Emperor Akihito & Empress Michiko Current Events Part 3: February 2013 - April 2017


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More visitors for Emperor Akihito in October:
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, Jordan’s King Abdullah and Brazilian President Michel Temer will all visit Japan later this month for talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

Duterte will make a three-day visit from Oct 25, his first since taking office in June, while King Abdullah will make a three-day visit to Japan from Oct 26 and Temer will visit Japan for three days from Oct 18, making the first trip to Japan by a Brazilian leader in eight years.

The three leaders will meet Emperor Akihito during their visits, according to the ministry.
Click to expand...

Philippine president, Jordan king, Brazil president to visit Japan ‹ Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion
 
On October 12th, Empress Michiko attended the "Orfeo Japan" opera in Toshima, Tokyo as part of the 150th anniversary of Japan-Italy diplomatic relations.

Photos: Sankei 1, 2

ETA: On October 18th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko attended a charity dinner for the 30th anniversary of "Save the Children Japan" at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Minato-ku, Tokyo. The evening also included a panel exhibition of the organization's activities and a cello concert.

Founded in 1919, the Save the Children organization is headquartered in the UK and Empress Michiko was instrumental in establishing the Japanese chapter in 1986.

Photo: JP Reuters

ETA2: On October 17th, Empress Michiko attended the 10th anniversary of Tokyo special performance of "Le Pont International Music Festival Ako Himeji 2016" at Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Minato-ku.

Source: news24.jp video and Nikkei
 
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Empress Michiko's 82nd birthday photos, videos, and interview:

Sankei (full Japanese text and photo set)
Asahi (video is accessible but rest of article requires subscription/membership)

ETA: Press Conference on the occasion of Her Majesty's Birthday (Written Answers) (2016) - The Imperial Household Agency (English translation and birthday schedule)

In written statement to mark 82nd birthday, Empress Michiko reveals 'pain' of seeing abdication headlines | The Japan Times

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59x-mU38bFQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi3YtcuCuXg
 
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On October 19th, Emperor Ahikito met with Brazilian President Michel Temer. [Sankei photo]

October 21st: Imperial couple meets IOC head - The Japan News
IOC President meets Japanese Emperor - Olympic News


ETA: The Imperial couple also met with Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), and his wife.
Photos at Sankei Imperial Weekly #457


IHA announced the Imperial couple will travel privately to Aichi and Nagano Prefectures November 16-18th. They will tour Lake Iruka in Aichi, and visit Manchuria pioneer Peace Memorial Museum and Tenryu Gorge in Nagano.
Source: Yomiuri

ETA2: The Imperial couple also met with laureates of the Public Health Award on October 21st, see Getty Images
 
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On October 23rd, the Imperial couple departed for a 4 day, 3 night visit to Kyoto to attend the "40th International College of Surgeons World General Assembly". Their first day includes a tea party celebrating Their Majesties hosted by the IHA of the Kansai region at the Kyoto Imperial Palace. Emperor Akihito thanked them for serving the Imperial family.

Photos: Sankei, Jiji (IHA tea party)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DBMdTqUtXA
 
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The Imperial couple visited the special exhibition on Sakamoto Ryōma at Kyoto National Museum before the opening of the 40th World Congress of the International College of Surgeons on October 24th. There was also a reception afterward.

Sakamoto Ryōma (1836–1867) was essential in bringing down the shogunate and paving the way for the Meiji restoration.
Special Exhibitions | Sakamoto Ryōma: Japan's Favorite Hero | Kyoto National Museum
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaaLg5tPVwo

ETA: On October 25th, the Imperial couple worshipped at Shimogamo Shrine in the morning and Kamigamo Shrine in the afternoon.

Photos: Asahi 1, Asahi 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKe3HFr5HF4
 
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On October 26th, the Imperial couple visited Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine for its research in vision regeneration before returning to Tokyo.

Photos: Asahi 1, Asahi 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMuzFaKQOdY
The Emperor's conference with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on October 27th was cancelled following Prince Mikasa's death.
Source: Jiji
 
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On October 28th, the Imperial couple had lunch with King Abdullah II of Jordan.

IHA revealed Empress Michiko's back pain increased from the evening of the 25th and she was treated by the court physician when the Imperial couple returned to Tokyo from Kyoto. If the pain continues, her public service schedule will be reviewed.

Source: Asahi
 
On November 3rd, Emperor Akihito awarded the Order of Cultural Merit to:
  • Yoshinori Osumi (71), Professor at Tokyo Institute of Technology's Institute of Innovative Research and 2016 Nobel Prize winner in Physiology or Medicine
  • Yayoi Kusama (87), Avant-garde artist
  • Mitsutoshi Nakano (80), Kyushu University Professor Emeritus in the early modern Japanese literature
  • Tomoko Ohta (83), National Institute of Genetics Professor Emeritus of population genetics
  • Yumie Hiraiwa (84), Writer
  • Toru Funamura (84), Composer
Info/photos: Sankei
Emperor bestows Order of Culture awards - News - NHK WORLD - English
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a481TO-ms4
ETA: fixed ANN video link

Later, the Imperial couple visited the "Revisiting Siebold’s Japan Museum" special exhibition at Edo-Tokyo Museum. The exhibition, sponsored by Asahi, commemorates the 150th death anniversary of German physician and naturalist Philipp Franz von Siebold who studied Japanese plants and introduced Western medicine to Japan.

Photo: Asahi
 
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On November 4th, the Imperial couple met with Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's Foreign Minister and State Counsellor.

Photos: Asahi, Sankei
 
On November 8th, Emperor Akihito awarded orders/honors to ten people, including:
  • Satsuma Eda, former House of Councillors President
  • Hidenao Nakagawa, former Chief Cabinet Secretary
  • Nomaguchi Arimoto, Mitsubishi Electric President
Photos: Sankei, Mainichi

What order? Google translated as "Tung large cordon" (?)
 
On November 10th, the Imperial couple attended a piano concert by 80 year old Izumi Tateno in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Izumi Tateno performs with his left hand after a stroke in 2002 paralyzed the right side of his body. According to the IHA, Tateno is friends with the Imperial couple.
Photo: Yomiuri

ETA: Emperor Akihito met with Indian Prime Minister Modi on November 11th.
Photos: Aashi
 
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On November 14th, the Imperial couple attended the performance "Requiem" at the National Noh Theater in Shibuya, Tokyo. Written by former Polish ambassador to Japan, Jadwiga Rodowicz-Czechowska, the performance’s subjects are the Auschwitz concentration camp and the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Photos: Yomiuri, Jiji
 
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Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko received German President Joachim Gauck and his partner Daniela Schadt in Tokyo today, November 15. German President Gauck is on a five-day visit to Japan.



** Pic ** gettyimages **
 
On November 16th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko departed for their private visits to Aichi and Nagano Prefectures. They will visit Lake Iruka in Inuyama, Aichi. Tomorrow, they will visit "Manchuria Pioneer Peace Memorial Museum" and Iida, Nagano.
Photos: Asahi

ETA: Sankei, Mainichi photos of the couple at Lake Iruka

Also, the Imperial couple visited Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery on November 11th.
Getty Images 1 2
 
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On November 17th, the Imperial couple visited Nagano Prefecture where they:
  • visited “Manchuria Pioneer Peace Memorial” in Achi village
  • met with 80-90 year old survivors about their pioneer/war experience in Northeast China. Nagano sent 33,000 people to Manchuria, the largest group from Japan and 15,000 died due to war, hunger, and disease.
  • visited Iida city for its apple trees
  • spoke with junior high school students about the harvest
Photos/info: Asahi, Sankei 1, Sankei 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ebq73R3guk
ETA: Imperial couple meet returnees from Manchuria, discuss hardship : The Asahi Shimbun

Asahi reporter Yasuhiko Shima tweeted about preparations for the Imperial couple's visit to Vietnam. A 5-day, 4-night schedule at the end of February is being considered at the moment. Historic attractions include Hue, the capital of the last dynasty, the Nguyen dynasty.
https://twitter.com/shimaykkkt/status/799430265076469761
 
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On November 21st, the Imperial couple attended the 32nd International Prize for Biology award ceremony and commemoration tea in Ueno, Tokyo. Winners included UCLA Professor Stephen Philip Hubbell.
Photos: Asahi
 
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On November 24th, the Imperial couple invited Princess Chulabhorn Walailak of Thailand to the Imperial Palace for lunch. The princess is the late King Bhumibol’s youngest child and according to the IHA, she is a member of the advisory committee at Tokyo University and currently visiting Japan for a conference.

Photo: Sankei
 
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King Letsie III of Lesotho was received by Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at the Imperial Palace today, November 25.

King Letsie III is making his first visit to Japan to mark the 50th anniversary of Lesotho's independence and the 45th anniversary of bilateral relations between Japan and Lesotho.


** Pic **
 
On December 2nd, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited Singapore President Tan and his wife Mary at the State Guest House in Akasaka Rikyu for the state visit farewell greeting.
Photos: Asahi

On November 8th, Empress Michiko had tea with 4 winners of “Nemunoki Award” (severely disabled children nursing, etc.) at the Imperial Palace.
Photo: Tea (2016 fiscal year "Nemunoki Award" winner (severely disabled children nursing, etc. 4 people)) (Imperial Palace) - Imperial Household Agency
 
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As part of Disability Week (December 3-9), Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko welfare facilities in Tokyo and Katsushika Ward on December 6th. About 50 people with disabilities are employed at the "Katsushika welfare factory in Tokyo", producing business cards, calendars, and emergency food packs. Four years ago, the factory's operations were handed over to a private social welfare corporation.

Photos: Asahi, NHK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_Z9BnQErUY
 
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Empress Michiko has acute bronchitis and a low fever since the evening of the 9th. She’s also been coughing due to asthma since November but the IHA hospital found no abnormality.
Understandably, her appearance at the 44th All Japan Karate Championships on December 11th has been cancelled. Emperor Akihito will attend solo.

Sources: Sankei, Asahi

Wishing the Empress a smooth recovery!
 
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:previous: Emperor Akihito watched men's and women's individual finals at the All Japan Karate Championship. Karate was added to the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. The Emperor's Cup and Empress' Cup were awarded in this tournament.
Photo: Yomiuri

On December 12th, IHA deputy chief Yoshihiko Nishimura reported Empress Michiko's condition has improved and she will attend the scheduled tea ceremony that afternoon. There are no plans to cancel future events.
Source: Sankei
 
The IHA reported Emperor Akihito has a cold and slight fever on the 16th. It is not influenza and his morning meeting with the Kashikodokoro volunteer delegation was cancelled. Empress Michiko attended alone and expressed the Emperor's thanks.

Sources: Asahi, Sankei


ETA: December 17th update
Due to Emperor Akihito's cold, the foreign ambassadors' credentials ceremony scheduled for the 19th has been postponed to the 22nd. The Emperor has no scheduled events over the weekend.
Empress Michiko is recovering although coughing continues and sometimes she has a slight fever.

Source: Mainichi


On December 13th, the Imperial couple received rice from Hironosu-machi, Fukushima prefecture. Rice has been provided annually since 2013, the first harvest after the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident.

Page 2 of Sankei Weekly #465
 
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