Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and other imperial family members appeared before throngs of visitors for New Year¡¯s greetings at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Friday.
Imperial family members, including Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, as well as Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko, stood on the palace veranda and waved to visitors.
In his speech, the emperor expressed concern for those still facing difficulties due to last year¡¯s major natural disasters.
¡°I know there are many difficulties, but I wish everyone a good and moderate year,¡± he said.
Prince Hisahito, the son of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko and is currently a first-year student at the University of Tsukuba, attended the New Year¡¯s event for the first time.
Imperial family members made a total of five appearances in the morning and the afternoon. Prince Hisahito was among them all five times, while Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko appeared three times in the morning.
About 60,000 people visited the Imperial Palace on Friday to see imperial family members, according to the Imperial Household Agency.
Last year, the Imperial Household Agency lifted restrictions on the number of visitors to the New Year¡¯s event. Still, it continued to ask visitors to take measures against coronavirus and other infections, such as keeping a certain distance from others.
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