2nd-L) first lady Marta Sahagun (2ndL) are greeted by Japanese Emperor Akihito (2ndR) and Empress Michiko at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo for a state dinner October 15, 2003.

Glittering Royals Message Board: Mexican President Vicente Fox (L) and Japan's Emperor Akihito toast during a state banquet held at the Imperial Palace.

Glittering Royals Message Board: Mexican President Vicente Fox (L) listens to Japan's Emperor Akihito during a state banquet.

Glittering Royals Message Board: Mexican President Vicente Fox, left, greets Empress Michiko, right, as first lady Marta Sahagun, 2nd from left, shakes hands with Emperor Akihito prior to a welcoming ceremony at the Akasaka Palace state guest house in Tokyo Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2003. Fox is on a four-day state visit during which he is expected to have free-trade talks with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

Glittering Royals Message Board: Mexican President Vicente Fox (2nd, L) stands at attention with Emperor Akihito (2nd, R) of Japan as they are flanked by their wives, Martha Sahagun de Fox (L) and Empress Michiko during the playing of their national anthems during a welcoming ceremony at Akasaka State Guesthouse in Tokyo October 15, 2003. Fox flew in to Tokyo this morning for a four-day visit before continuing on to Thailand for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings.

Glittering Royals Message Board: Mexican President Vicente Fox (L) is escorted by Emperor Akihito of Japan at a welcoming ceremony at Akasaka state guesthouse in Tokyo October 15, 2003.

Glittering Royals Message Board: Mexican President Vicente Fox (L) is escorted by Emperor Akihito of Japan at a welcoming ceremony at Akasaka state guesthouse in Tokyo October 15, 2003.

[jun5]

Thank you for posting these pictures, Alexandria !　 :flower:

These are not carried by the net in Japan. And these photographs are big. It is very small when carrying the Imperial Family's photograph in a net in Japan. I am glad to see their latest appearance with a big photograph.

thanks!

jun5

[jun5]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY THE EMPRESS MICHIKO

Today is the Empress's birthday. She became 69 years old.

[jun5]

Emperor and Empress and their daughter Princess Nori with Princess Basma of Jordan in The Imperial Palace.


Picture Link: http://www.petra.gov.jo/photos/2003/296/a09.jpg

[jun5]

www.kunaicho.go.jp

Year-end Presentation of Five Waka Poems by His Majesty the Emperor 2002, Fourteenth year of Heisei


"At the Imperial Villa in Hayama　
　My two older
　Granddaughters stay very close
　To the little one,
　Having eyes for her alone:
　Their ways are so endearing. "


In Praha
　
" Seeing the full flow
　Of Vltava's rich waters
　And that very night
　Hearing in Praha Castle
　Smetana's music for it! "

(Note):
　While on a visit to the Czech Republic, at the Cultural Evening sponsored by the President, "The Moldau", famous piece of music composed by Smetana, a native of that country, was played. Moldau is the German name for the Vltava river that flows through the center of Praha and that His Majesty viewed from the Karel Bridge and from the official guesthouse where He stayed.



Year-end Presentation of Three Waka Poems by Her Majesty the Empress 2002, Fourteenth Year of Heisei


In Early Summer

"Sweet the memory
　Of that town where I would go
　To seek moor-lilies
　And saw them flower in the fields
　Colored a pale moon yellow. "

(Note):
　'That town' refers to Karuizawa where, in former days, Her Majesty often spent the Summer. Every year when the Summer is near, Her Majesty remembers vividly that in the fields where She would go in the evening to see the one-day-blooming lilies, hemerocallis (nocturnal),　they were in flower, colored like the pale yellow moon.

[jun5]

www.kunaicho.go.jp

Year-end Presentation of Five Waka Poems by His Majesty the Emperor 2001, Thirteenth year of Heisei


　Accompanying the King and Queen of Norway　
　
As a welcome for
　The noble King of Norway
　At Enoshima,
　The trainee children gathered,
　Maneuvering the yachtsails.

(Note):
　His Majesty the King of Norway, in 1964 when he was still Crown Prince, participated in the yachting competition held at Enoshima, as a member of the Norwegian team to the Tokyo Olympic Games.



Year-end Presentation of Three Waka Poems by Her Majesty the Empress 2001, Thirteenth Year of Heisei

　Poem 1

　All unconsciously
　Have I too not fired a shot? -
　With Spring well along
　On the plains of Bamian
　The stone Buddhas are no more.
　　　　　　　　　　　(March 2001)

Background:
　With Spring well advanced on the plains of Bamian, the great stone statues are now seen no more. "If I take it that the destruction of the Buddha statues is a manifestation of the hatreds and intolerance lurking in the human heart, must it not be said that I too, all unaware, could have fired a shot?" Struck by such thoughts of awe and sorrow, Her Majesty composed this poem.

Reference:
　In 1971 Her Majesty composed the following poem after going to Bamian in the company of His Majesty the Emperor during Their official visit to Afganistan. At that time, already the faces of the stone statues had been split off, but this time, the statues have been shot to pieces by the Taliban and utterly destroyed.

　　　There at Bamian
　　　Under a moon faintly red
　　　The great stone Buddhas,
　　　Their sacred faces shattered,
　　　Are still awesomely standing.


Poem 2

　My loving thoughts go
　To the mother soon-to-be,
　Housebound and waiting,
　On this night when wild winds blow
　The first cold blasts of Winter.
　　　　　　　　　　　(November 2001)　

Background:
　In November this year, on a night when the first Winter stormwinds were blowing fiercely. Her Majesty's thoughts went out to the Crown Princess waiting for the day of giving birth.

Reference:
　The Imperial baby arrived on the First of December.

[jun5]

www.kunaicho.go.jp

Year-end Presentation of Five Waka Poems by His Majesty the Emperor 2000, Twelfth year of Heisei


　On the Visit to Holland　

　"Having since our youth
　Enjoyed united friendship,
　Now with good memories
　I come today to visit
　The Queen of the Netherlands. "

　Visiting Sweden

　"When I visited
　A home for the elderly,
　There was among them
　One who said in Japanese
　“I once lived in your country” "

　A mourning Visit to my mother

　"The path that I have
　Come and gone so many times,
　I go now once more
　In this late evening to see
　My dear departed mother."

At Nasu

　"I have come to look at
　Asama-Fuuro* of
　Kofukabori
　Here where I know my father
　Used to love to see them."

　*Asama-Fuuro : Geranium soboliferum


Year-end Presentation of Three Waka Poems by Her Majesty the Empress 2000, Twelfth Year of Heisei

　By the coffin of Empress Kojun (Empress Nagako)
　
"This is the last time
　In this living world of ours
　That I can see Her;
　How lovely is Her countenance
　In the barque to eternity"

　A trail in the Grasses
　
"The little ones there
　Thrusting through the long grasses
　Leave a trail behind
　Like the track wild creatures make―
　So dear are they, so tender."

Note:
　Her Majesty composed this poem after watching the little Princesses Mako and Kako at play in the garden of the Palace Residence. The trail they left behind as they romped through the tall grasses, reminded her of the track left by the wild creatures, and she was filled with loving tenderness for them, so small and vulnerable.



　

[jun5]

Year-end Presentation of Five Waka Poems by His Majesty the Emperor 1999,Eleventh year of Heisei

On our Fortieth Wedding Anniversary

"While along with her
Who has shared these forty years,
My well loved Lady,
I go for a morning walk,
The little grebe is calling."


Year-end Presentation of Three Waka Poems by Her Majesty the Empress 1999,Eleventh year of Heisei

The Tenth Anniversary Memorial Ceremony for Emperor Showa

"Since that day of grief
Full ten years already gone;
By the August Tomb
The growing trees are thriving;
Their sight moves me to sorrow. "


Greeting our Fortieth Wedding Anniversary

"It was like being
Back at the dim dawn of time
In the Age of Gods －
That day when I Went with You,
Along Ise's Sacred Path. "

[jun5]

www.kunaicho.go.jp

Year-end Presentation of Five Waka Poems by His Majesty the Emperor 1998,Tenth Year of Heisei


Visiting the Kingdom of Denmark

While on board a boat
Along with the members of
Denmark's Royal House,
From the Kronborg-Slot castle
A roar of guns resounding.

[jun5]

www.kunaicho.go.jp

Year-end Presentation of Five Waka Poems by His Majesty the Emperor 1996,Eight Year of Heisei


Visiting the Town of Ashikaga with the King of Belgium

Looking from the train
I am riding along with
The king of Belgium,
Ripened in rich abundance
I see the autumn rice-fields.

[jun5]

www.kunaicho.go.jp

Year-end Presentation of Five Waka Poems by His Majesty the Emperor 1994,Six Year of Heisei

At Majorca Island

As we were riding
With the King and Queen of Spain
In a horse-carriage,
People waved their hands to us,
Leaning from upper windows.

[jun5]

www.kunaicho.go.jp

Year-end Presentation of Five Waka Poems by His Majesty the Emperor 1993,Five Year of Heisei

Atending the funeral of King Baudouin

I visited the
Chateau of the Belgian King
Where he lives no more-
He who was my bosom friend
Down the last forty long years.


Year-end Presentation of Three Waka Poems by Her Majesty the Empress 1993,Five Year of Heisei

Celebrating the Wedding of the Crown Prince
(on the given theme:"the verdant mountain")

Hand in hand
May you climb together
The mountain, which,
Now green with foliage,
Must be garmented in serene beauty.

[jun5]

www.kunaicho.go.jp

Year-end Presentation of Three Waka Poems by Her Majesty the Empress 1992,Four Year of Heisei

Our First Granddaughter (Princess Mako)

On tender leaves of grass
In the sunlit field of spring,
Carefully,
I placed
The babe.

[jun5]

www.kunaicho.go.jp


Year-end Presentation of Waka Poems by His Majesty the Emperor 1991,Three Year of Heisei

WELCOMING AS STATE GUEST THE QUEEN OF THE NETHERLANDS

With fond memories
I now hail and talk
To the Queen of the Netherlands
With whom I met when young
And have ever been on close terms.


Year-end Presentation of Waka Poems by Her Majesty the Empress 1991,Three Year of Heisei

ON THE INVESTITURE OF THE CROWN PRINCE

These words celebrate the spring
When you, young Prince,
Became heir to the imperial throne,
Radiant, from within,
Like a crimson gem

[jun5]

Year-end Presentation of Waka Poems by His Majesty the Emperor 1990,Two Year of Heisei

The Banquet after the Enthronement

I have spent
The evening hours at the banquet
Conversing with quests
Gathered here
From so many different lands.


The Daijosai

I call to mind
The memory of my father
Engaged in the rites of the Niinamesai(*1)
As I perform the ritual
Of the Daijosai.(*2)

(*1)
The Niinamesai is an annual rite, performed on 23rd November, in which The Emperor makes an offering of the newly harvested rice to the deities, expresses his gratitude to them for having protected the crops, and then partakes of the rice offering in communion with the deities.

(*2)
The first Niinamaesai performed by the newly enthroned emperor is called the Daijosai


Year-end Presentation of Waka Poems by Her Majesty the Empress 1990,Two Year of Heisei

In Memory of His Late Majesty Emperor Showa

I think of telling His Majesty
How the wagtails are playing
In the winter garden,
Then suddenly
Come to myself and grieve.


In Celebration of the Enthronement

The sky at the dawn
Of the era of His Majesty
Is tinged reddish-yellow(*4)
The colour of his princely robe
Familiar to me over long years.

(*4)
Reddish-yellow is the colour used exclusively for the robe of the Crown Prince. The Empress refers to this colour because it was familiar to Her Majesty for three decades while Her husband, The Emperor, was the Crown Prince.

[jun5]

Emperor and Empress with King Harald And Queen Sonja in Japan

http://www.jamstec.go.jp/pdf/blue_pdf/be53pdf/12-15.pdf