Japan emperor wishes for peace in New Year’s appearance
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Japanese Emperor Akihito, seated third left, and Empress Michiko, seated fourth left, smile with their family members during a photo session for the New Year at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
TOKYO >> Japan’s Emperor Akihito has expressed his hopes for world peace as he appeared with his wife, Empress Michiko, two sons and grandchildren behind bullet-proof glass before thousands of well-wishers waving flags.
Akihito, scheduled to make five such appearances at Tokyo’s Imperial Palace Saturday, read a New Year’s statement in which he expressed his sympathy for people displaced from their homes and still living in temporary housing after the March 2011 tsunami and nuclear disaster in northeastern Japan.
Michiko, wearing a pinkish beige dress, waved to the crowd, estimated by public broadcaster NHK at 44,000.
Masako, wife of the crown prince who has made rare public appearances because of a stress-related illness, also joined this year’s New Year’s greeting, smiling in a deep blue dress.
7 responses to “Japan emperor wishes for peace in New Year’s appearance”
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World peace will never happen. But it’s a nice gesture to think about the world to have.
Now that the leader of Japan has instilled confidence, their people will feel ready to travel to Hawaii on their next vacation.
Why is Japan’s king called an emperor in 2016?
Historically, it’s due to the position being the highest authority of the Shinto religion, comparable today in a ceremonial sense to Pope. In the European tradition, the Pope has often been accorded a diplomatic dignity higher than that of kings, the Pope being the spiritual leader of Western Europe.
America doesn’t have a emperor because we have no real culture besides feeding Wall Street.
Many American soldiers marry a Japanese partner. Hence, why the commissary has oriental foods. Natto, anyone?
I love Empress Michiko’s gray hair. I wonder if she was ever pressured to color it.