On the 23rd, the Emperor's birthday, a public visitation was held at the Imperial Palace to celebrate His Majesty's 64th birthday.
Although it was raining in Tokyo on the 23rd, when the main gates of the Imperial Palace opened at 9:30 a.m., approximately 6,000 people who had been waiting crossed the Nijubashi Bridge and headed to the front of the palace.
Three times in the morning, His Majesty the Emperor stood on the veranda of the Imperial Palace with the Empress, her eldest daughter Aiko, Prince Akishino and their second daughter Yoshiko, and waved to the people who had gathered. Ta.
His Majesty the Emperor expressed his gratitude to the families of the victims of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake and those affected by the disaster. He offered words of sympathy to those who suffered.
He then said, ``I'm sure many people have struggled with the heavy snow and severe cold this winter.I hope that each and every one of you will have a peaceful spring.''
Last year's public visit on the Emperor's birthday, which was the first public visit after accessioning the throne, was held with a lottery in advance to limit the number of attendees to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, but this time the event was held without a lottery. I got it.
In the afternoon, a registration office will be set up in front of the Imperial Household Agency building, and people will be accepted to register until 3:30 p.m.
Click here for the full text of His Majesty the Emperor's 64th birthday press conference