Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko Current Events 1: May 2019 -

[Prisma]

On June 14th, Emperor Emeritus Akihito visited the Imperial Palace to conduct fish research for the first time since June 3, when Empress Emerita Michiko tested positive for Covid-19. He entered the palace after 10am.

Empress Emerita Michiko is slowly resuming daily walks and normal routine.

Photo, info: NTV

 

[Prisma]

On June 20th, Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko privately visited the 150th anniversary exhibition for aristocratic association, Kasumi Kaikan, at Meiji Jingu Museum in Shibuya, Tokyo. They arrived after 10:30am and stayed about an hour. This is Michiko's first public appearance since having Covid-19.

Sources, videos: TBS, NTV

Mixed gallery: TBS

 

[Prisma]

On July 13th, the Emeritus couple had lunch at Yokohama Royal Park Hotel and attended the 17th regular concert of women's chorus "Cool Mone" at Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall in Kanagawa Prefecture.

The chorus consists of graduates from Kita Kamakura Girls' School and this concert included the choral piece "Bouquet of Prayer," composed by Atsutada Otaka for the Emeritus couple's 60th wedding anniversary.

Photo, videos: TBS, FNN

 

[Prisma]

Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko stayed at Nasu Imperial Villa in Tochigi Prefecture from July 25 to 29.

Video, photo of departure from Akasaka Estate on July 25: TBS, TV-Asahi

Photo of return to Tokyo on July 29: Facebook - mika.ryuu.1

 

[Prisma]

On August 22nd, the Emeritus couple started their summer retreat at Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture where they will stay until the 29th. They took the Shinkansen, arriving at JR Karuizawa Station around 1pm.

On August 23rd, the couple will visit the Ohinata district where people repatriated from former Manchuria in China resettled after the war.

Photos: Getty Images, Jiji

 

[Prisma]

On August 23rd, Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko strolled the cabbage fields of Ohinata settlement in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, where people from the former Manchuria, China resettled after the war.

Photos: Getty Images, FNN, nbs-tv.co.jp

Karuizawa is special place for the Emeritus couple as it's where they first met in summer 1957. After marriage, their family visited for summer retreats. The couple grew Yusuge flowers (yellow daylily) given to them by local residents and donated seeds to Karuizawa botanical gardens from 1982 to 1984.

When the Heisei era began, then Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko mainly used Nasu Imperial Villa in Tochigi Prefecture and Susaki Imperial Villa in Shizuoka Prefecture for summer retreats and temporarily stopped visiting Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture after August 1990. They resumed retreats at Karuizawa in summer 2003, visiting the botanical gardens and learned Yusuge flowers were decreasing. From autumn 2003 until 2008, they donated seeds from the Imperial Palace to the botanical gardens.

Empress Emerita Michiko wrote a poem about the blooming Yusuge flowers in Karuizawa in 2002.

Source: Mainichi

 

[Prisma]

On August 27th, Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko visited the tennis court where they first met in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture. They arrived at Karuizawa Association Tennis Club before 11am and watched a match for about 30 minutes. About 100 members welcomed the couple and 94-year-old man played in the match.

Photos: FNN, Jiji

 

[Prisma]

On August 29th, Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko returned to Tokyo from Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture.

Photos/video: shinmai.co.jp
Facebook Iami Akari
Facebook S.K hanakikaku（S.K花企画）
Facebook Kiyoshi Inomata

https://twitter.com/x/status/1829044887758459305

https://twitter.com/x/status/1829031736040403040

 

[Prisma]

On October 5th, Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko privately attended Concerto "Ishin Denshin" 2024, a concert featuring their longtime friend pianist Michie Koyama with the NHK Symphony Orchestra, at Suntory Hall in Minato, Tokyo.

Koyama performed at the concert in July 2024 for the couple's 90th birthdays and a ceremony in 2009 for Emperor Akihito's 20th anniversary of accession.

Sources: FNN, TBS

 

[Prisma]

Empress Emerita Michiko fell at home, Sento Imperial residence in Akasaka Estate, in the evening of October 6. She was admitted to University of Tokyo Hospital the next day for leg pain and will remain overnight for examinations. She is using a wheelchair.

Imperial Household Agency Vice Grand Steward Buichiro Kuroda said that he was "not aware" of the time or circumstances of the fall, adding "Details will be made clear once the examination results are available."

Sources: NHK, Sankei, TBS, NTV

A convoy of IHA vehicles entered University of Tokyo Hospital before 2pm on October 7.

Best wishes to Empress Emerita Michiko for a safe and smooth recovery.

-----

ETA: Emperor Emeritus Akihito went to University of Tokyo Hospital after 5pm on October 7. It is anticipated the results are ready and doctors will explain to the Emeritus couple.

Photos, source: FNN

Empress Emerita Michiko fractured the upper part of her right femur and will undergo surgery in the morning of October 8.

Emperor Emeritus Akihito visited her for an hour after 5pm on October 7.

Sources: NHK, NTV

English content

Japan's former Empress Michiko to undergo surgery for broken femur

Former Empress Michiko will have surgery for a broken right femur after falling at her residence in Tokyo over the weekend, the Imperial Household Agency said Monday. The 89-year-old form

english.kyodonews.net

Japan's Empress Emerita Breaks Thighbone, to Have Surgery

Tokyo, Oct. 7 (Jiji Press)--Japan's Empress Emerita Michiko, 89, suffered a broken right femur on Monday after…

www.nippon.com

The former Empress fell at the residence on Sunday evening and underwent an examination at the hospital on Monday afternoon as she continued to experience severe pain in her right leg, her aide said, adding that she fell on a flat surface and did not hit her head.

 

[Prisma]

Japanese Empress Emerita Michiko’s Surgery Successful - The Japan News

... The 89-year-old former empress entered the operating room at 5 a.m. for osteosynthesis and returned to her hospital room at around 7:20 a.m., according to her aide.

She is expected to stay hospitalized for about one to two weeks to undergo rehabilitation so that she can walk by herself. Doctors will determine when she will be discharged based on her progress...

Emperor Emeritus Akihito visited his wife after 3pm.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako are also concerned about Michiko's injury and surgery. They conveyed their prayers for the success of the operation, and were relieved that it was completed without incident.

Source, photos: FNN

 

[Prisma]

On October 11th, Emperor Emeritus Akihito visited the Imperial Palace’s biology facility to conduct fish research for the first time since Empress Emerita Michiko's hospitalization. Michiko's post-operative progress is going well.

He was scheduled to conduct research on October 7 and canceled after his wife's fall.

Photos: FNN

-----

Through aides, the Emperor and Akishino families conveyed their sympathies to the Emeritus couple following Michiko’s fall and surgery. All are relieved the surgery was completed without incident and praying for a speedy recovery.

An aide said, "Nothing has been decided at this point" regarding the Emperor's family visiting the University of Tokyo Hospital.

Naomasa Yoshida, grand master of the Crown Prince's household, said he is "not aware at this time" of whether the Akishino family will visit the hospital.

Sources: NTV, TBS, TBS2

 

[Somebody]

I hope the healing process goes well and that she won't experience any complications. I assume they don't want to take any risks given her age and position as emerita empress - and therefore keep her in hospital for so long (as normally a fracture like that wouldn't require 1 to 2 weeks in hospital).

 

[Prisma]

Japan’s Empress Emerita Recovering from Right Thigh Surgery; Said to Be Feeling Less Pain in Injured Leg - Japan News

The rehabilitation process of the Empress Emerita, who recently had surgery on the upper portion of her right thigh bone, is going well, Imperial Household Agency Grand Steward Yasuhiko Nishimura said at a press conference on Thursday. [...] She is using a wheelchair and training her left leg to prevent the loss of muscle strength. She is apparently feeling less pain in the injured area.

Empress Emerita Michiko was discharged from the University of Tokyo Hospital after 2pm on October 13. She expressed her gratitude to the hospital staff who worked so hard on her examinations, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and nursing care.

She will continue rehabilitation at home and will celebrate her 90th birthday in a week.

Photo, sources: NTV, Sankei

Japan’s Empress Emerita Leaves Hospital

<p>TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Japan’s Empress Emerita left hospital Sunday afternoon after treatment for her fractured right femur.</p>

japannews.yomiuri.co.jp

 

[Prisma]

Empress Emerita Michiko's postoperative progress is good. She undergoes rehabilitation for her right femur fracture in the morning and afternoon, totaling about 1 hour daily. Celebrations for her 90th birthday on October 20 will be held as scheduled. Simple format like last year, where Imperial family visited for greetings.

Sources: TBS, FNN

 

[Prisma]

Empress Emerita Michiko turns 90 on October 20.

Birthday photos and video were taken on October 4 at Akasaka Estate.

Photos: Mainichi, Asahi

Imperial Household Agency statement and birthday agenda: 上皇后陛下のご近況について（お誕生日に際し）（令和6年） - 宮内庁

上皇后陛下のご近影（お誕生日に際し）（令和6年） - 宮内庁

www.kunaicho.go.jp

• concern for Noto region following earthquake and heavy rain
• recap of past year activities: Empress Shoken's memorial, concerts, retreats, etc.
• reading, enjoys the changing seasons
• morning and evening walks before her fall
• After breakfast, the Emeritus couple are currently reading "Senso to Okinawa" (War and Okinawa) by Shui Ikemiyagi, chosen by Emperor Emeritus Akihito
• condolences for friends and others who have passed away
• pleased with growth of Princess Aiko and Princess Hisahito
• Emeritus couple watches over the activities of Imperial Family members
• Michiko is always heartened by Princess Yuriko who is 101 and has been a deep trustworthy member of the Imperial Family since their marriage, and frequently asks Mr. Nagai, Chief Medical Officer of the Imperial Household, how she is doing.

Empress Emerita Celebrates 90th Birthday as She Recovers from Surgery; Continues Daily Rehabilitation

<p>The Empress Emerita turned 90 years old on Sunday. She underwent surgery for a fracture in the upper part of her right femur, known as osteosynthesis, on Oct. 6</p>

japannews.yomiuri.co.jp

Princess Hanako, Princess Aiko, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako visiting Akasaka Estate for birthday greetings in the morning.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1847883559056327043

 

[Prisma]

On October 28th, the Emeritus couple attended a private concert to celebrate Empress Emerita Michiko's 90th birthday at Kasumi Kaikan in Chiyoda, Tokyo. The couple enjoyed an hour of music performed by Kasumi Kaikan members.

Car photos, sources: FNN, Asahi, NTV

The Kasumi Kaikan is a social group, consisting of former aristocracy.

 

[Prisma]

Story of the Toledo crafted brooch gifted to Empress Emerita Michiko from Emperor Emeritus Akihito for their engagement.

 

[Prisma]

On December 19th, the Imperial Household Agency reported Empress Emerita Michiko has recovered enough and no longer needs to use a cane from this month. She has resumed daily walks with Emperor Emeritus Akihito and her physical therapy sessions have reduced from daily to once or twice a week. Even when walking with her husband, Michiko is accompanied by an attendant. Her walking pace is close to normal.

The Emeritus couple are also pleased grandson Prince Hisahito has been accepted to the University of Tsukuba.

Sources: TBS, Nikkei, TV-Asahi

 

[Prisma]

Emperor Emeritus Akihito turns 91 on December 23

Birthday video and photos with Empress Emerita Michiko were taken at Sento Imperial residence on December 11. The painting of white birch trees behind the couple was painted by Togyū Okumura. Michiko's personal emblem is the white birch tree.

Photos: Asahi

Birthday agenda: 上皇陛下のご近影（お誕生日に際し）（令和6年） - 宮内庁

Imperial Household Agency statement: 上皇陛下のご近況について（お誕生日に際し）（令和6年） - 宮内庁

• concern for Noto Peninsula
• spends quiet, peaceful days with regular routine. lately, helps Michiko's recovery from broken leg
• keeps informed of domestic affairs, international news and social trends via newspapers, books and TV
• also talks to chamberlains and others since the pandemic has eased
• in May, the Emeritus couple visited the places where he spent the war: former Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa and the shores of Lake Yunoko in Oku-Nikko, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture
• summer retreats at Nasu Imperial Villa and Karuizawa
• His Majesty's daily life remains deeply connected to memories of the war.
• On Okinawa Memorial Day, Hiroshima and Nagasaki Atomic Bombing Day, and Victory over Japan Day, he observes a moment of silence with the Empress Emerita as the ceremony progresses, and spends the whole day in silence.
• Around Victory over Japan Day, he watches documentaries about the war, and every August at Karuizawa Ohinata, he confronts the history of the Manchuria-Mongolian Colonization Movement. After breakfast, he reads aloud to the Empress Emerita, and is currently reading "War and Okinawa" by Ikemiyagi Hideyoshi
• continues research on goby fish: Mondays and Fridays at the Imperial Palace's biology research facility and Wednesdays at home
• currently working on the following two themes:
  • The first is a re-examination of the classification and ecology of the striped goatfish, based on a paper published in the 1987 issue of "Freshwater Fishes of Japan" (Tokai University Press)
  • The second is a taxonomic reexamination of 10 Japanese spider goby species, including the 6 species published by my co-author in 1980 and the 4 species identified since then.
  • In connection with these research projects, in recent years he has also become interested in and has been collecting goby specimens collected in Japan 200 years ago by Philipp Franz von Siebold, who was a physician at the Dutch trading post in Dejima, Nagasaki, during the Edo period.
• BNP value in blood tests is still slightly high with small amount of pleural effusion but managed with medication and limiting fluid intake. Health condition is relatively stable.
• deep sorrow on learning of Princess Yuriko's death in November and made multiple condolence visits to Mikasa residence

https://www.gov-online.go.jp/imperial_family_channel/202412/video-291870.html

Japanese Emperor Emeritus Akihito Turns 91 | Nippon

Japan's former Emperor Akihito turns 91 - Kyodo News

 

[Prisma]

Prince Hitachi, Princess Hanako and Sayako Kuroda (former Princess Nori) visited Sento Imperial residence in Akasaka Estate to greet Emperor Emeritus Akihito for his 91st birthday on December 23.

 

[Prisma]

Iwanami Shoten released "Yufusuge" a collection of 466 poems composed by Empress Emerita Michiko between 1968 to 2018 on January 15. The title "Yufusuge" refers to a yellow flower associated with Karuizawa, a place special to the Emeritus couple.

Nagata Kazuhiro, a poet and biologist who serves as a poetry advisor to the Imperial Household, highly praised Empress Emerita Michiko's poems and frequently asked aides about new poems from her. After learning of the unpublished poems, he thought it a shame they'd be unknown to a wider audience and suggested compiling them for a book. He eventually selected 192 tanka poems written in the Showa era and 274 tanka poems from the Heisei era for "Yufusuge."

Michiko's poems have been published before: "Tomoshibi" (1986) a collection with the Emperor Emeritus and a solo collection "Seon" (1997) with the authors given as "Their Imperial Highnesses the Crown Prince and Princess" and "Her Majesty the Empress." Compared to those publications, "Yufusuge" is simply authored as 美智子 "Michiko" and contains scenes from more private spheres of the family, such as inquiring after her sick mother in 1977, Akihito's return from cancer surgery in 2003, and Sayako's marriage in 2005. Other subjects include nature, victims of abductions by North Korea, disasters, reconstruction, conflicts and wars.

Sources and poem excerpts: Jiji, Sankei, TBS, FNN

 

[Adda]

I know SO MUCH is lost in translation, but I read some of the poems shared on Sankei, and got really emotional.

God bless you, sweet Empress.

 

[Prisma]

Aides revealed Empress Emerita Michiko's rehabilitation has progressed to stairs training and fall prevention. Rehabilitation initially focused on recovery after surgery for her femur fracture. She has been able to walk without a cane since December.

Source: NTV

-----

On January 14th, Empress Emerita Michiko visited the Imperial Household Agency Hospital for follow-up on her fractured femur. She arrived through Hanzomon Gate around 10:30am.

Source, video: FNN

FNN photos (mixed with January 2 appearance)

 

[Prisma]

On January 20th, Emperor Emeritus Akihito, accompanied by Empress Emerita Michiko, visited the Imperial Palace to conduct research on fish at the research facility. The couple arrived just after 10am.

Source: FNN

 

[Prisma]

On February 26th, Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko privately visited Kasai Rinkai Park in Edogawa, Tokyo. They arrived before 10:30am, enjoyed a ~15 minute stroll in the daffodil field, and left about an hour later.

Opened in 1989, Kasai Rinkai features gardens, a bird sanctuary, aquarium and ferris wheel. The couple also visited in October 1993.

Photos, source: FNN, NTV

 

[Prisma]

Empress Emerita Michiko's older brother Iwao Shōda died on March 5 at age 93. His funeral was held by relatives. Iwao Shōda was 3 years older than Michiko and the first child & son of Hidesaburō and Fumiko Shōda. Iwao served as an auditor for the Bank of Japan from 1985 to 1994.

According to aides, Empress Emerita Michiko is doing well despite her deep sadness. Following Imperial custom, she will be in mourning for 30 days, until April 3. The Emeritus couple has canceled their March 14 visit to Toshimaoka Cemetery for Princess Yuriko.

Sources: Asahi, NTV, FNN, Jiji

Japan's former Empress Michiko enters mourning as older brother dies at 93 - The Mainichi

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Iwao Shoda, the brother of Japan's former Empress Michiko, died at 93, with the former empress entering a period of mourning for 30 d

mainichi.jp

Condolences to the Imperial and Shōda families and friends.