Emperor Naruhito was born 66 years ago as the eldest son of Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko. Known as the first emperor to have studied abroad, his broad interests have prompted him to forge deep connections with people around the world since going overseas for the first time to Australia in his early teens.
After graduating from the Department of History in the Faculty of Letters of Gakushuin University, he traveled to Britain to deepen his academic research on the history of transportation on the River Thames at Oxford University’s Merton College, while experiencing two years of dormitory life.
Together with Empress Masako, who also studied overseas and worked as a diplomat, the emperor attended the opening ceremony of the 2025 Osaka World Exposition last April. During his speech, the emperor reminisced about visiting Osaka for the 1970 World Exposition, where he visited the pavilions of various countries and tried out the latest technologies, such as wireless communication. It was the first world’s fair held in Asia.
Referring to the 2025 expo’s theme of “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” the emperor said he envisioned a world where people will respect not only their own lives, but also the lives of those around them and the diverse lives sustained within nature, to work together to build a sustainable future. He also expressed aspirations that the expo would help children deepen their understanding of countries, regions and people around the world, while allowing them to experience next-generation technologies and global efforts toward achieving the U.N. sustainable development goals. He said he hoped this would lead them to think about the future of society.
2025 was a significant year for Japan in terms of sports events. In September, the World Athletics Championships, an international event held every two years, took place at the National Stadium, also known as MUFG Stadium, in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward. Osaka had previously hosted the event in 2007, and Tokyo in 1991. The emperor enjoyed watching the games with the empress and Princess Aiko, their only child, exchanging comments with them from time to time.
In November, the 25th Summer Deaflympics brought about 3,000 athletes from over 70 countries to Tokyo to compete at 19 venues throughout the capital. 2025 marked the 100th anniversary of the event and the first time it was held in Japan. The imperial family enjoyed watching the Games at the Tokyo Aquatics Center in Koto Ward.
That same month, the emperor and empress went to the Tokyo International Forum in Chiyoda Ward to attend the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers program.
The program began in 1965 with the dispatch of 29 volunteers to five countries: Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Kenya. Over the years, more than 58,000 volunteers have been sent to 99 countries. The emperor has had many opportunities to speak with volunteers before they departed on their missions or after they returned. He has also met with volunteers during overseas visits to witness their achievements firsthand.
The ceremony consisted of congratulatory messages, talk sessions and a fashion show featuring ethnic costumes, folk music and dance. At the beginning of the ceremony, the emperor gave a speech highlighting the importance of building trust through direct people-to-people interactions to contribute to global peace and development. He expressed hope the program would continue to “send people with high aspirations as JICA volunteers, deepening their exchanges with local people while working safely and healthily.”
