Emperor Akihito & Empress Michiko Current Events Part 4: May 2017 - April 2019


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Here are some additional gettyimages photos of the couple's walk.


Today, April 8, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko attended the Japan Prize Award ceremony in Tokyo:


** ap gallery **
 
On April 11th, Emperor Akihito planted rice for the last time at the Imperial Palace. He sowed varieties of Nihonmasari (ordinary rice) and Mangetsumochi (glutinous rice).

After the abdication, Emperor Naruhito to finish planting rice in May and harvest the crop in the fall. Emperor Showa (Hirohito) started the practice of growing rice in 1927.

https://www.sankei.com/images/news/190411/lif1904110026-p1.jpg
https://www.sankei.com/images/news/190411/lif1904110026-p2.jpg

Emperor plants rice seeds before abdication - News - NHK WORLD - English
[...] The Emperor planted two types of rice seeds from last year's harvest in chilly weather on Thursday.

He squatted and carefully placed the seeds in 30-by-30-centimeter plots of land.

[...]

In mid-May or later, the new Emperor is to continue the tradition by planting the resulting seedlings in rice fields on the palace grounds. [...]
ETA: On April 12th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited Kodomo no Kuni amusement park in Yokohama. The name means "Children's Country" or "Children's Land"

Photos: Mainichi, Getty Images
Yomiuri has 2 lovely photos

Videos: https://video.mainichi.jp/detail/video/6025442467001

https://www.sankei.com/images/news/190412/lif1904120026-p1.jpg
https://www.sankei.com/images/news/190412/lif1904120026-p2.jpg

English | KODOMONOKUNI
KODOMONOKUNI was founded in commemoration of the Royal Marriage of Prince Akihito and Princess Michiko in 1959 [...] It was officially opened on May 5th, a national holiday of the Children's Day, in 1965. [...]
Emperor, Empress visit nature park for kids - News - NHK WORLD - English
[...]

The park was built partly with money sent from all over the country to celebrate the couple's wedding on April 10 in 1959.

The Emperor and the Empress celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Wednesday. They had expressed their wish to visit the park to celebrate the occasion.

They toured the park on a bus shaped like a locomotive. There were more than 3,000 visitors around, and the couple repeatedly stood up, waved and smiled to visitors.

Later, the Emperor and Empress talked with local nursery children and volunteers who help in the park's management.

[...]
 
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Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited Nemunoki Garden in Tokyo on April 13:


** ap gallery **


And they viewed a special exhibition to celebrate the Emperor's 30th anniversary of enthronement and the couple's 60th wedding anniversary at Takashimaya Department Store in Tokyo:


** ap gallery ** gettyimages gallery **
 
Additional info/video :flowers:

Imperial Couple visit exhibition on their 30-yr history at Tokyo department store - The Mainichi
[...] Approximately 100 items and about 200 photos taken by the Mainichi Shimbun and the Imperial Household Agency are on display. Among them is special attire called "Korozen no goho" that the Emperor wore in a ceremony related to his accession to the Imperial Throne.

The Imperial Couple saw a photograph of them taken in August 1978, when they participated in an event in Shizuoka Prefecture as then Crown Prince and Princess with their sons and daughter. While viewing the photo the Emperor said, "Every family member is seen in this picture." The Empress added, "We often used to go out together," and they reminisced about old times. [...]
Nihombashi Takashimaya hosts special exhibition on 30-yr history of Imperial Couple - The Mainichi

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko strolled around Nemunoki Garden for about 10 minutes at 5pm. The garden is on the site of the former Shoda residence.

Photos: Asahi, Sankei
 
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Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko began their 3-day visit to Mie Prefecture on April 17th. Main purpose is to report the abdication at Ise Grand Shrine. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe saw the Imperial couple off at Tokyo Station.

Fantastic photos from Japan twitter:

Official media: Mainichi, Asahi, Getty galleries

https://twitter.com/asahi_photo/status/1118444432942977024
https://twitter.com/mainichiphoto/status/1118427251203121153

Press setup and tweets of Their Majesties' transfer at Nagoya station:
https://twitter.com/wJgR2W3Cc1Kc0eb/status/1118394629987155968
https://twitter.com/yossy32gtr/status/1118391494262632448
https://twitter.com/yu1639/status/1118400312853835777

ETA: locals welcomed Their Majesties with some 2000 lanterns
https://twitter.com/asahi_photo/status/1118506002431664128

Emperor starts last trip to local region before April 30 abdication - The Mainichi
[...] The imperial sword and jewel, two of the family's three sacred treasures that play a key role in the succession, are accompanying the emperor on the visit. The other treasure, a mirror, is always kept at a shrine in the sanctuaries of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

The two treasures are taken outside only for visits to the Ise Shrine, one of the most important Shinto shrines. The last time the couple went there with the treasures was 2014.

[...]

Among the regalia, called "Sanshu no Jingi," the sword and the mirror are currently replicas made for the emperor to keep in his possession. The original items are kept at Atsuta Shrine in Nagoya and Ise Shrine, respectively.

[...]
Emperor to pay last homage at Shinto site before abdication: The Asahi Shimbun

Emperor, Empress visiting Ise - News - NHK WORLD - English (includes video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toQWzFZCy5s
 
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On April 18th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko reported the abdication and worshipped at the outer and inner shrines at Ise Grand Shrine.

Photos: Getty Images, Asahi

Emperor visits Ise shrine to report his April 30 abdication - Kyodo News+ (includes photo gallery)
[...] The emperor, clad in a morning dress, and the empress, wearing a long dress, offered prayers at the shrine during the "Shinetsu no Gi" ritual, one of a series of rituals held for the imperial succession.

For the occasion, the emperor has brought with him the imperial sword and jewel, two of the family's three sacred treasures that play a key role in the succession. The last treasure, a mirror, is kept at the shrine.

[...]
Emperor, Empress visit Ise Shrine - News - NHK WORLD - English
[...]The motorcade arrived at the Outer Shrine, which is dedicated to a goddess of harvests and well-being, shortly before 10:30 a.m.

[...]

Imperial Household officials say the Emperor offered a sprig from the sacred "sakaki" tree at the main hall. They say the Empress also worshipped at the Outer Shrine.

Later on Thursday, the Emperor and Empress are scheduled to worship at the Inner Shrine where Amaterasu-omikami, the sun goddess, is enshrined.
ETA: excellent ANN report includes Sayako Kuroda and diagrams of the shrine locations
 
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On April 23rd, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko reported his abdication to the Mausoleum of Emperor Showa (Emperor Hirohito) at Musashi Imperial Graveyard in Hachioji, Tokyo.

Photos: Mainichi, Getty Images, AP Images, afpbb

Emperor visits his father's tomb before April 30 abdication - The Mainichi
ETA: Later on April 23rd, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited Takao Mikoromo Seido, a temple for victims of industrial accidents in Hachioji, Tokyo.

Combined galleries: Asahi, Getty Images
 
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On April 25th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited the Luxembourg Embassy in Tokyo to offer condolences on the passing of Grand Duke Jean. Emperor Akihito first met the late Grand Duke in 1953 when they were both in London for Queen Elizabeth's coronation.

Photos: AP Images, Getty Images, Sankei

fnn.jp video includes footage of Their Majesties with Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte
 
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On April 26th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko attended the 13th MIDORI Academic Prize ceremony and reception at the Parliamentary Museum.

Photos: Asahi, AP Images, Getty Images


Imperial couple attend last official engagement - News - NHK WORLD - English
Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko have attended an awards ceremony for an environmental prize. It was their last official engagement outside the Imperial Palace before the Emperor's abdication on April 30.

[...]

The annual MIDORI Academic Prize is awarded ahead of Greenery Day on May 4. The prize decorates people for their studies in the fields of botany and environmental conservation.

[...]

The Emperor and Empress talked with the prize-winners at a reception after the ceremony.
Emperor performs last duty outside palace ahead of abdication - The Mainichi
 
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thank you Prisma for all the updates and information.
Their last official act as emperors. A job well done
 
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Time to close this thread. The new one can be found here.
 
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