In his New Year＊s message on Thursday, Emperor Naruhito reflected anew on the preciousness of Japan＊s peace today.

After recalling the tragedies of World War II last year 〞 the 80th anniversary of the conflict＊s end 〞 the emperor said, ※I took to heart the importance of continuing to pass down the country＊s history.§

In the written message released through the Imperial Household Agency, he said it is ※deeply painful§ to see so many lives lost in wars and conflicts around the world.

※I believe it is important for people to seek mutual understanding through repeated dialogue and continue cooperation to build a peaceful world,§ the emperor said.

Emperor Naruhito expressed his sympathy to those affected by natural disasters last year, such as earthquakes and heavy rain, as well as inflation.

※I hope that people will be able to overcome their difficulties while caring for and supporting each other,§ he said.

The emperor ended the message by praying that the new year will become a good year that allows people in his country and around the world to move forward with hope.

The New Year＊s Greetings ceremony was also held at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Thursday, the first day of 2026, with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako receiving greetings from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and others.

In the morning, the emperor and empress celebrated the new year with other imperial family members, including Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko.

Prince Hisahito, the son of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, attended the ceremony for the first time. The prince, a first-year student at the University of Tsukuba, underwent his coming-of-age ceremony last September.

With this year marking the 15th anniversary of the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, the agency is making arrangements for the emperor and empress to visit Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures, which were hit hardest by the disaster, in spring in order to inspect progress in reconstruction efforts.

The imperial couple is also expected to visit Kumamoto Prefecture in the autumn, as this year will mark the 10th anniversary of major earthquakes in the southwestern prefecture in April in 2016.

They will also visit Ehime, Aomori, Kochi and Osaka prefectures for four major annual regional events they attend every year, including a national tree-planting festival.