Empress Masako's 58th Birthday: ‘Deeply Moved‘ by Princess Aiko's Growth
On December 9, the Imperial Household Agency
released a video of Her Majesty Empress Masako as she celebrated her 58th
birthday. Masako has been attending major regional events online this year. In
the video, she chatted with the Emperor of Japan while looking at traditional
crafts associated with the various places she visited.
Just before 3:00 p.m. that day, Empress Masako
left the Imperial Palace where she resides with Her Majesty and waved with a
radiant smile to the congratulatory voices. After this, Their Majesties bade
farewell to the 100 or so people who had gathered, including neighbors, and
then visited the residence of the Emperor and Empress to greet them on their
birthday.
On the 9th, Empress Masako also released her thoughts in writing through the Imperial Household Agency.
Full text of her birthday impression is here.
She expressed her
relief that her eldest daughter, Aiko, had completed her adulthood, and also
expressed her feelings as a mother, saying, "I am deeply moved by the many
memories that come to mind. Following last year, she described the year of the
new coronavirus as "a very painful year" and expressed her heartfelt
sympathy for those who are facing hardships.
At the beginning of the document, the Empress referred to
Princess Aiko. After thanking the people for their blessings, she wrote,
"I can hardly believe that she is already of age," and hoped that she
would "grow step by step, accumulating experience, and safely fulfill her
duties as an adult member of the Imperial Family. To the people of Japan, he
wrote, "I would be grateful if you would continue to watch over me warmly.
As in the previous year, I expressed my sorrow for those who
lost family members and friends to the new coronavirus, and also wrote my
sympathy and condolences to the medical staff. Touching on the increasing
number of suicides among working women and elementary, junior high, and high
school students due to economic and social hardships, he called it a "sad
and tragic event" and stressed his hope that society will be able to care
for and support each other.
This year,
Empress Masako and Emperor Akihito made an online visit to the three
prefectures affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, coinciding with the
10th anniversary of the disaster. In the document, she wrote, "I am
heartbroken by the fact that some people are still unable to rebuild their
lives and others are still suffering from psychological trauma. I would like to
continue to give my heart to the people in the affected areas. He also
expressed his condolences to the victims of the torrential rain disaster in
Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture, and mentioned the issue of climate change.
Referring to the fact that he studied energy economics at university and was
involved in environmental issues when he worked for the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, he said, "I am deeply impressed by the importance of climate
change and global environmental issues every day.
He paid tribute to the athletes and officials of
the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, which were held in the midst of the Corona
disaster, and was pleased to see Shohei Ohtani of the U.S. Major League
Baseball selected as MVP, saying that he had given him courage and hope.
The empress, who was diagnosed with adjustment
disorder in 2004, is still undergoing treatment. The doctors who are treating
her have made their views known, stating that she is still recovering and that
her physical condition is fluctuating.
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