New emperor makes 1st appearance before palace visitors

May 5, 2019

Tokyo--New Japanese Emperor Naruhito, who assumed the throne on Wednesday, made his first appearance before visitors to the Imperial Palace on Saturday.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, together with other adult Imperial Family members including Crown Prince Akishino, showed up at the balcony of the Chowa-Den Hall and smilingly waved to the well-wishers.

"I'm pleased to receive congratulations from everyone coming here today and deeply appreciate this," the new Emperor, wearing a morning dress, said in a speech.

"I sincerely hope that our country will achieve further prosperity, while joining hands with other countries in pursuit of world peace," he said.

The Emperor and other Imperial Family members made a total of six public appearances. Such an Imperial event is usually held on Jan. 2 and the Emperor's birthday.

The new Emperor's first public appearance was initially planned to take place on Oct. 26, after the "Sokuirei-Seiden-no-Gi" ceremony to proclaim his enthronement on Oct. 22. But the event was brought forward to Saturday, reflecting the view that it was desirable to hold it as soon as possible after the ascension.

According to preliminary data from the Imperial Household Agency, a total of 141,130 people took part in Saturday's event. The figure was larger than the 109,800 visitors to the public appearances of former Emperor Akihito in 1990, the first after his ascension in 1989.

The former Emperor and former Empress Michiko did not join Emperor Naruhito in the public appearances on Saturday.

"Both His Majesty and Empress Masako were full of grace and so gorgeous," Arisa Yamamuro, a 23-year-old student of the University of Tokyo, said excitedly.

"I felt the new Emperor's personality in his words, as well as had an impression that he followed the thoughts of the Emperor Emeritus," her father, Masaaki, 56, said. Former Emperor Akihito holds the title of Emperor Emeritus.

"Every time I come to Imperial appearance events, I feel a flood of emotions because my father died in battle in Myanmar (during World War II)," said Tomikuni Hosaka, 78, from Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture.

The war occurred in the Showa era in Japan and the following Heisei era saw no war in the country. After Heisei ended on Tuesday, the Reiwa era started on Wednesday, in line with the Imperial succession.

"I wish that Reiwa will also be a warless era," Hosaka said. Jiji Press