New emperor to visit Aichi in June on first regional trip

May 10, 2019

Tokyo--Japan's Emperor Naruhito will visit the central prefecture of Aichi on June 1-2 on his first regional trip since ascending the throne on May 1, the Imperial Household Agency announced Thursday.

The new Emperor is set to participate in the 70th annual tree-planting festival, to be held in Owariasahi.

Empress Masako will accompany the Emperor if her condition permits. She has been receiving medical treatment for an adjustment disorder since the early 2000s.

On June 2, the Emperor is slated to give a speech at the tree-planting festival. His itinerary during the two-day trip also includes visits to Shippo Art Village in Ama and a medical center in Okazaki.

Regional trips associated with tree-planting festivals that former Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko made were usually scheduled to last three days and two nights.

The agency said the upcoming trip is shorter than usual due to preparations for enthronement-related rituals in autumn and concerns over the Empress' health. Jiji Press