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

[Prisma]

The Imperial couple traveled to Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture on Friday for their rest. About 400 people greeted them on arrival in the afternoon.

Photos: Asahi, Sankei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHLMgAxVwls

 

[Prisma]

On March 25th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited eel research facilities in Minamiizu. They also visited an abalone farm borrowed by the Fukushima Prefecture Culture and Fishery Association whose facility was destroyed in the 2011 earthquake.

Photos: Sankei, Asahi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px2CGdEZ28Q

 

[iceflower]

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Here's another gallery of the arrival at the train station:


** gettyimages: JPN: Emperor And Empress Depart For Suzaki Imperial Villa **

 

[Prisma]

On March 29th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko offered prayers for Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun at Musashi Imperial Mausoleum in Hachiōji, Tokyo.

Afterward, they visited an exhibition about Junko Tabei, the first woman to reach the summit of Mt. Everest, in Akishima, Tokyo. Ms. Tabei died of cancer, aged 77, last October. Her family guided the Imperial couple around the exhibit, describing equipment and photographs. Ms. Tabei was invited to the East Palace in 1975, the same year she summited Mt. Everest; she was also invited to the 2008 spring garden party.

Photos: Asahi, Mainichi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPKPavvzmko

 

[Prisma]

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko took a brief walk outside the Imperial Palace on Sunday morning, surprising runners and passers-by. They usually take their morning walks within the palace grounds. The couple exited Kitakyubashi (Hakunobashi) gate around 7:30am and walked for about 5 minutes before returning inside. Some lucky folks got photos and even exchanged a few words with Their Majesties.

Photos: Asahi

ETA: also for the cherry blossoms
Emperor, empress delight passers-by with surprise stroll: The Asahi Shimbun

 

[ROYAL NORWAY]

Thanks Prisma! I just love these two.

 

[Prisma]

On April 8th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko attended the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra's Kobayashi Kenichiro Special Birthday Concert in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The conductor and composer turns 77 on the 9th and was born in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture; he has been carrying out concerts benefiting reconstruction and supporting the victims of the 2011 earthquake. The Imperial couple listened to “Hungarian Dance No. 5”

Photos: Asahi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYhIyMFDTsU
On March 14th, Emperor Akihito met with the Chairman of the Oman Advisory Council. [IHA photo]

 

[Prisma]

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko had a family dinner to celebrate their 58th wedding anniversary on April 10th. The Crown Prince family and Akishino family entered the Imperial Palace after 7pm and left around 9:40pm.
Sources: Asahi, news24.jp
https://twitter.com/kimutako777/status/851494043984863232

I assume daughter Sayako and her husband also attended but aren't mentioned as they're private citizens?

 

[iceflower]

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Today, April 13, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko attended a centenary celebration of the America-Japan Society at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo:



** gettyimages gallery **

 

[Prisma]

On April 14th, Emperor Akihito sowed about 10% of the rice seedlings (Mokushimonchi of Moshi Rice and Nihon Masari of Waxy Rice) for the year. The rest will be sown between public service and late May.
Photos: Asahi

The Emperor and Empress held a moment of silence for the 1st anniversary of the Kumamoto earthquake and watched the memorial service on TV.
Source: Asahi 2

 

[ROYAL NORWAY]

Thanks again Prisma for the wonderful work you are doing in digging up news about the imperial family!

 

[Prisma]

You're very welcome!
I hope the Japanese press leaves some free articles. More of Mainichi's articles require membership/subscription lately.

 

[Prisma]

On April 17th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko invited people who worked on the Vietnam and Thailand tour to tea. About 210 people attended, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Photos: Asahi

 

[iceflower]

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Today, April 19, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko attended the Japan Prize Award concert and dinner in Tokyo:


** gettyimages gallery **

 

[iceflower]

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Masayoshi Yoshino was sworn in as Japan's new Disaster Reconstruction Minister by Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace today, April 26.

He was named to replace Masahiro Imamura, who resigned a day after saying it was "a good thing" the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami had struck northeastern Japan rather than the Tokyo area.


** Pic ** gettyimages **

 

[Prisma]

On April 26th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko attended the 100th anniversary of RIKEN (the research institute discovered 113th element Nihonium) and toured the exhibition.

Photos: Asahi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlYaF0QRVYE

 

[Prisma]

On April 28th, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko attended the 11th Midori Ceremony and reception.

Photos: Asahi, Sankei Imperial Weekly #484

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko will visit Nikko city in Tochigi Prefecture May 17-19. They will visit the former Nikko Tamazawa (Tamosawa) Imperial Villa where the Emperor was evacuated during wartime and the botanical garden (operated by the University of Tokyo) and former dormitory where he studied with classmates.
Visits to the Fisheries Research Insitute and Senjganagahara Observatory are also planned.

Akihito was evacuated from Numazu, Shizuoka in July 1944 to Tamazawa Imperial Villa when he was a 5th grader of Gakushuin. In July 1945, he was transferred to Okunikko Yumoto Onsen (now closed). Together with classmates, he listened to Emperor Showa's "Jewel Voice Broadcast" in the hotel annex.

Source: Sankei

 

[iceflower]

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Time to close this thread. Thanks for all your contributions! The new thread can be found here.​