Emperor Naruhito Greets New Year’s Crowd, Reflects on Peace and National Struggles
Tokyo, The Gulf Observer: Emperor Naruhito and his family greeted thousands of well-wishers from a balcony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Thursday, marking the New Year with a heartfelt message of empathy and peace. The royal family’s appearance was met with cheers of “banzai” (“long live”) and waves of small Japanese flags from the crowd.
Emperor Naruhito took the opportunity to express his thoughts on the continued suffering caused by recent natural disasters, particularly the earthquake in western Japan a year ago, as well as flooding and other calamities that have affected the country. He noted, “I feel for those who are still greatly suffering,” as he acknowledged the ongoing struggles of the Japanese people.
The royal family’s New Year’s greeting was initially canceled in 2022 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and last year’s appearance was also called off due to the devastating earthquake in the Noto Peninsula, which claimed hundreds of lives.
In a video message shared earlier in the week, Naruhito had shown a traditional Noto mask used in the regional drumming style known as gojinjo daiko. The mask served as a symbol of resilience and cultural heritage, particularly from the Noto area impacted by last year’s disaster.
The emperor’s wife, Empress Masako, and their daughter, Princess Aiko, also appeared with him on the balcony. Princess Aiko, who turned 23 last month, remains at the center of discussions about the imperial family’s male-only succession laws. Under current laws, Princess Aiko will leave the royal family upon marrying outside of it.
The family was joined by Emperor Emeritus Akihito, who abdicated in favor of his son in 2019, and his wife, Empress Emerita Michiko, along with Naruhito’s younger brother and his family. As the imperial family waved to the crowd, well-wisher Satoshi Nishoji, who had traveled from Osaka and stood in line for five hours, expressed his joy, saying, “I was so happy to see them all because I haven’t made it the last five years.”
In addition to celebrating the New Year, Emperor Naruhito’s message focused on the upcoming 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in 2025. The emperor expressed his sorrow over the ongoing pain and suffering caused by war, saying, “I truly feel the need for people to accept our differences so we may work together, hand in hand, toward realizing world peace.”
As is customary, the crowd closed the ceremony with a solemn rendition of Japan’s national anthem, marking the emotional and symbolic importance of the imperial family in Japan’s modern identity.
