Imperial Couple meet evacuated Kuchinoerabu residents

November 17, 2017

Yakushima, Kagoshima Pref.- Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko on Thursday met with residents from the island of Kuchinoerabu in Kagoshima Prefecture who have been evacuated from the island after the May 2015 volcanic eruption there.

The meeting took place in Yakushima, another island in the southwestern Japan prefecture, where the Kuchinoerabu residents are taking shelter. The Imperial couple visited Yakushima for the first time in 45 years, as part of their three-day tour of three Kagoshima islands, also including Yoron and Okinoerabu, from Thursday.

According to the Imperial Household Agency, the couple visited Yakushima because they have been worried about the evacuated Kuchinoerabu residents. All residents of the volcanic island temporarily evacuated following the eruption.

Many residents of Yakushima and Kuchinoerabu, including children, welcomed the couple in front of the meeting venue.

The Emperor and the Empress talked to each of them, asking about such matters as evacuation life.

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko then talked with five evacuees from Kuchinoerabu, sitting around a table. The couple listened to their stories about the eruption and their recent lives.

Nina Terada, a 36-year-old woman, said, "I've returned to my previous life with my family." The Emperor replied, "That's good."

After listening to the story that all residents evacuated from the island quickly after the eruption, Emperor Akihito said that they must have felt the importance of regular evacuation drills.

Empress Michiko told Yoriko Yamada, 74, who has three heads of cattle, "Take care of yourself and your cattle."

"I was surprised to know that the Emperor remembers our small island," said Mori Kibune, 45, who serves as deputy chief of a local fire brigade.

Later on Thursday, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko moved on to Okinoerabu. They will visit Yoron on Friday. On Saturday, they will visit a lily farm and an elementary school in Okinoerabu before returning to Tokyo. Jiji Press