Emperor Akihito & Empress Michiko Current Events Part 2: September 2006- January 2013


If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
Status
Not open for further replies.
_______________


Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited an area which was devastated by the March 11
earthquake and tsunami in Soma, Fukushima prefecture, about 50 km from the crippled
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, May 11, 2011.



** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** Pic 4 ** daylife gallery **
 
I know that this is a very superficial remark, but I love the Empress's outfit here. :flowers: It's rare to see her in trousers.

Good for them to make this visit, especially so close to the radiation area. It must be draining on these elderly people to see so much destruction.:ermm:


_______________
Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited an area which was devastated by the March 11
earthquake and tsunami in Soma, Fukushima prefecture, about 50 km from the crippled
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, May 11, 2011.



** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** Pic 4 ** daylife gallery **
 
Address by His Majesty the Emperor on May 18th, 2011

Address by His Majesty the Emperor at the audience of the junior high school principals attending the General Assembly of the All Japan Junior High School Principals' Association (May 18, 2011)

It gives me great pleasure to meet all of you, the representatives of those attending the General Assembly of the All Japan Junior High School Principals' Association held in Tokyo.
As this meeting was held not long after the Great East Japan Earthquake, I am certain various aspects of the recent disaster were discussed. My heart goes out to the principals, teachers and pupils of the junior high schools in the afflicted regions who must all be facing such hardships. It is my fervent hope that everyone will help each other to overcome the challenges of these difficult times. I sincerely hope that what happened in this disaster will continue to be told in every educational institution, not only in the afflicted regions but in other areas as well, and that schools will provide a thorough education on natural disaster safety as Japan must always be prepared to face future natural disasters.
In the hope that you will continue to carry on the work for the education of children, who are the pillars of the future, so that they will grow soundly both in mind and body, as well as for the sound management of your respective schools, I would like to wish you good health and all the best.
 
Thanks for the update!:flowers::flowers:
It is great that Their Imperial Majesties visited the area affected by devastation and radiation. This engagement reassures people that the Imperial family stays in touch with the post-earthquake situation.
On a different note, I can not help noting that Empress Michiko has got an amazing skin and glowing complexion.
 
Last edited:
Extreme nationalism may emerge from the rubble of the quake | The Japan Times Online
The current disaster has made people much more aware of the emperor's existence.
The disasters in the past, World War II prominent among them, have inspired similarly consoling imperial poems. True, says Fujiwara: "Whenever Japan is at a low ebb, His Imperial Majesty is sure to make his presence felt."
"When the political process is paralyzed," says Sakurai, "as it was at the end of World War II and as it is now, the Imperial Palace, its existence preserved not by power but by moral authority and popular respect, fills the vacuum and deigns to rule. In all the world," she adds, "only Japan, I think, has this national trait."
 
Thanks for the article!
Japan has earned all the praises because of the way it has been dealing with the post-earthquake situation. The Japanese Imperial family was an anchor during the times of ordeal.
 
Last edited:
HM the Emperor Akihito planted rice at the rice paddies inside Imperial Place on 24th May, 2011.
The Showa Emperor started to promote rice cultivation and the ceremony has been done every year since then.
The rice grown by emperor will be used for Shintoism regiligious ceremonies held in fall.
**Pic** - credits Kyodo

TIM the Emperor Akihito and the Empress Michiko visited the facility of supporting child-raising in Tokyo on 25th May, 2011.
**Pic** - credits Kyodo
 
Thanks for the update!:flowers::flowers:
It is great that Their Imperial Majesties visited the area affected by devastation and radiation. This engagement reassures people that the Imperial family stays in touch with the post-earthquake situation.
On a different note, I can not help noting that Empress Michiko has got an amazing skin and glowing complexion.

It's wonderful what the Emperor and his Empress are doing for their people.
(Especially when he has been unwell recently and has an excuse if he didn't wish to make such an effort! And his wife is right there supporting him.)

I don't understand why she is so often compared with CP Masako.
I know she once had a nervous breakdown, but that was many years ago. She has had no problems since; or, has she?
I have not heard of anything.
 
The loss of voice was the first and last indication of stress then Crown Princess Michiko had. She addressed her issues in a private manner. Any comparisons between Her Imperial Majesty and Crown Princess Masako are bound to be flawed due to largely different circumstances.
 
Last edited:
After 7 weeks of visiting the people in devastated area

After 7 weeks of visiting the people in devastated area and other engagements finally Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko are taking their quiet time with Prince and Princess Akishino and their son together at Hayama now.

I know how much they have been working by looking at the news. Wish they have a good rest and fun visit from their grand-son. Akishino family is staying just over night and Emperor and Empress are staying until 7th.

»þ»ö¥É¥Ã¥È¥³¥à¡§Î¾ÊŲ¼¡¢ÍÕ»³¤ÇÀÅÍÜ¡á¿ÀÆàÀî
 
TIM the Emperor Akihito and the Empress Michiko met the horse which is going to be sent as 'Sacred Horse' to Ise Jingu Grand Shrine on June 3rd, 2011.
Ise Jingu has 4 Sacred Horses and Imperial Family sends a horse from Imperial Palace whenever a Sacred Horse dies.
**Pic** - credits Kyodo

Later on the same day the Imperial couple attended the charity concert supporting the recovery from Great East Japan Earthquake held at Suntory Hall.
**Pic** - credits Kyodo
 
TIM the Emperor Akihito and the Empress Michiko have spent few days June 4-7, 2011, at Hayama Imperial Villa.
They were accompanied by TIH the Prince Akishino, the Princess Kiko and the Prince Hisahito.
During the stay, the Imperial couple visited Kanagawa Prefectural Fisheries Technology Center on 6th June.
**Pic** - credits Kyodo
 
HM the Emperor Akihito met Mr. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe Eyadema, President of Republic of Togo on June 9th, 2011.
It is the first time for HIM Emperor Akihito to meet with head of a state after Great East Japan Earthquake occured on March 11th, 2011.
They met at Imperial Residence instead of Imperial Palace to save the electricity.

**Pic** - credits Kyodo
 
HM the Emperor Akihito granted an audience to the President of Indonesia at the Imperial Palace on June 17th, 2011.
HM the Empress Michiko was also present.

**Pic** - AP via daylife
 
__________________


Former Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu received the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia
Flowers from Emperor Akihito (pic 1) and Former Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong received
the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (pic 2) at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on June 24, 2011.


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 **
 
:previous:
One more picture from the ceremony. HM looks very regal.

**Pic**
 
HM the Emperor Akihito attended the Imperial confirmation ceremony for new state minister for the recovery from Great East Japan Earthquake on July 5th, 2011.
The ceremony is usually held at Imperial Palace, but it was held at Imperial Residence to save the electricity for the first time.

**Pic** - Kyodo
 
Thanks for updates and photos!
It is always a pleasure to see Emperor Akihito participating in official ceremonies.
 
On July 13th, 2011, HM the Emperor Akihito watched the movie 'One Postcard' created by Mr. Kaneto Shindo who is 99 years old and is the oldest firm director in Japan.
Earlier this day TM the Emperor and the Empress met Mr. Shindo.
HM the Empress was not able to watch the movie due to acute pain on her neck and shoulders.

**Pic 1** **Pic 2** - credits Kyodo
 
Japanese Emperor Akihito (L) and Empress Michiko (2nd L) look on during the Japan Sports 100th anniversary commemorative celebration ceremony in Tokyo on July 16, 2011. Tokyo formally announced its bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics, aiming to boost Japan's recovery from the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) president Tsunekazu Takeda said that his executive committee approved Tokyo's second straight bid for a Summer Games at a special meeting earlier in the day.

**Pic 1** **Pic 2** **Pic 3** **Pic 4** **Pic 5** - Kyodo/AP
 
HM the Emperor Akihito was present at Ambassadors' Credentials Ceremony of Republic of Korea and Monaco on July 25th, 2011.
To save the electricity, Credentials Ceremony was held at Imperial Residence for the first time instead of the Imperial Palace.

**Pic** - Kyodo
 
TM the Emperor Akihito and the Empress Michiko arrived at Imperial Farm in Tochigi Prefecture on July 26th, 2011.
They are going to stay there to rest until July 29th. They are also planning to meet refugees affected by Great East Japan Earthquake.
The Imperial couple was welcomed by staff of Imperial Farm and the governor of Tochigi prefecture.

**Pic 1** **Pic 2** **Pic 3** - Kyodo
 
Imperial couple's summer vacations at Nasu

TM the Emperor and the Empress had their summer vacations at Nasu Imperial Villa July 26-29, 2011.

**Pic 1** **Pic 2** **Pic 3** **Pic 4**

The Imperial couple has visited Nasu Heisei Forest Park on July 27th.
The park is originally the northern part of Nasu Imperial Villa. On the Emperor's wish the 560ha forest (the half size of Nasu Imperial Villa) was transfered from IHA to Ministry of Environment in 2008 and opened as the national park in May 2011.

On the same day TM have visited the hotel near Nasu Imperial Villa to meet the refugees from Fukushima prefecture.

**Pic 1**
 
TM visiting the farm specializing on planting fragrant herbs near Nasu Imperial Villa on July 29th, 2011.

**Pic** - credits Asahi
 
Last edited:
___________________

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko attended a memorial service for the World
War II war dead at Budokan (Martial Arts Hall), in Tokyo, August 15, 2011.

Japan marked the 66th anniversary of its surrender in World War II with somber
remembrances across the country and the memorial in Tokyo led by the Emperor.


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** daylife gallery **
 
TIM the Emperor Akihito and the Empress Michiko visited Karuizawa Town of Nagano Prefecture on August 23rd, 2011.
Karuizawa Town is famous as a summer heat retreat in Japan.
The Imperial couple is going to stay there until August 29th.
TIM have also visited old silk mill in Tomioka City of Gunma Prefecture before arriving to Karuizawa.
Tomioka Silk Mill was established by Japanese Government in 1872 and closed in 1987. Silk industry was one of the biggest industries of Japan in old days.

**Pic 1** **Pic 2** - credits Mainichi
 
HM the Emperor Akihito has appointed new cabinet ministers during the imperial investiture ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo September 2, 2011.

**Pic 1** **Pic 2** - Imperial Household Agency of Japan
 
TM the Emperor and the Empress visited Nakayashiki grape vineyard cluster in Nagano prefecture on August 24th, 2011.
HM the Emperor Akihito had visited this vineyard in 1963 already.

**Pic 1** **Pic 2**

The Imperial couple attended the concert of 32nd Kusatsu International Summer Music Academy & Festival in Gunma prefecture on August 27th, 2011.
The Empress Michiko participated in piano masterclass before the concert.

**Pic 1** **Pic 2** **Pic 3**

HM the Empress Michiko attended charity concert for childhood cancer patients and their parents on September 2nd, 2011.

**Pic** - credits Kyodo
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom