HM the Empress attends the National Red Cross Convention, her first official duty outside the Imperial Palace in about three years
Her Majesty the Empress Masako visited the Meiji
Jingu Hall in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, on May 19 to attend the National Red Cross
Convention. It was the first time in nearly two years and nine months since the
August 2019 Florence Nightingale Medal ceremony that the Empress had attended
an official function outside the Imperial Palace and Akasaka Imperial Palace on
her own.
The convention was not held in 2020 and 2021
due to the new coronavirus disaster, and was held for the first time in three
years. The Empress is the Honorary President of the Japanese Red Cross Society.
Honorary Vice Presidents Princess Kiko Akishino, Princess Nobuko Mikasa, and
Princess Hisako Takamado were also in attendance.
At the ceremony, the Empress handed certificates and other awards to 13 representatives of the Order of Merit, which is awarded to individuals and organizations that have contributed to Red Cross activities. After the ceremony, the Empress reportedly expressed her appreciation for the hard work of the hospital staff, saying, "I know you have worked very hard.”
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